《Contract Marriage: Emperor CEO's Secretary Wife》


 Chapter 1 - Secretary

    <h4>Chapter 1 - Secretary</h4>


    "These are the expected results for the partnership with Shen Tech." An average looking guy d in ck business suit stood at the center of the conference room. He was the representative sent by Shen Tech to present their proposal for partnership with Lu Corporation.


    The guy was wholly focused in his exnation presenting the expected growth and stocks of bothpanies that he did not notice the continuous drop of temperature of the room. The directors and other staffs within the room shivered and feared for their lives for they knew why the room became colder. All their eyes remained frozen in front, halting themselves from turning their heads to look at the glowering person sitting at the main table.


    "Enough." Ah, the emperor has spoken. The people inside excluding the two secretaries sitting beside him stopped from breathing.


    "Who on the right mind let this lousy proposal get through?" Silenced covered the room and almost all the employees could hear their hearts beating so fast from nervousness. They even dared to hold their breath just so the CEO would not feel their presence at all.


    Lu Chen, the president and CEO of Lu Corporation stood up and gave his final words. "Don¡¯t ever let anymore of this proposals appear from my sight again."


    He immediately left the room with his two secretaries. The rest of the people inside finally released their breath and the representative from Shen Tech felt like crying on the floor at this very moment.


    "I¡¯ll prepare the tea." Xiu Mei notified her boss and coworker before disappearing to the president¡¯s private pantry.


    Inside, Xiu Mei sighed in relief as she waited for the water to boil. Working as a secretary for the famous emperor boss is always like walking on a thin ice. If not careful, he will snap at you like a dragon and could immediately kill your career with a decree.


    From interning at hispany at the age of 21, she felt like she must have been really a martyr to continue working with a boss like that.


    Holding the tray of tea, she knocked twice on the door to indicate her presence and entered the room. The emperor CEO was sitting in front of hisputer, one hand typing while the other is holding a folder.


    She finallyid down the teacup. "Regarding the matter from a while ago, I apologize for my ipetence for letting the proposal reach your hands. I will strictly check the process being done by our departments and won¡¯t let it happen again. I will also ept any punishment you deem needed." She slightly bowed her head.


    The tapping noises from the keyboard halted before continuing again.


    "Examining those waste papers are not your main work. Remove the bonus for this month for the employees involved and check who had the guts to use their power and let the paper through. Have that person immediately fired and find a recement." Lu Chen¡¯s authoritative voice echoed as he busied himself in reading the reports.


    "Understood." Raising her head, she exited the room and went back to her table. Making a few calls to ry the president¡¯s instructions to the human resource department and assistant secretary to check about the person who let the proposal through their strict assessment.


    Clocking out at 8 pm, she turned to Lu Shao who was still busy going through his pile of papers.


    "I¡¯ll be turning in for the night,rade Shao." She said with a joking tone. Lu Shao looked up and lightly smiled at her.


    "It¡¯ste. Be careful on the road." Lu Shao politely warned as she nodded and grabbed her bag before going to the elevator to ride down to the underground garage.


    Lu Shao and Xiu Mei are the main secretaries of their president, Lu Chen. From her knowledge, Lu Shao was brought up by Lu Chen since young and started working for him at the age of fifteen. In short, Lu Shao is more of a personal secretary of Lu Chen who not only handles his business-rted matter but also his personal matters.


    Xiu Mei is Lu Chen¡¯s secretary that is mainly focused about matters regarding business. With Lu Corporation¡¯s wide-range of industries, she is the person who is mostly involved about them and acts as Lu Chen¡¯s substitute for business matters.


    She has been working for four years in Lu Corporation and is already well-versed with all the information regarding thepany. It was a great feat to be able to work as a secretary for Lu Chen right after her graduation hence, she spent day and night studying so hard for her first year.


    As one of the toppanies globally, she was busy working day and night that she barely remembered thest time she used her vacation and rested well. Xiu Mei¡¯s family have been contacting her regrly to know about her situation especially she hasn¡¯t visited during holidays ever sincest year.


    Changing to her home wear, she heated the leftover food from yesterday and ate it. Her phone rang a familiar ringtone.


    "Mom."


    "Mei¡¯er, open up some time for dinner on the weekend, okay?" Xiu Mei almostughed at her mom¡¯s direct to the point statement. She didn¡¯t even go around and directly stated her agenda.


    "For what? Are we going to have a family dinner or something?" ying with the piece of meatball, she asked her mom the truth about this matter.


    "Your Auntie Lan¡¯s nephew is returning from America and she proposed that the two of you should spend some time together and try it out."


    Xiu Mei gasped in realization. Her mom and Auntie Lan was setting her up in a blind date.


    "Mom, I¡¯m still 25. And I¡¯m busy with work."


    "All you know is to work!" Her mom¡¯s tone visibly became heavier. "Mei¡¯er, our family is already rich enough to raise you for the rest of your life. And if you keep working like that, in a blink of an eye you¡¯ll be 30 and still single. I want to y with my grandchildren while still strong you know!"


    Xiu Mei heard her mom¡¯s words and almost blurted out that her mom would still be strong enough even if she marries age forty. After all, her parents had her twin brothers at age twenty and she had her after two years after.


    At this moment, even if she married at mid-30s, she¡¯ll still be healthy enough to go running with her kids.

 Chapter 2 - Loyalty

    <h4>Chapter 2 - Loyalty</h4>


    After her mom¡¯s constant nagging, Xiu Mei finally raised the white g and surrendered. Lying on her bed, she thought of how she was going to ask for a time off this weekend. As Lu Chen¡¯s left-hand person, she was also working overtime during weekends and barely had rest days even in Sundays.


    "Let¡¯s worry about it tomorrow." She then went to do her night routine before sleeping. Setting her rm, she fell asleep instantly upon hitting the pillow.


    She went to work early the next day. Since it was still an hour before the normal working hours, only the security and a handful of employees are within the building. Xiu Mei exchanged pleasantries with some of the people she passed as she walked to the elevator exclusive for the president and his secretaries.


    After cing down her things in her cubicle, she went straight to the pantry to prepare the hot water and snacks. She also ced an order for breakfast just in case the emperor CEO needed it and if not, she could just ce it inside the refrigerator and have it heated for her own consumption. The emperor CEO hated wasting food thus, he wasn¡¯t very selfish in sharing his own food to Lu Shao and her.


    Xiu Mei finally buried herself to her own paper works for the next few hours while faintly greeting the emperor CEO and Lu Shao who just arrived at work.


    "What¡¯s the status about the acquisition for the power nts?" Lu Chen asked with an indifferent tone as he watched his two secretaries sitting opposite him presenting their status reports.


    "These are the papers delivered by the ounting Department." Xiu Mei handed a red folder to him. "The owners have signed the papers for the acquisition so the legal department have started the processing for change of ownership. I will also visit the site with the technology team for further inspection."


    "After the final inspection, arrange the team heads for a meeting tomorrow." Lu Chen simply skimmed through the report before putting it down.


    She nodded and noted it down on her phone. Lu Shao¡¯s report went after hers and she waited till he left the room before asking about her personal matters.


    "CEO, I would like to request for half-day off on Saturday." Xiu Mei resolutely said to Lu Chen. He was looking down on the reports when he heard her. He slightly raised his head and stared at her for whole two seconds before giving a reply.


    "Reason?" Lu Chen thought that the work would be a bit slower if Lu Shao or Xiu Mei would miss work thus, he rarely gave them long vacations. And lucky for him, his two subordinates are more career-focused than other people and almost never requested for day offs either.


    Xiu Mei hesitated for a second if she should be honest about the reason for her absence. In the end, she still dered the real reason and silently apologized for her mother for taking the me. Since she was the one who really wanted me to attend this blind date, let all the responsibility be hers. Love you, mom.


    "Blind date? How old are you again this year?" Xiu Mei¡¯s right eye almost twitched from annoyance. She¡¯s been working for him for at least four years and the least he could do was remember his subordinate¡¯s ages.


    "25 years old, Mr.Lu."


    Lu Chen leaned back to his seat and stared at Xiu Mei. His thoughts were focused on the person in front of him. He thought back on how he personally picked Xiu Mei out of all the applicants for the internship program in theirpany.


    He had Lu Shao do a background check on Xiu Mei before he decided on training Xiu Mei to be his secretary. Lu Chen knew that this girl in front of him came from a prestigious background that were better than his. Her family¡¯s power is deeply rooted not only in maind China but also in other countries.


    Because of that, he wondered why this supposed-to-be privilegeddy since birth is applying for in hispany rather than going to her family¡¯s. Were their family trying to spy on hispany and try crushing them on the inside?


    Lu Chen had great doubts about Xiu Mei¡¯s intention thus he ordered his subordinates to dig deeper into her past. Realizing the truth about her actions, he admired her resolve for not depending on her family and stood by her own feet.


    He still had some little doubts but those were slowly erased when Xiu Mei officially entered thepany and knew howpetent and loyal the girl was. He appreciated this kind of people the most and willingly trusted this girl to be his secretary right after she graduated.


    He just realized it right now that it¡¯s been quite a while ever since she entered hispany. 4 years... it¡¯s already considered long enough if wepare it to the other ipetent employees.


    Lu Chen may be aloof towards other people but he deeply cares about his subordinates. In return for their loyalty, he treats them very well than how the other CEOs¡¯ of otherpanies treat theirs.


    He grew up in a difficult environment thus he became a miser so he rarely gave bonuses to his own two secretaries aside during holidays. So the only he could do was treat them with respect and appreciate theirpetence and loyalty for him. For their requests, he would always hear them out and if it was within reason, he would not hesitate to help them out.


    "Okay. Goodluck with your date then." Lu Chen smiled lightly at her before resuming his work.

 Chapter 3 - Date

    <h4>Chapter 3 - Date</h4>


    "Okay. Goodluck with your date then."


    Xiu Mei felt happy when her request for absence was instantly allowed but kind of felt awkward when her boss wished her luck for the date. Does her boss haven¡¯t thought about that if she ever¡ªreally ever¡ªget married and be pregnant, she¡¯ll have to be on maternal leave for a few months right?


    Even though that would still happen in the far future, she still knew the personality of her boss, the emperor CEO. He bore a lot of nickname given by his employees and what really stood out was his emperor nickname. In thepany, his words are the decree and must be aplished swiftly and ordingly. A lot of employees do overtimes because of the level of difficulty and heavy workload.


    Working with him was like always facing the big boss of a video game. You have to strategize and be cautious or else it¡¯s already game over. Thinking back all the blood,sweat and tears she went through, Xiu Mei gave an imaginary pat on herself. Was she a bit masochistic, ah.


    Exiting the room, an idea hit her that maybe the boss was finally enlightened and now she can finally go on long vacations?


    Thinking such thoughts, she returned to her cubicle and slowly split some of her works to Lu Shao and her assistant secretary. At least the papers wouldn¡¯t pile up even if she skips for a day at work.


    In a blink of an eye, Saturday came. Hastily finishing her work for the day, she left thepany an hour before lunch to make some time to change her attire and wear more appropriate clothes for the blind date.


    The lunch was booked beforehand in a luxury restaurant located at the center of the city that hails a floor to ceiling skyscr.a.p.er view of the entire city. A meal from these kind of restaurants is already almost an entire month¡¯s sry of an average working employee that¡¯s why Xiu Mei normally avoids eating out in such ces.


    Even though her family could financially support her, after that certain incident she didn¡¯t ask for mary help from them anymore and did part time job to earn money. She used the sries she earned for her personal expenses.


    It¡¯s not that she can¡¯t ask for her family¡¯s help, but rather, she didn¡¯t want to. Even after so many years, the shadow of that night still lingers every night as she sleeps.


    Her eyes roamed around the restaurant while waiting. Lightly tapping the table, she was thinking that the guy probably had no sense of time. He was alreadyte by ten minutes so Xiu Mei had the n on leaving the restaurant if that guy still fail toe after ten minutes. A minute after, someone finally stood in front of her table.


    "Hello, you must be Xiu Mei?" A guy with a clean cut hair, fair skin and round eyes appeared in her line of sight. Based from her first impression, she looked like a decent guy at least.


    "Yes, hello. Then you must be Han Min?" Xiu Mei shook hands with him as a greeting before they both sat down opposite of each other.


    Xiu Mei have a very good first impression with the guy¡ªhe looked polite¡ªbut by the end of their lunch, she really didn¡¯t feel like talking with him anymore. In a span of an hour, more than ten calls had interrupted their conversations and he answered them all.


    He kept saying that it was about work but working with people like Lu Chen for four years and mingling with people who had different personas when facing different kinds of people, she quickly realized Han Min¡¯s true nature.


    He must¡¯ve thought that she didn¡¯t notice those subtle smiles and faint voices of girls at the other side of the phone. He really didn¡¯t even bother distancing himself farther from the table before answering and after every phone call and would just walk a few steps away from her.


    He didn¡¯t even turn his back from her and because she studied lip reading as an elective during college, she knew all the conversation he had with the other person. Would a person having a phone call from work would say ¡¯I would be there tonight¡¯ or ¡¯Let¡¯s go to the club tomorrow and pick up girls¡¯?


    Xiu Mei would even see him smile smugly for a second before he changed into an angelic expression in front of her. Dealing with this kind of people, she really didn¡¯t want to spend any more time with them and swiftly ate her lunch. She was losing her appetite but she didn¡¯t want to waste the pricey food she paid for. And yes, they were splitting the bill. Thank god for that.


    "So, let¡¯s go out again next time?" She felt creeped out by the fake angelic smile he was giving her. Xiu Mei just threw out some excuse that she was busy at work and finally escaped from his clutches when he was trying to ask her number.


    Swiftly parting ways with him, she just hailed a cab and turned down the guy¡¯s offer to bring her home instead. When the cab finally drove off, Xiu Mei released her breath that she didn¡¯t even know she was holding.


    ¡¯Mom, you almost sold off your daughter to a pervert!!¡¯ She screamed in her mind. After telling the driver where to go, she pulled out her phone and texted her mom about the situation.


    "You¡¯re Auntie Lan introduced such a sc.u.m to my daughter?!" Her mom¡¯s angry voice reverberated from her phone. Xiu Mei could also hear her Dad¡¯s faint voice on the background trying to calm her wife down.


    "Well, he is a big pervert." Rubbing her cheek with her finger, she gave a disappointedugh. "That¡¯s why mom, you really should not pull any antics like these in the future. It¡¯s better for me to pick the guy rather than picking one for me."


    Does her mom really think that she¡¯s that old already? And it¡¯s not like she doesn¡¯t have any suitors at all you know. Though she turns them down due to her priorities.


    Her momined at her for a few more times repeatedly saying that if she left her alone with choosing her husband, she¡¯ll be an old spinster in no time. Xiu Mei just sighed from defeat and convinced her mom to stop putting her on blind dates because aside from the fact that she¡¯s not really interested in involving herself into some romantic rtionship right now, the emperor CEO will surely not let her take a lot of time off for such reasons.


    Hanging up the call, Xiu Mei just watched the scenery outside the window. She wasn¡¯t sure if she regretted taking half-day just to have this kind of result or celebrate because she now has free time to go somewhere without being bound by work.


    She made up her mind and went to the mall toze around. She wasn¡¯t nning on buying on anything thus just looked around the clothes and other merchandise that the malls are currently selling. She was slowly turning like her boss ah. Xiu Mei was unconsciously recording the trends that may be of use for their future business ns.


    "Xiu Mei? Mei¡¯er is that you?"


    A voice that sounded so familiar came from behind her. It would¡¯ve sounded so dreamy and hypnotizing for other females but for her, it was the voice of death.


    Her whole body shuddered as her mind was taken back from that night. Her memories brought her back to that night of terror where the once proud and innocent daughter of the Xiu family was trampled onto the ground without a fight.

 Chapter 4 - Disgust

    <h4>Chapter 4 - Disgust</h4>


    10 years ago.


    "Mei Mei, I¡¯m scared." A girl in uniform whispered in fear to her friend who was lying beside her. The both of them were tied up and left lying on the ground by the people who kidnapped them. Sweat and dirt .u.mted on their face and uniform due to being roughly handled by the kidnappers.


    Xiu Mei moved closer to Ying Yue. "Don¡¯t be afraid. Help wille."


    Xiu Mei tried to sound confident and strong but Ying Yue could still feel a trace of fear in her voice. Still, Ying Yue nodded and believed her friend¡¯s words. Help wille, and they will be saved.


    Xiu Mei tried to adjust her eyes in the small dark room and examined it. Aside from them, a few boxes and stic was stored in a corner. There was no windows for her to see whether it¡¯s been day or night hence she didn¡¯t even know how long they¡¯ve been imprisoned in this room.


    There were also no guards standing outside the said room since she¡¯s been trying to listen for any sound outside yet, she couldn¡¯t even hear a single whisper.


    Xiu Mei and Ying Yue have tried to free themselves from being bounded but they just couldn¡¯t. The ropes used on them were too thick to be cut and it was tied up pretty tightly. Realizing that their situation was really at the worst, both girls tried to stop themselves from tearing up.


    As daughters from wealthy families, they are the ones mostly targeted by the kidnappers. They could not show weakness in front of those people or else they¡¯ll be taken advantage off. They could only pray and wait for their families toe to their rescue. As a 14 year old teenagers, what can they do but wait?


    Present time.


    "Mei¡¯er, long time no see."


    Xiu Mei felt a tap on her shoulder so she instinctively moved her shoulder away to stop the person from touching her any further.


    Gathering herself, she coldly turned to look at the person behind her.


    "Zhu Lin." She uttered those words like it was a curse.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t hide her hatred at the guy as she stood in front of him with a suppressing aura. The girl who was with Zhu Lin could clearly feel the heavy atmosphere and unconsciously took a step back.


    The said target of hatred simply ignored the actions of his date as his entire focus was concentrated on Xiu Mei. He even shed a sweet smile in front of her making it look like the two of them have such a good rtionship.


    "It¡¯s been so long. Do you have time? Let me treat you to a meal."


    "..."


    She stopped herself from violently tearing the smile away from Zhu Lin¡¯s face as she distanced herself even more to him like she was allergic to him. She clenched her fists harder that she could feel the nails embedding on her skin.


    "If you don¡¯t have time, let me have your number instead. Just text me if you have a free time to have a meal with me, okay?" Zhu Lin pulled out his phone and tried handing it to her but what she did is pping away his hand.


    The phone made a loud sound as it fell on the floor. It garnered the attention of other people passing by them as Zhu Lin stood in surprise with her actions.


    "Zhu Lin, have you forgotten what I said about not showing yourself in front of me?" Her voiceced with rage could clearly be felt.


    "Mei¡¯er, are you still ming me because of that incident 10 years ago?"


    She snorted in disgust with his words. This person is acting like an innocent and unrted to what happened years ago.


    "You¡¯re mere presence disgust me the most." She stopped herself from tearing up as the memory of Ying Yue shed in front of her eyes.


    It was because of this guy that caused everything. It was his fault why Ying Yue.... Ying Yue died.


    "It¡¯s been 10 years, haven¡¯t you moved on? It¡¯s clearly not my fau¡ª"


    A resounding p was seen by the people watching them. Xiu Mei waspletely blinded by rage that she didn¡¯t even notice the crowd slowly forming around them.


    "You of all people do not deserve to say that." She turned and started walking away from him when she stopped to look back again.


    She did not direct her sight to Zhu Lin but to the girl beside him.


    "Miss, just a piece of advice. If I were you, I¡¯ll leave that guy. Didn¡¯t you know? His ex-girlfriend died because of him." Xiu Mei saw a shock expression form on the girl¡¯s face as she swiftly turned her head to look at Zhu Lin.


    Zhu Lin looked in panic at his girlfriend as he tried appeasing her.


    Xiu Mei smiled in contempt as she achieved what she wanted to do and continued walking away from them. She quickly hailed a cab to bring her home. As she rxed herself onto the seat, she opened her hands to see a trace of blood and crescent-like wounds on her palms.


    Staring at the blood and wounds, another memory shed in front of her. She immediately shut her eyes to stop herself from remembering it any further.


    Without opening her eyes, she leaned back her head onto the headrest.


    Her memory. Her hand that was stained with blood that her mind couldn¡¯t ever wash away in this lifetime.

 Chapter 5 - Lone Little Bun

    <h4>Chapter 5 - Lone Little Bun</h4>


    Lu Chen spent the whole day working in his office when Lu Shao knocked on his door.


    "CEO, the headquarters just informed me that the young master was missing."


    Pah!


    A loud sound of something breaking echoed inside the room. With all his might, Lu Shao tried to reduce his presence in the room. The moment he received the call from the CEO¡¯s home, he knew that a disaster was inevitable. But as his personal secretary, no one but him could report it hence, his life was always hanging by a thread every time his boss would explode from anger.


    "What are they cking for?! Immediately find him!" Lu Chen was beyond furious. He was already angry because of those ipetent bugs that kept pestering him everywhere and now, even his subordinates couldn¡¯t look after a child?!


    He stopped himself from throwing another object inside the room. He didn¡¯t want to spend another penny for a new table. Lu Chen hastily stood up and left the room while Lu Shao followed behind him.


    Inside the car, Lu Shao ryed the news that was reported to him.


    "The young master has been missing for an hour. Th¡ª"


    Pah!


    "And they¡¯re reporting it to me just now?" Lu Chen hissed as he rubbed his temples. He already resolved himself to fire all those employees at the vi due to their ipetence. He paid them to watch over a mere child and they couldn¡¯t even do their sole duty.


    "Fire them. Deploy Lu Ren¡¯s security and find him within half an hour. If not, they didn¡¯t have to bothering back."


    Lu Shao immediately called back to the headquarters to ry the CEO¡¯s instructions. Hearing the instructions, the subordinates at the other side of the phone knew that they would punished heavily by their boss when hees back. Not dying any more time, they gathered the young master¡¯s security detail and deployed all of them.


    "Ah, I forgot to buy groceries." Xiu Mei spoke to no one as she opened the refrigerator to whip something up. She examined the empty fridge and was reminded that she already used up thest of her food supplies two days ago and had to get take out yesterday.


    After spending almost 3 hours lying on the bed just to calm herself down and gather her thoughts once again, Xiu Mei went to change herself into a casual wear and walked out of her apartment.


    "Big sis!! Can you pick up my ball?!" A shout of child could be heard from her left. Not even knowing if she was the one being called, she unconsciously looked at the source of the voice and saw a little girl waving her hands trying to catch someone¡¯s attention.


    When the little girl met her eyes, she beamed and waved once again before pointing something at her...rather, at her feet. Xiu Mei blinked in confusion as she looked down to see a yellow ball just a few meters away from her.


    "Oh." She picked it up and crossed the distance between the two of them arriving at the yground where there are other kids who are ying. She was weed with a couple more kids who were watching her hand over the ball to the little girl and some were parents who were gossiping at the side.


    "Here you go." She shed a smile at the kid as she handed the ball to her. The little girl gave her thanks with a sweet smile as she ran off with the other kids to continue ying with them while Xiu Mei just stood there for awhile to watch them for a little bit.


    Smiling at the innocence of those kids, how she wished that those innocence of theirs won¡¯t be tainted and wouldn¡¯t have to face the reality of this world. If it were her, she would have chosen to just keep ying while thinking mindlessly what the others thought.


    Giving onest look as she eyed the whole yground, she turned her back to go to the nearby supermarket.


    It was already past 6 pm when Xiu Mei finished shopping. Holding 4 grocery bags, she walked to the familiar road of her house. She would¡¯ve directly went home by now if she didn¡¯t halt herself from walking as she passed by the yground once again.


    But it wasn¡¯t the noisy kids ying that attracted her attention this time but the supposed-to-be empty yground right now is left with a handful of kids ying on the swing and a little kid sitting under the tree.


    She tried to remember the scene when she left before going to the supermarket and remembered exactly that the kid was also sitting in that same position. Her eyes furrowed and she grew concerned as she thought that the child was just sitting there for almost an hour and a half without moving about.


    She even looked around at the other a.d.u.l.ts left but they were all focused on gossiping and it looks like they didn¡¯t even care about the lone child. The weight of what she¡¯s holding is slowly crawling back to her arms as she fixed her hold onto them.


    Hesitating whether to ignore the child and go home, she felt a drop of water fall on her face.


    "...well, sh*t." The weather forecast is not really reliable!!


    Xiu Mei took a deep breath and walked over to the tree where the child is squatting under.


    "Are you not going to y with them?" Xiu Mei looked over at the little child staring nkly at the other kids ying on the swing.


    "..."


    The little guy just remained sitting on the tree root at the center of the park. He made no motion to look at her as if he didn¡¯t hear her that¡¯s why she thought that this kid must¡¯ve just really stared nkly at the kids for that whole an hour and half from thest time she saw him.


    The empty stare that the kid gave disturbed her heart that stirred something within her. She was getting ufortable on seeing that kind of expression on a kid¡¯s face.


    There was no emotions in his eyes unlike the other kids. He did not move a single muscle and he was staring away like he couldn¡¯t see everyone in front of him. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t like that feeling. That look... that¡¯s not what you normally see on a kid¡¯s face. They should be happily smiling and freely ying around but this kid... his eyes was saying that he had no care about his surroundings nor the world. He was just... there.


    Knowing that the kid nned to not talk to her, she still pushed her luck as she sat down beside him. She rummaged inside her bag as she looked for the candy that she bought awhile ago. Finding it, she handed it to him as she tried to catch his attention.


    "Do you want to y?"


    "..."


    Still no answer. Xiu Mei scratched her head. She really didn¡¯t know how to talk with kids like him.


    "Where¡¯s your mom and dad? Did they go somewhere or something?" She was now spouting any question thates to mind because she had no idea how to make this kid speak. Expecting no response, she was surprised when the kid finally opened his mouth.


    "Yes."


    It was just a single word but Xiu Mei felt extremely delighted when she heart him.


    "So what time are they picking you up?"


    It was already past 6 pm and it looked like it will also rain sometime soon. She was also sure that his parents weren¡¯t around because if it were her, she wouldn¡¯t let her child be alone and just be isted from the other kids like this.


    That¡¯s why she got worried that his parents weren¡¯t picking him up when it¡¯s already thiste. This was the business district and even if themunity is very secure, some people would still try to do bad things and kidnap a child here and there at any time of the day.


    She scolded in her heart how irresponsible this child¡¯s parents were.


    "They¡¯ll never pick me up."


    Xiu Mei gasped. Did his parents.... Abandon him here?


    But his next words was what she didn¡¯t expect.


    "They¡¯re dead."

 Chapter 6 - Playmate

    <h4>Chapter 6 - ymate</h4>


    Xiu Mei gasped in shock. She suddenly want to p her mouth shut after realizing how careless she was with her previous questions. She must have hurt the kid¡¯s feelings when she pestered him and now she didn¡¯t know what to do.


    But before Xiu Mei could make any more coherent words, the little guy reacted once again that caught her attention.


    "Ah." Something in his eyes flickered to life. His gaze wasn¡¯t empty anymore. Mixed in it was various feelings.


    Xiu Mei followed where his eyes were looking at and noticed a couple hugging their child. It seems like they were there to pick up their child from the yground as the mother carried the child back to the car before the father drove away.


    Even the other a.d.u.l.ts that were there picked up their children on the swing and started walking away after bidding their goodbyes to each other.


    She blinked. Ah, so that was why.


    She looked back at the little kid beside her who was still staring away at the leaving car.


    Her heart tightened from pain when she finally realized the emotions circling in the child¡¯s gaze. It was envy and loneliness. This little child had to be feeling tremendous envy while watching the other kids.


    At this yground, he was the only one with no guardian. His father won¡¯t be able to hug him when he¡¯s tired. His mother wasn¡¯t there to wipe his sweat for him. It was....just him.


    Xiu Mei felt pity for this little one. He was still very young, an age where parental love is needed yet this kid had no one to make him feel that love.


    She had the urge to hug him tofort him but she knew the kid won¡¯t like it. He wasn¡¯t like the other kids that would cry when they¡¯re sad. He was acting like an a.d.u.l.t yet, he¡¯s still a little child in reality.


    Making up her mind, she stood up causing the little kid¡¯s gaze to turn to her. Xiu Mei smiled brightly at him and held out her hand.


    "Will you be my ymate?"


    The little kid didn¡¯t utter any word and gawked at her hand reaching out to him. His gaze stared there before looking at her face. She did her best to put the most enticing smile on her face.


    But before she heard his reply, the rain finally descended from the sky. Even though the both of them were sheltered under the tree, there were still a few drops of water that managed to slip by through the leaves.


    Xiu Mei cursed under her breath. Damn it, she forgot her umbre.


    She removed her nnel on the waist and immediately dropped it on the child¡¯s head. The kid just kept staring at her as Xiu Mei pulled her to stand up.


    Holding all her groceries in one hand and hugging the kid on the other, she spoke to kid before they left the ce. "Let¡¯s go home first, okay?"


    Xiu Mei saw the kid nod before they took their first step and ran to go to her home. She held the kid carefully as she stepped on the muddy puddles while taking a few turns in different blocks.


    After running for a few more minutes, she was finally home and pressing the code number at her house. She left her groceries leaning on the wall by the entrance as she busied herself with the kid with her.


    "I¡¯ll put your shoes right here, okay?" She informed the kid as she ced his shoes beside hers on the shoe rack. She hugged him up once again to help him change.


    Leaving a water trail behind, she walked across the living room and arrived in the bathroom. She put the kid down and pulled out a bathroom towel and small bathrobe from one of her cabs andid it on the marble counter.


    "Let¡¯s get you showered and changed so that you wouldn¡¯t get sick." She knelt down to his eye level while smiling gently at him. The kid just stayed in his nk facial expression before turning his head to examine her bathroom. After a few seconds, he looked at her once again.


    "Okay." He faintly replied to her words that almost sounded like a whisper. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes bloomed with happiness as she pulled him to the bath tub. As she expected, the kid waspletely calm even though he was in an unfamiliar ce. She even thought that this kid isn¡¯t even a bit cautious to her even though she was just a stranger for him.


    I wonder who his guardian is that they didn¡¯t even warn him about not talking with strangers.


    After finishing in giving him a bath, she wrapped him up with a kid-sized bathrobe and rubbed his hair with a bath towel to dry the dripping water from his hair.


    Xiu Mei on the other hand, just changed out of her wet clothes into a bathrobe without bathing. She then brought the kid to her room and took out her nephew¡¯s clothes from her cab. It was a tiger pajamas that she bought for her nephew but since she doesn¡¯t have any spare clothes that would fit the kid, this was what she was going to give him.


    Xiu Mei held out the pajamas in front of him to see if he was okay with it. The kid stared at it, his brows a bit furrowed but still nodded. She helped him change into it before changing into her home wear clothes.


    While settling him into the living room sofa, the kid spoke out of his own volition.


    "Sister, what¡¯s your name?" The kid blinked at her with curiosity.


    Then the thought hit her. Xiu Mei, you stupid! You forgot to introduce yourself to him!


    Xiu Mei thought her previous actions could be considered kidnapping. Even though she got the kid¡¯s permission, she still dragged him here to her house even though she herself didn¡¯t introduce her name to him. She got worried if his guardians would suddenly sue her if they knew that she dragged him here.


    "Xiu Mei. My name is Xiu Mei, you can call me Sister Mei." She patted the kid¡¯s head. "What is your name?"


    "...Lu Qiang."

 Chapter 7 - Failing as a Secretary

    <h4>Chapter 7 - Failing as a Secretary</h4>


    Lu?


    Hearing that familiar surname, the face of the emperor CEO instantly shed in her mind.


    Her eyes unconsciously traced back to the face of Lu Qiang with her thoughts in a mess. Xiu Mei examined his features and noticed some familiar simrities.


    The pair of jet-ck eyes that seems like a whirlpool pulling you into it and that funny curly hair that kept sticking out just above his nape. Xiu Mei have always made fun of Lu Chen¡¯s hair. He was always so neat and proper from top to bottom but always, always... it¡¯s that part of his hair that¡¯s very out of ce.


    Every once in a while, her giggle suddenly slips and Lu Chen for some reason would know what she¡¯s beenughing about and turns back to her to give her a death re.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts floated back to reality.


    Could he be...?


    Nah. That couldn¡¯t be. She¡¯s been working for him for 4 years, she of all people would¡¯ve known if he¡¯d dated someone, got married and got a son. Xiu Mei would¡¯ve been a failure as a secretary not to know information like that.


    Shifting her attention back to the kid, she smoothed his hair. "What do you wanna eat? Omurice? Pancake?"


    With Lu Qiang¡¯s improving attitude to her, the little guy waspletely rxed and his previous nk expressions became more colorful.


    Lu Qiang bowed his head as he clutched the ends of shirt looking like he was thinking hard on what to choose for dinner. Making up his mind, he raised his head and lips puckered.


    "Chicken Fried Rice." His voice was so soft that Xiu Mei controlled herself from pinching the cute little cheeks of the little kid.


    Ah, she really want to adopt him.


    shing a gentle smile, she nodded at him and grabbed the nearby remote before giving it to him.


    "Want to watch some cartoons while you wait?"


    "..."


    The guy looked at the remote for awhile before he grabbed her shirt and stood up.


    "I...I wanna help...cooking..."


    Inplete cloud nine, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t decline his request and brought him with her to the kitchen. Pulling a kitchen stool, she gave him a simple chore like washing the vegetables.


    The guy immediatelyplied and waspletely focused on aplishing his contribution. If Xiu Mei didn¡¯t look closely, she wouldn¡¯t have seen that slight curl on his lips that showed how cheerful Lu Qiang being given such a simple task.


    While waiting for the rice to be cooked, she washed the chicken and chopped them into cubes. Adding some spice and soy sauce for margination, she left it to sit for a couple of minutes.


    "I¡¯m done." Lu Qiang proimed as he turned to the big sister standing a few meters away from him. His eyes sparkled with the current activity he was doing as he climbed down the stool with the vegetables in his arms.


    Lu Qiang heard her thank him as the big sister epted the vegetables and handed him two raw eggs.


    "Then you can crack the egg in this bowl and whisk it properly, okay?" She handed him a bowl and a whisk as she gave the instructions.


    Lu Qiang nodded at her and walked back to table to continue his work.


    After a few minutes, she was done dicing the vegetables, so Xiu Mei cleaned her work station and walked to the table where the guy was focused on whipping the egg. She couldn¡¯t help but feel soft seeing the adorable smile on Lu Qiang¡¯s face.


    She couldn¡¯t help herself from smoothing his hair and patting his head.


    "Good job. I think that¡¯s already done." The Lu Qiang¡¯s movements stopped as heplied with her.


    She was just about to talk with him a little more when she heard the doorbell of her house rang.


    She crossed the living room to press the button and activate the video doorbell of her house. She was just about to speak who it was when the small LCD shed a closed up faces of the emperor CEO and Lu Shao.


    Xiu Mei almost had a heart attack upon realizing that her boss was standing outside her home...is he conducting a home check for his employees?!


    "Uhm... why...?" She was still pressing the mic button so Lu Chen and Lu Shao could hear what she was saying.


    "Open the door." Lu Chenmanded. Xiu Mei felt a dark aura brimming from him and heavy tone in his voice as he said that.


    She felt some dread and her mind waspletely in a jumble as she thought hard if she made some grave mistake on her work or something that even her boss had to visit her to her house just to scold her.


    She was almost pulling her hair as she walked to the entry way and opened her door. Composing herself despite panicking internally, she showed a confident smile as she asked them.


    "Good evening, Mr.Lu. Wee to my humble abode." She controlled her eyes from twitching as she stood in the side to give him some space to walk through.


    Lu Chen stepped inside her home but stopped in front of her.


    "Where is he?"


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion as her head titled on the side.


    "Who?"


    "My son."


    His son?


    "Why would your son be..." Her head automatically darted to the direction of the kitchen. Her eyes widened in shock as she finally had a clue who he was talking about.


    Turning back to Lu Chen, she questioned him to ask some confirmation.


    "...Don¡¯t tell me....?"


    Lu Shao suddenly popped from behind him and replied to her question.


    "Lu Qiang is his son."


    If she were in an anime, she would be able to hear the thunder roaring behind her.


    Xiu Mei suddenly remembered her previous thoughts and felt like crying.


    ....so she really is a failure as a secretary.

 Chapter 8 - Big Sister

    <h4>Chapter 8 - Big Sister</h4>


    "No."


    "Go home."


    "NO!"


    "GO.HOME."


    "NO!"


    Xiu Mei: ....


    Lu Shao: ....


    The two secretaries eyes wandered back and forth towards the big and small blocks of ice arguing with each other. The big block of ice towered over the little kid as he emitted an aura of extreme anger.


    The little block of ice on the other hand stood his ground against the big boss despite his height and did not surrender to his bid. Lu Qiang was desperately embracing the bowl of eggs on his arms like he was protecting it against a monster trying to steal it away from him.


    "Lu Shao, drag him back." The emperor CEO finally gave his final verdict. Since the little kid wasn¡¯t moving a budge, then he will take him away by force.


    "NO!!"


    Before Lu Shao could make a move, Lu Qiang hastily ced the bowl on the table and ran to Xiu Mei¡¯s side. He clutched her shirt as he stood behind her to hide from Lu Chen.


    "I¡¯m staying with Big Sister!! I¡¯m not going home with you!!" Then he stuck himself tightly onto Xiu Mei like a glue, never letting go.


    Xiu Mei immediately shuddered when she felt a sudden chill. Her eyes was following Lu Qiang that¡¯s why she her knees almost gave up in fear when she raised her head and saw the furious look on the emperor CEO¡¯s face.


    Will the emperor get her head today?


    Trying to remedy the current situation, Xiu Mei rubbed her nose as she spoke. "How about... having dinner for now?"


    Blinking, she didn¡¯t receive any response from the other three people around her. Panicking inside, she added. "Let¡¯s cool down first, shall we?"


    She didn¡¯t bother waiting for their response anymore and hugged back Lu Qiang who was hiding behind her. She walked to the kitchen with Lu Qiang in tow.


    "President, Shao ge, you can wait in the living room. I¡¯ll serve the tea and call you once we¡¯re done cooking." Xiu Mei said as she walked past them.


    She grabbed another egg and handed it to Lu Qiang. Kneeling to his eye level, "Let¡¯s cook for your father, okay?"


    Lu Qiang hesitated but still nodded before running back to the table to get the bowl of whisked eggs he¡¯d finished. He red to Lu Chen who was standing on the doorway before turning his back and went back to his devices.


    Lu Chen nced at the small back of Lu Qiang before turning around and walking back to the living room. Lu Shao followed suit behind him.


    "Ah."


    While Xiu Mei was preparing the tea, her hands suddenly stopped when she finally realized some contradicting information.


    Lu Shao said that little Qiang is the president¡¯s son.


    But the little kid told her back in the yground that his parents were dead.


    ... are the two of them not getting along to the point that Lu Qiang didn¡¯t want to recognize the president as his father?


    But I don¡¯t see the need of Lu Qiang to lie to her though? After all, I was a stranger until a while ago.


    And he didn¡¯t have call his father ¡¯dead¡¯ when in fact he¡¯s very alive and breathing right there at her living room.


    No, the other point is that she didn¡¯t even know that Lu Chen, the president, has a son.


    A freakin¡¯ adorable son!!


    Xiu Mei really couldn¡¯t believe at this fact.


    Of all people, the aloof president of mine dated and had a son without her knowledge.


    She waspletely confused about this.


    For thest four years, She and Lu Shao are the ones who had spent most of the time with him. Out of 24 hours a day, she would spend 15-18 hours with the president. Add the fact that she goes to work at weekend and don¡¯t even spend her vacation leave days.


    It would be like the president, Lu Shao and her are a set meal that you won¡¯t be able to order in a restaurant if one is missing.


    ...so all those time for sleep, did the president spend it dating? Without sleeping?


    Hmmm, the technology is so advanced this days. Probably through chatting? Video call?


    The girl would have to be soooo understanding if that was already enough for her.


    Or... live-in? Probably.


    ...But Lu Qiang said his parents were dead?


    Xiu Mei nced at the living room and saw the president on his phone once again.


    Since the father is alive, maybe Lu Qiang was talking about his dead mother?


    Oh.my.god.


    Xiu Mei almost pped herself. She really shouldn¡¯t be probing too much on sensitive topics such as that. Really, if anyone could hear her thoughts, she¡¯d be long beaten up by people.


    After serving the tea at the living room, Xiu Mei returned to her previous work and started chopping more vegetables. Then she cooked some dumplings as another side dish since her rice serving would probably not enough for 4 people.


    "I¡¯m done."


    Lu Qiang beamed at her proudly. Xiu Mei swept away her previous thoughts and concentrated on the little kid. She scooped the rice out on a different bowl and ced it beside the bowl of eggs in front of Lu Qiang.


    "Then pour about half of the eggs on the rice then mix it. Just continually add the eggs afterwards until everything is well-mixed, okay?"


    Lu Qiang nodded and went to work. She watched him pour the eggs and mixed the rice with a spat. Seeing that he was doing well, Xiu Mei went back to her cooking and started stir frying the chicken.


    The two of them cooked in a rxed atmosphere. Lu Qiang was watching in interest in her cooking while she was stir frying the rice with the chicken. The little kid was even popping some innocent questions like ¡¯would it taste good¡¯ and ¡¯can i help you cook and stir it¡¯.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but crush the adorable little kid into her embrace.


    Seriously, how could the ice block president have such an innocent and adorable kid like this?


    Problem with genes, perhaps?

 Chapter 9 - Sleep Here

    <h4>Chapter 9 - Sleep Here</h4>


    "Big Sister, this is yummy!!" Lu Qiang childishly eximed as he took a spoonful of the fried rice. Contrary to his stiff behavior with Xiu Mei when they first met, he waspletely settled in at her home and ignored everyone in his surroundings except Xiu Mei.


    Hence, the continuous drop of temperature in the room. Lu Shao and Xiu Mei¡¯s backs sweated despite the cold temperature as they sat stiff on their seats. Xiu Mei was actually marveling at the fact that Lu Qiang waspletely ignoring his father¡¯s state.


    Lu Qiang just kept on digging through his food and ate happily like the fried rice is the best food in the whole world.


    "Big Sister!" Xiu Mei paused from her thoughts and saw a spoonful of rice being reached out at her in front of her sight.


    Blinking, she nced at the little smile that Lu Qiang was giving to her.


    Her heart softened when she realized what he was trying to do. Was he trying to feed her?


    She held her squeal and reached out to lightly pinch his cheeks.


    The kid was a bit ufortable at her actions at first but still didn¡¯t p her hand away.


    "Thank you." She lightly said before opening her mouth to let him feed her.


    Feeling aplished, Lu Qiang revealed a smile of triumph before resuming his meal.


    While Xiu Mei and the little one is having there sweet little alone time, the emperor CEO narrowed his eyes at his son who was warming up to his female secretary.


    He was deeply confused as he thought about the actions of his son towards Xiu Mei.


    Lu Chen took care of Lu Qiang from infancy and he knew that his sonpletely inherited the Lu genes¡ªaloof and cold. The kid didn¡¯t like strangers to the point that he¡¯s not even close with his nanny and butler that he grew up with.


    Lu Qiang especially hates strangers and would evensh out when a stranger would try to go anywhere near him or try talking to him. And Lu Chen thought it was a good thing.


    Lu Chen thought that most people are cunning and a lot of people he had met before certainly have bad intentions as they tried reaching out to him. May it be male or female, most of them are the same. That¡¯s why he only trusted a handful of people and he keeps them close.


    Betrayal¡ªit was the greatest stain that he could not erase ever in his whole life.


    Hence, he became more cunning than them and fiercer than them.


    And he had taught Lu Qiang the same thing whenever he has the chance to spend time with him. He didn¡¯t want him to suffer from the hands of those dirty people.


    But now, seeing his son gettingfortable with his female secretary that he has never met before, he felt weird.


    Even though he knew that Xiu Mei is one of his most trusted subordinates, he felt a little bothered seeing them being sweet and friendly in front of him.


    He didn¡¯t understand why he was so bothered. Maybe it¡¯s because he was kind of disappointed seeing his son suddenly warming up to a person that he met for the first time?


    "Mr.Lu, was the food not to your taste?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s voice broke his line of thoughts as he nced at her. Their eyes met and it was the first time he was seeing a different expression on his female secretary¡¯s face.


    "Should I cook a different one?" She offered. He lightly shook his head before reaching out at the pair of chopsticks on the table. Removing his gaze from his son and Xiu Mei, he examined the dishes on the table.


    It was just a simple fried rice and dumplings but somehow, he felt a bit of warmth from it.


    Lu Chen¡¯s chopsticks reached for the dumplings as he started eating his meal. Seeing this, Lu Shao followed suit.


    Xiu Mei felt relieved when she saw that his boss didn¡¯tment about her cooking. She was kinda curious on what he thought of the taste but it was better not knowing than hearing him say that her cooking was bad.


    As the four of them finished eating, Xiu Mei cleaned the table with Lu Shao and Lu Qiang offering their help. She then ced everything in the dishwasher and left it there before going back to the living room.


    Once again, she saw the father and son ignoring each other as they say at the two ends of the sofa. while Lu Shao sat on the single seat.


    Not knowing what to do, she nced at Lu Shao and sent a message to him with her eyes acting like they have a telepathy.


    Lu Shao understood her look and gestured with his eyes on the direction of Lu Qiang. Following where his eyes were looking, she looked at the little Lu Qiang pouting.


    So what she understood was, if they don¡¯t take this little buddha away then the emperor CEO won¡¯t leave either.


    She sighed as she rubbed her temples. Really, this day couldn¡¯t be even more stressful.


    Xiu Mei crouched in front of Lu Qiang as she rubbed his head. Kids are easily convinced when you gently talk it out with them after all. Or maybe, her nephew¡¯s just more behaved than other kids.


    "Did you have fun?"


    Lu Qiang nodded with a sparkle in his eyes. She smiled upon learning that fact.


    "Big Sister had a fun day with you too. But you know, little kids shouldn¡¯t stay out toote."


    Xiu Mei watched Lu Qiang¡¯s face crinkle as she continued.


    "We can still have fun next time but right now, you have to sleep to grow, okay? So you have to go home with your father."


    "NO!" Lu Qiang crashed into her arms as his arms looped around her neck, fearing that she would shake him off.


    "I don¡¯t wanna go with father!"


    Lu Chen¡¯s face became darker hearing his words. Xiu Mei tried calming him down by patting his back instead.


    "But little Qiang..."


    "I¡¯ll stay with Big Sister! I¡¯ll sleep here with you!"


    BLAG!


    Weirdly, Xiu Mei heard something break as she was busy soothing Lu Qiang. She raised her head up and saw the towering build of Lu Chen that suddenly stood in front of them. He was looking down at Lu Qiang with a gaze that could kill.


    Clearly, his patience had run out.


    Xiu Mei understood. Ah, it must be the sound of his patience snapping.

 Chapter 10 - Little Qiang

    <h4>Chapter 10 - Little Qiang</h4>


    Xiu Mei suddenly felt for her life. Seriously, if looks could kill, she may have long died from the dagger-like stare that the emperor CEO is exuding.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if he was ring at her or at his son but either way, both aren¡¯t good news.


    On the other hand, if she didn¡¯t die from the hands of her boss, she would surely die fromck of air.


    She was clearly suffocated by the tight locked hug of Lu Qiang at her neck.


    ¡¯Little kiddo, I know you don¡¯t wanna go with you Dad but please don¡¯t kill me just to run away from him.¡¯ Xiu Mei thought in her heart as she tried gasping for air.


    Xiu Mei finally made a decision to save her life from the hands of this two stubborn childish ice blocks.


    Grabbing the arms of Little Qiang, she pulled it away and hugged him instead by locking his arms around hers. This way, she won¡¯t quickly cross the bridge of life, right?


    "Boss," She coughed lightly to easily brush off on what she called him. "I can actually take care of Lu Qiang for a night,you know. I don¡¯t really mind." That¡¯s why please don¡¯t kill me. Was her words that was left unsaid.


    Lu Chen looked fixedly at her watching her carry and hug his son. He could feel a little bit of frustration in his heart seeing it before he finally ignored whatever it was.


    Transferring his attention to the kid, he thought deeply. This guy... he really liked Xiu Mei that he¡¯s choosing to stay at her ce for the night.


    He sighed inside. His stubborness is really like a Lu, really unmovable.


    Lu Chen finally heeded to Lu Qiang¡¯s wishes. For now, that is.


    "Fine. Only for tonight."


    Lu Qiang¡¯s face bloomed like a flower in spring.


    Without speaking any words, he turned his head to look at Xiu Mei¡¯s face with a beaming smile.


    Xiu Mei rubbed his head in response with a gentle smile on her face.


    "I will take good care of him, Mr.Lu." She spoke, lightly ncing at the side.


    Lu Chen nodded immediately,his expressionless face returning.


    After the two finally settled in a decision, the emperor CEO and Lu Shao finally left her ce. Well, Lu Shao gave her a few pointers on what Lu Qiang could not eat and other necessary stuff.


    "It¡¯ste, should we prep you to sleep?" She pinched Lu Qiang¡¯s face lightly. His face was as empty as his father though,the changes were noticeable from when they first met.


    Pulling Lu Qiang to the bathroom, she helped him wash his face. She took out a new kiddie toothbrush(courtesy of her nephew), and helped him brush his teeth.


    Finally, they went to bed.


    "I¡¯ll read a bedtime story for you, is that okay?"


    Seeing him nod, Xiu Mei opened her bedside table to pull out some of the storybooks she had hid there.


    Half an hourter, Xiu Mei slowly closed the book and carefullyid it on the bedside table. Then she softly gazed at the sleeping figure of Lu Qiang.


    Ah, so cute. So adorable.


    Who would believe that this little kid is made by that emperor boss of hers.


    It sounds like a biggest joke ever.


    Even though the little kid looks like a mini Lu Chen, the little kiddo is more innocent and less cautious when expressing his emotions.


    Even though little Qiang is trying to be like his father, he still couldn¡¯t grasp his sudden surge of emotions as a little kid.


    That¡¯s why he¡¯s better. This is better than having you face muscles stiff all the time.


    Xiu Mei gave a kiss on his forehead before slipping back into the covers to sleep beside the little kid. Gentlyying down her arm on the nket on the side of Little Qiang, she smiled.


    "Goodnight, little one." She whispered as she drifted off to sleep.


    Sunday.


    Just like her previous weekends, Sunday rest would not even be discovered in the face of work for Xiu Mei. Not that she hates it but, she¡¯s always reminded how workaholic she was just like her boss.


    As the first agenda of the day, she is to prepare breakfast for his highness, the crown prince.


    Xiu Mei left the kid on the bed not before leaving a kiss in his forehead. Then she quickly took a bath before starting cooking.


    Hmmm.... would bacon and eggs be fine? French Toast? or probably pancake?


    Feeling undecided, she just cooked whatever she saw first on the cab. Which was the bread, hence, french toast it is.


    To make the french toast better, she added a bit of spice on the egg and milk mixture before soaking the bread. For the final touch, confectioner¡¯s sugar.


    Xiu Mei smiled like a champion seeing her work. Maybe it¡¯s better if she adds bacon, no?


    Walking back to the fridge, she took out the bacon and cooked it on a fry pan.


    After finishing everything, she transferred all the dishes on the table.


    Xiu Mei was still in the middle of preparing the fork and knife when a bullet like thing crashed onto her body that almost propelled her towards the kitchen counter and almost dropped the things she was holding.


    She peeked below to see who the bullet was and instead of getting mad, her heart softened even more like a jelly.


    It was Lu Quang hugging her leg so tightly.


    "Goodmorning, little one." Giving a mother-like smile at him, she rubbed her head.


    Lu Qiang then raised his head and stared at her, his eyes almost watery.


    "Mom."


    BLAG! CRASH!


    Uh....yeah. That was the sound of the sses breaking.

 Chapter 11 - Calm Before The Storm

    <h4>Chapter 11 - Calm Before The Storm</h4>


    Xiu Mei almost had a heart attack after hearing what Lu Qiang called her.


    Scenarios yed inside her head, imagining on how many ways would her emperor CEO would kill her.


    Behead her?


    Shoot her?


    Torture her?


    She lightly touched her neck. Would her head fly off thinking that she manipted his son to call her mom?


    Xiu Mei had a strong urge to bury her face on her hands. Gawd, her life will be over if she doesn¡¯t fix this problem.


    "Little Qiang, let¡¯s sit down first." She pulled the little kid onto the table and sat him on one of the chairs. She sat at the chair beside him before talking it out with him.


    "You must¡¯ve been really tired from yesterday. I think you¡¯re still a bit sleepy." She rubbed his head lightly.


    Instead of correcting his previous words, Lu Qiang just shook his head. "You¡¯re mom."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s smile turned stiff.


    "I¡¯m your big sister."


    "Mom."


    Xiu Mei blinked with the stubbornness of Lu Qiang. She didn¡¯t know what to do on how to convince him to stop calling her mom without hurting his feelings.


    Her attention was then caught when her phone buzzed to life. Grabbing her phone, she stood up and went back to the kitchen to grab another ss. She answered her phone by sandwiching it between her head and shoulder.


    "Hello?"


    "This is Lu Shao."


    "Yes, what is it?"


    "Mr.Lu said that he¡¯ll have someone to pick you all up from there. The driver would just then drop you off here at the office."


    Xiu Mei dutifully ced filled the sses with water after cing it in front of Lu Qiang who had started eating his breakfast. It looked like he liked what she cooked for breakfast and the problem she was having awhile ago instantly vanished in her mind.


    "Got it. Thanks."


    Hanging up the call, she ate with the little kid. The both of them took their time and enjoyed their breakfast before dressing up into a more presentable clothes.


    An hourter, Xiu Mei held the kid in one hand as she want out of her apartment. There, she saw a ck car with a driver standing guard just beside it. He was looking at their direction and instantly, she understood that it was the driver that was sent by the emperor CEO to pick them up.


    She urged Lu Qiang to greet him good morning before climbing up the car. She greeted him too before she followed behind the little kid at the back seat of the car.


    The two of them parted ways when she arrived at thepany. Though, she left him her phone number in case little Qiang wants to y with her again. After all, she has a soft spot for little kids.


    It was a weekter when she met Lu Qiang again.


    It was one of the busiest day in thepany. There were a lot of things being coordinated with different departments during their transition period. Some teams were being trained to be sent out to the field and some had been held in the office for quite some time due to the workload.


    As such, Lu Shao and Xiu Mei were also pulling a lot of overtimes due to this.


    Xiu Mei was in the midst of reading an important file when Lu Chen arrived at his office. She stood up to greet him when she stopped realizing the current mood her boss was in. Lu Shao was also frozen stiff on his tracks when he saw his boss.


    "G-good morning, Mr.Lu." The both of them greeted him with a nervous voice.


    Lu Chen on the other hand continued walking to his office, acting like he didn¡¯t even notice the presence of his secretaries.


    "What happened?" Xiu Mei mouthed at Lu Shao who was at the opposite table.


    Lu Shao shrugged indicating that he was also clueless why the boss was in a bad mood.


    The both of them got even more worried for what lies ahead. Everytime Lu Chen was in a bad mood, he always snaps at the lightest mistake and everyone gets a good earful of scoldings afterwards. He tends to get pickier and he would even lock himself up in his office for more than a whole day.


    Hence, it was the worst news ever at the worst time possible.


    Every employee in thepany were at the edge due to this emperor CEO of theirs.


    "Xiu Mei."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s focus snapped when she heard someone call her name. Her head turned to her telephone that was blinking indicating that someone had paged her. She automatically stood up from her seat and fixed the creases on her clothes before knocking on the door to indicate her entry.


    Inside, she saw a table with piled up folders and Lu Chen who was sitting with his back in front of her.


    "What assistance did you need, Mr.Lu?" She asked.


    Lu Chen slowly turned his seat to face his secretary. He didn¡¯t answer her question as he examined his secretary from her feet up to her face.


    Sensing that examining gaze, Xiu Mei felt even more nervous.


    It was a minuteter when Lu Chen finally spoke.


    "How was the blind date?"


    Xui Mei¡¯s brows furrowed with confusion. Why was her boss asking her about her blind datest weekend? And why is he addressing it only right now?

 Chapter 12 - Different

    <h4>Chapter 12 - Different</h4>


    Being scrutinized by the emperor CEO, Xiu Mei almost unconsciously stepped back in nervousness.


    "Uh.... it went fine." She wanted to say that her blind date was a sc.u.m but she didn¡¯t want her boss to know that she had wasted that half day off just to know that.


    "Hmm." Lu Chen nonchntly replied as he kept staring at her. He was taking a long heavy stare at her face before following up another question. "Dating?"


    Xiu Mei almost shuddered at the question."No!" She almost shouted in defense.


    Lu Chen realized this and the corners of his mouth curled upwards.


    "It must¡¯ve been a terrible guy." Heughed in mockery to the supposed to be blind date partner of hers.


    Finally caught by the emperor CEO, Xiu Mei felt speechless. "Uh...."


    Should she try making excuses?


    Lu Chen, on the other hand was not exactly himself. He was always direct with his questions instead of going around it. He doesn¡¯t like wasting his time in asking useless questions in which he could¡¯ve easily gained his desired answer in just a few words.


    But now, he was paving his way to his secretary with a bunch of nonsense questions. Lu Chen felt very awkward asking about Xiu Mei¡¯s rtionship as he was always ignorant about it before.


    But now, he can¡¯t just simply ignore it anymore.


    Lu Qiang, his son was so attached to this secretary of his that he would only talk about Xiu Mei when talking about him. He would always find that little kid on his phone, either texting or calling with his secretary.


    That little kid had even volunteered to follow him to thepany just to meet her though, he would always reject his requests.


    That¡¯s why he got more concerned about his secretary¡¯s welfare. Since Xiu Mei is now the one Lu Qiang¡¯s trusts the most, Lu Chen should be more cautious of who tries to get on Xiu Mei¡¯s graces.


    He trusts Xiu Mei¡¯s capability in choosing which people to befriend and to be more cautious but if people learns of his son¡¯s existence and his extreme closeness with his secretary, the two of them would be an easier target instead of directly attacking him.


    Since Lu Qiang is quite special, a lot of people took an interest with him since birth. Hence, he was always on guard with everything about him. He wasn¡¯t just a Lu...he was.... different.


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t let his guard down or else, everything will be for naught.


    That¡¯s why now that Lu Qiang is growing so rapidly, he¡¯s be more hands on of his security. Especially thest time that the little kid was able to escape under his radar without anyone noticing.


    "So y--"


    Before Lu Chen could start speaking another word, his telephone sted off.


    He was a bit frustrated that he couldn¡¯t achieve the agenda that he wanted for this conversation, but work is work. This is also important.


    Sending a look to Xiu Mei to let her stay there, he pressed the ept button and Lu Shao¡¯s voice was heard from the speakers.


    "Mr.Lu, the representative from the Mno International have arrived. They are now waiting for you in conference room A."


    Finally remembering that he still have some important work to do, he replied a single word of okay before standing up from his seat.


    "Let¡¯s go." He said to Xiu Mei as he walked past her. Xiu Mei nodded and followed behind him as the both of them walked out of his office.


    They saw Lu Shao standing by the elevator waiting for the two of them before pressing the down button.


    The elevator doors opened and the three of them got inside, and went directly to the conference room.


    While making their way to the conference room, Xiu Mei¡¯s unfortunate streak of events continued from where it left offst weekend.


    "Mei¡¯er, it¡¯s really you! We must have been really fated with each other to be able to meet like this right here!"


    The guy ignored all the people around the surroundings and just went straight to her direction stopping in front of her.


    He shed his dor smile again, trying to make it as charming as possible--which in Xiu Mei¡¯s opinion was very creepy.


    Xiu Mei took two steps backward to maintain the distance with him.


    "Mr.Han, it has been awhile." She tried her best to stop her eyes from twitching and her expression turning too stiff.


    Ah yes, it was Han Min.


    That flirty blind date of hers.


    Speak of the devil and he shalle.

 Chapter 13 - My Person

    <h4>Chapter 13 - My Person</h4>


    Speak of the devil and he shalle.


    How scary and true this sentence was. Xiu Mei thought as she sat beside Lu Chen and listened to the person talking about some business-rted details. For almost an hour, she desperately tried to ignore Han Min¡¯s presence in the room.


    The flirty sc.u.m of a man did not even try hiding his flirtatiousness and would always look her way for every minute. Xiu Mei shuddered everytime she catches him staring at her and had to stop the urge from calling the security to have him dragged outside of the building.


    The meeting took about almost 2 hours before they finally came to a final decision.


    "Lu Corporation won¡¯t coborate with Mno International with this project." Lu Chen announced his decision that surprised Han Min, and the 2 other representatives from Mno International.


    On the other hand, Lu Shao and Xiu Mei weren¡¯t the least bit surprised to what he said. After all, they sat and listened throughout the presentation.


    Mno International and Lu Corporation had been talking about this coboration project for months. Since Mno International is headquartered in foreignnd, they were the ones responsible forying out the foundation and proposal for the project.


    The representatives had presented the estimated numbers needed and they would earn for this project but it fell short of their expectations. Xiu Mei knew that Mno had screwed it up big time. Requesting for the project¡¯s expenses to be raised even with the 80% chance of it not being able to produce good results is too much.


    For businessmen, taking risks are unavoidable. But blindly attacking was different. Bothpanies did their research but Mno was trying to push through the project without a valid reason the continuation.


    "Mr.Lu, may we ask why?" Han Min asked as the representative director from Mno.


    "You presented it yourself. Don¡¯t you understand your own numbers?" Lu Chen spoke then he nced at Xiu Mei signalling her to exin it further.


    She realized this and started exining. "Lu Corporation had agreed to coborate with Mno International for this project with the promise of good results, and what you have presented to us fell short of what you expected us to give you for the budget. That is why, ending this project would be a better option than going for it."


    "But we can still--"


    "This meeting is over." Xiu Mei cut him off. The three of them stood up from their seats and walked out of the office.


    "Lu Shao, send them off." Lu Chen nonchntly instructed as they continued to walk to the elevator. Lu Shao replied to him and had paused from walking to follow his orders.


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei made their way to the elevator. Xiu Mei followed behind Lu Chen as he stepped inside the small space when her wrist was grabbed that made her stop.


    Turning around, it was Han Min who had grabbed her.


    "Listen to me for a little bit." Without waiting for her reply, he tried to drag her away but Xiu Mei put up a fight and tried pulling her hand away from him.


    "Mr.Han, what are you trying to do? Let me go."


    "Just for a second." Han Min continued on trying to drag her away.


    Xiu Mei kept on trying to pull back from his hold.


    "Mr.Han, I advise to let me go this instant or else--"


    "Lu Shao." A grim voice filled with anger reverberated from the elevator. In an instant, Lu Shao appeared between Xiu Mei and Han Min breaking his hold to her.


    "I leave calling the security to you. I don¡¯t want him in front of me again." Lu Chen followed up as he stepped by the entrance of the elevator and grabbed Xiu Mei¡¯s arm before pulling her to his side.


    Being suddenly pulled by her boss, Xiu Mei froze in surprise and wasn¡¯t able to react on time. Before she even realized it, she was already in the arms of Lu Chen, his arms around her shoulders.


    She had even forgotten the presence of Lu Shao and Han Min that was just in front of them.


    Lu Chen look at Xiu Mei for a few seconds before looking back at Han Min again.


    "Mr.Han," He gave a smile that was not exactly a smile at Han Min. It was a threatening smile that the emperor CEO often shows to people who persistently tried to get close to him. "I forbid anyone from touching my person."


    "M-My person? Are you two...?" Han Min first gave a confuse look at Lu Chen before his eyes widened like he had realized something big. He looked at the two of them in shock.


    But Lu Chen didn¡¯t honor him any more words and just pressed the close button. As the elevator doors closed,Xiu Mei woke up from her reverie.


    She finally understood the words that the emperor CEO had said to Han Min but before she could ask further about it, Lu Chen beat her to it by asking her.


    "He was your blind date, wasn¡¯t it? The disappointing one." Lu Chen spoke like he wasn¡¯t telling her this to ask but it was aplete confirmation that Han Min was the one she was pertaining about from their previous conversation in the office.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t bother hiding it and nodded at his sentence. Lu Chen¡¯s smiled in mockery.


    "What a waste of your time." He eximed. Xiu Mei fell silent and was clueless on how to continue their conversation. She was confused why the emperor CEO of hers was even pursuing this conversation in the first ce.


    "I¡¯ve decided."


    "...?" Xiu Mei looked up in confusion at Lu Chen once again who was smiling at his reflection in the elevator doors.


    "Xiu Mei."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s heart jumped in shock upon hearing her name being spoken from Lu Chen¡¯s mouth. Even from before, Lu Chen had always called her by her surname Ms.Xiu whenpared to Lu Shao who was his personal secretary.


    This fact, she understood. Lu Chen trusted her with his business empire but if wepared it to the trust that he have with Lu Shao, it was apletely different matter. Unconsciously, she was anxious about it but the only thing she could do was to continue working hard and gain his trust.


    That was why she was taken in surprise when Lu Chen called her by her full name.


    Lu Chen finally turned to look at her straight in her face. His face full of resolution and she was even more confused to what he had decided.


    "Marry me."

 Chapter 14 - Mom rewarding the son

    <h4>Chapter 14 - Mom rewarding the son</h4>


    "Marry me."


    DING!


    That was the elevator sound that meant they have arrived on the presidential¡¯s floor.


    Without dying for even just a millisecond, Xiu Mei¡¯s body automatically dashed through the still opening doors barely fitting in between. Her body moved like it had a mind on their own that she ran to thedies¡¯fort room.


    She didn¡¯t dare turn her back and immediately closed the door to lock it.


    "Hah...." She didn¡¯t know if she was panting because she ran all the way from the elevator to the restroom or because her heart was thumping so hard against her chest that she almost couldn¡¯t breathe.


    Her hand still clinging onto the doorknob, her knees finally gave away that she was now kneeling on the floor. Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts were in aplete chaos, that she couldn¡¯t even create any coherent thoughts.


    All she knew was that she had to runaway and be alone. Her heart was thumping like crazy and her legs felt so soft that she couldn¡¯t find the energy to stand.


    She was clutching her chest so hard like she was trying to make it calm down.


    Marry me.... Marry me....


    "Shit."


    Completely losing it, her hands unconsciously pulled her hair messing up the bun she had styled that morning. She buried her head between on her knees as she tried her best to straighten up her thoughts.


    It was only until five minutester when she had grasped a quarter of her lost sanity. She stood in front of the mirror by the sink and stared at her messed up appearance--messy hair, and creased clothes.


    She blinked. The scene from the elevator shed in her mind again. Xiu Mei faintly saw her cheeks turning red from embarrassment.


    Unconsciously, she touched her cheek. "Stupid Xiu Mei."


    Yes, this was stupidity. She was acting like a high school getting fl.u.s.tered because she was confessed for the first time. But now, she was an a.d.u.l.t. Also, she was never one to get fl.u.s.tered when people confesses to her or try to force themselves on her.


    Being in this industry, she had met countless people who tried to propose to her or try to sleep with her. That was why she was quite used on handling at those types of situations and are always cautious whenever she was meeting with people like that.


    Lu Chen was also aware of the lecherous thoughts of other businessman that was why as much as possible, he would never try to work with them or have Lu Shao face them instead of his female secretary.


    Thinking of him, she was reminded of his deration from awhile ago. Of all the people, she had not expected to hear those words from her boss. Maybe, that was why she had gotten so fl.u.s.tered that she was barely able to calm herself.


    Xiu Mei closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her eyes opened, finally showing some regained rity and calmness.


    "The boss must¡¯ve been drunk."


    Yes, drunk. It must be. Xiu Mei thought.


    The normal emperor CEO would¡¯ve never uttered those kind of words to anyone especially to her. Lu Chen maybe aloof, but he is a decent man. He was never one to abuse his power and force himself into females, heck, she had thrown out countless women who had tried to climb his bed numerous times before.


    Before, she even thought that Lu Chen would continue being a bachelor not until she met his son. That was why she was surprised that the emperor CEO do have thoughts and time for romance.


    Ah, yes. He... has a lover. Otherwise, would Lu Qiang just pop out from nowhere?


    Yes, let¡¯s take his words from awhile ago like a wind. No, should be something like it never happened. Let¡¯s just forget it.


    Xiu Mei fixed herself into a more presentable look as she regained more calmness and sanity. Finally finding the courage to return to her work, she unlocked the door and returned to her cubicle.


    Trying her best to make it seem like everything was normal just like how it was everyday, she buried herself in her work until she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.


    "Hello, this is Xiu Mei speaking." She didn¡¯t even bother checking the called ID as her hands continued on typing on the keyboard.


    "Mom!"


    Hearing that disastrous title, her focuspletely shifted from her work onto the person on the other line. Of all the people she knew, the only one who had dared to call her mom was no other than the son of her boss.


    Even though she had spent hours of exining why Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t supposed to call her mom, the kid never listened to her and just called her whatever title he liked so Xiu Mei justpletely gave up from trying to change her mind anymore.


    Really, stubbornness runs in their genes.


    "Hi, little Qiang. Have you eaten your dinner?" She greeted.


    "Yes, mom. I also finished eating the vegetables on my te."


    "That¡¯s awesome, little Qiang! I¡¯ll give you some reward for being a good boy for this past week. What do you want?"


    "Hmmmm..."


    Lu Qiang is really adorable! Xiu Mei thought to herself as she waited for Lu Qiang to make up his mind. Oh, how she wish she could hug little Qiang right now. Kids are really good recharge pills you know!


    While she was smiling like an idiot waiting for the kid¡¯s decision, she heard the door of the CEO office open. Following the source of the sound, she saw Lu Chen stepping out of the office.


    Surprised by his appearance, she panicked especially when Lu Chen made eye contact with her. Her hold on her phone loosened as it dropped onto the carpeted floor. She didn¡¯t know how it happened but the next thing she knew was that Lu Qiang¡¯s voice echoed inside the room.


    "Then mom, read me a bedtime story tonight again!"


    "..."


    "..."


    Two pairs of eyes fell onto the phone lying screen side down on the ground.

 Chapter 15 - Supportive Dad?

    <h4>Chapter 15 - Supportive Dad?</h4>


    "Mom?"


    "..."


    "..."


    Little Qiang¡¯s voice continued to sound from Xiu Mei¡¯s phone speakers. It seems likes the heaven was seriously not on her side today. How the hell did the call turn into speaker mode?!


    Xiu Mei did not dare look at Lu Chen¡¯s eyes. She kept her head down as she chanted her prayers in her mind.


    So is this the D-day for her beheading? Xiu Mei almost kneeled down to cry.


    Would Mr.Lu think that she was trying to dupe his son just to get close to him like the previous girls who tried to climb his bed? Will she be fired?


    Even though Xiu Mei looks not a bit panicked from her outer appearance, clearly, her mind was in chaos.


    She was imagining the worst case scenarios that she didn¡¯t notice the slight curl that made their way in Lu Chen¡¯s mouth.


    The mighty emperor CEO who was staring at the phone was chuckling silently. He was quite bewildered by his reaction but he did not mind the slip of his emotions in front of his secretary.


    Hearing his son calling his secretary that certain endearment, he wasn¡¯t angry at all. Contrary to what Xiu Mei had imagined, he was actually fine with Lu Qiang calling Xiu Mei ¡¯Mom¡¯.


    After all, it was the only role that he, Lu Chen, could never make up for.


    Seeing no actions from Xiu Mei, Lu Che took the liberty of picking up her phone from the carpeted floor. While crouching, he took a quick peek at Xiu Mei who was facing downwards.


    He didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry when he read the emotion on her face. Though Xiu Mei had picked up a lot of things from him and Lu Shao for the past 4 years, for Lu Chen, her trying to remain herposed expression would always be seen through by him.


    He had a faint clue on what¡¯s running on Xiu Mei¡¯s mind at this very moment upon seeing her expression.


    Still, being able to watch the slight change of emotions of Xiu Mei is a pleasurable thing for Lu Chen.


    Xiu Mei was the only female he had been very close to for the past few years. He had watched Xiu Mei grow from an innocent sheep into a tigress upon entering the industry.


    Hence, of all the females he¡¯d known, Xiu Mei was the best candidate to be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother.


    Since he knew her personality very well, he also knew that he had scared Xiu Mei when he proposed for marriage awhile ago.


    His proposal was hasty, he wasn¡¯t surprised when Xiu Mei suddenly dashed away from him. He actually felt that her reaction was too cute. It was very rare for Xiu Mei to bepletely defenseless and her emotionspletely shown on her face. It was a very funny scene.


    "Mom? Are you still there?" Lu Qiang¡¯s voice echoed once again.


    Lu Chen¡¯s thoughts were suddenly cut off that he finally remembered that the call was still connected.


    "Qiang." He answered instead of Xiu Mei as Xiu Mei was still deep in her thoughts.


    "...Dad? Are you making Mom do overtime again?"


    "Yeah. Go fix yourself, she and I will go home now so that she can read you some bedtime stories just like you wanted."


    Xiu Mei who was suddenly being dragged to the Lu home without permission: ....

 Chapter 16 - S.e.xy Lu Chen

    <h4>Chapter 16 - S.e.xy Lu Chen</h4>


    In front of Lu Chen, Xiu Mei was extremely powerless in terms of dominance. The possibility of winning when going against his words were about 1%? or less?


    So an hourter, Xiu Mei stood in front of the big front door of the Lu Mansion. Her eyes wandered around as she took in every detail of the home. Instead of the modern architecture, the Lu home¡¯s exterior was an oriental type. The house was only until the second floor but the mansion was very wide and spacious.


    As soon as she stepped inside, she understood that Lu Chen lived a minimalist lifestyle. Aside from a handful of paintings and vases, everything was just the basic things you¡¯ll see in a normal home.


    Inside was the spacious living room¡ªthe L-shaped sofa, a coffee table and the 75" Curved TV.


    The walls were in white while the furniture are mostly ck. To be exact, it was very monotonous.


    "No wonder Lu Chen and Lu Qiang were like that." She whispered. Those 2 blocks of ice are so stiff and aloof that their tastes in fixtures were really... boring.


    Even though Xiu Mei lived a minimalist lifestyle, she still have a few colors here and there. If we reallypare Lu Chen¡¯s home to hers, anyone can very well understand whose home they are.


    While she continued to roam her eyes around the room, she saw something dash to her direction in her peripheral view.


    "Oof!" She took a step back due to the crashing impact of Lu Qiang as he rushed to hug her legs. Looking down, she hovered over him as he looked up to stare at her. Though not obvious, his facial expression is almost nk, except for the fact that his eyes are twinkling and livelier than it was before she came.


    "It¡¯s been awhile, little Qiang." Xiu Mei crouched to level her eye sight with Lu Qiang as she rubbed his head. The little guy nodded as he once again hugged her by locking his arms around her neck. Xiu Mei cheerfully epted his hugs as she embraced him back.


    The two of them were so focused with each other they did not see the darkening face of Lu Chen who were watching the two of them. He didn¡¯t know why but everytime he sees his son and Xiu Mei be so affectionate like that, he feels too ufortable. Was his moods getting weird?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s attention was drawn to Lu Chen when he made a slight cough clearing his throat while trying to catch their attention. She paused before she realized that she hadpletely forgotten Lu Chen¡¯s presence whilst focusing on Lu Qiang.


    Her arms locked around firmly on the little kid, she carried him as she stood up from her crouching position.


    "Uh... I¡¯ll be putting him to bed as per instruction." She hesitantly said, as her eyes continued to avoid eye contact with Lu Chen. From that sudden proposal from awhile ago and the embarrassment of forgetting his presence, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t hold a proper eye contact with him yet.


    "Okay." Lu Chen replied. "His room is at the second floor, two doors at the left."


    She nodded, noting the directions as she started to walk away from him. But as soon as she took her first step on the stairs, she heard Lu Chen say something once again.


    "Xiu Mei." He had called spoke her name with such a hypnotizing tone that Xiu Mei¡¯s heart unconciously made a flip. Her actions paused as she turned her head to look back at her boss that was suddenly looking at her with such intensity she couldn¡¯t describe.


    "We¡¯ll talk againter." was his words before he turned his back and disappeared in her vision. He did not bother waiting for her reply and just left her and Lu Qiang alone in that area.


    Xiu Mei snapped back from her reverie a few seconds after, her thoughts whirling around in her head. Her heart was thumping a bit wildly, clearly nervous to what they will talk aboutter. In her heart, she knew what he was pertaining about but his mind was denying such dangerous thoughts.


    As she continued climbing up the stairs, there were one sentence that kept repeating in her mind.


    ¡¯Marry me.¡¯


    -


    "Goodnight, Mom." Lu Qiang¡¯s voice slowly disappeared in his sleep as she finished telling him a bedtime story.


    "Goodnight." She whispered back, leaving a kiss on his forehead. In a second, Lu Qiang was already ying in his dream world. Xiu Mei tucked Lu Qiang¡¯s nkets properly before she left his room.


    Since she didn¡¯t know what to do next, she went downstairs to go back to the living room hoping to see someone to ask where Lu Chen was. But it was like she and Lu Chen were having a weird telepathic ability that day that she saw him sitting in the living room.


    Though, what she had seen waspletely stopped her on her tracks.


    Xiu Mei stopped from her steps, marveling at the sight in front of her. Her boss, the emperor CEO, in his casual glory¡ªa navy long-sleeved cotton shirt paired with gray cotton pajamas. He was wearing a thin ck framed sses as he casually sipped a calming tea while holding a piece of paper in his other hand. His hair was a bit messy, unlike his usual neat hairstyle he had at work. Though, his messy hair added more s.e.xiness and charm that he was oozing right now.


    In all fairness, Xiu Mei had seen her share of good-looking guys in her 25 years of living. It would be a lie if she wasn¡¯t attracted to some good-looking guys, there were some she had a crush on while she was still studying and there were also some handsome businessmen she had met in some parties in the past. But her aloof boss was quite different.


    Lu Chen was one of the hottest guys she¡¯d known, but in her opinion, there were still a lot who was more good-looking than him. He was fairly well built in terms of body structure, and often, it would be highlighted by the tight-fit business suits he would wear in some days.


    Maybe she had gotten to used to seeing his attractive face that was why she really felt nothing about him but now, she could feel some light ripples somewhere in the depth of her being as she saw him wearing suchfortable and casual clothes.


    It was kind of s.e.xy. For real. So this was how much of a visual impact Lu Chen has when he wears homewear clothes.


    Xiu Mei paused for a few seconds beforeposing herself once again. Dang it, why was he so damn good-looking?


    Lu Chen long felt her presence even before she had reached the living room. He couldn¡¯t stop chuckling lightly as he sipped from his cup when he saw Xiu Mei dazedly stared at him.


    Hmmm, Lu Shao sure did choose a good outfit. Should he consider giving him a bonus for such a good job?


    "Sit." Lu Chen said, as he signaled her to sit at the sofa. Xiu Mei moved after a few seconds, settling a few meters away from him. She sat so stiffly with both her hands on her knees. Lu Chen noticed it but he didn¡¯t know what to do hence, he just continued to what they were supposed to talk about from since awhile ago at the office.


    "How would you like being Lu Qiang¡¯s mother?"


    "..."


    Comrade Xiu Mei was then instantly killed in battle.

 Chapter 17 - The Storm

    <h4>Chapter 17 - The Storm</h4>


    Is Lu Chen testing her?


    Xiu Mei wondered as she gawked at Lu Chen for his sudden question.


    So she gave her honest and serious answer. "No."


    Seeing Lu Chen¡¯s brows furrow, she hurriedly exin her side. "It¡¯s not like I hate Lu Qiang. He¡¯s an adorable and bright kid but the one who should be showering him maternal love is his biological mother, right?"


    Lu Chen paused for a few seconds looking at her face before looking away. He started. "Lu Qiang¡¯s parents are dead."


    "..."


    What?


    Xiu Mei was so stupefied with what she had heard that his words buffered in her mind. She had heard Lu Qiang speak of the same words but Lu Chen suddenly popped out iming as his father so she assumed that Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t in good terms with his parents.


    "Isn¡¯t he your...?"


    Lu Chen looked back at her again before shaking his head. Holding the handle of his cup, he took a sip of the tea once more.


    "Lu Qiang..." He watched his reflection on the tea as he lightly swirled it around the cup. "...my stepson."


    "..."


    At this very moment, Xiu Mei was having difficulty taking in all these news.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s parents are really dead.


    Lu Chen is his stepdad.


    Who would¡¯ve ever imagined that Lu Chen would willingly be a stepfather?


    "Lu Chen¡¯s father was my cousin and his mother was a friend of mine. The both of them suddenly passed away a few months after his mother gave birth to Lu Qiang." Lu Chen exined as he watched Xiu Mei¡¯s changing expression.


    "Lu Qiang was left in my care legally when no one stepped up from the mother¡¯s side to take care of him."


    Xiu Mei felt like crying. Hearing such tragic events happen leaving Lu Qiang an orphan, she suddenly felt bad denying little Qiang to call her mom.


    Realizing that he grew up with no one to call Mom, he must¡¯ve been thirsty for a mother¡¯s love. For a kid, aplete family with a Mom and a Dad was what they could ever wish for.


    Some kids have the luck to be born in aplete family while some didn¡¯t. In little Qiang¡¯s case, he both had none. She was touched by Lu Chen for voluntarily taking the ce of little Qiang¡¯s Dad even though he probably didn¡¯t have any experience in child rearing.


    His protectiveness to his son, maybe it was only the way he knows how to express his love as a parent.


    Xiu Mei was deep in contemtion as Lu Chen continued exining.


    "I could only do limited things as the father. Especially the fact that I don¡¯t have any experience in child parenting. That¡¯s why I need your help."


    Lu Chen pulled out the folder beside him and handed it over to her. Wondering what he handed over, she flipped open the folder revealing the first page.


    "...Marriage Registration form?"


    Xiu Mei was inplete confusion as her brows creased. She looked at Lu Chen asking for further exnation.


    "Marry me." Lu Chen stared deep at her eyes. "Be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother."


    PAH!


    The sound of the sudden closing of the folder upied the silence. The both of them could hear the ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room and their own breathing.


    Xiu Mei took a deep breath as she tried to press down the sudden re of exasperation she was feeling.


    It was aplete u-turn from the emotions she had awhile ago. She only knew that she was upset and angry upon seeing the marriage form and listening to his exnation.


    Lu Chen was bewildered by her reaction, not expecting it. He had thought that she would willingly ept it so they can now go over with it tomorrow. But contrary to his expectations, his female secretary exhibited great anger on her face as she red at him.


    He was about to speak when she took the opportunity in speaking first.


    "No."


    "..."


    Silence conquered the room for the whole minute. The two a.d.u.l.ts kept their staring contest. Xiu Mei was ring daggers at Lu Chen while he stared at herpletely surprised for her decline.


    "Why?" He finally reacted.


    Xiu Mei ced the folder on the table as she broke eye contact with him.


    "Mr.Lu, I am not interested in entering marriage with you or anyone as of the moment."


    "You just had your blind da-"


    "That was a request from my mother."


    "..."


    She red again at Lu Chen as she crossed her arms.


    "Mr.Lu, did you think marriage was just some game?"


    "..."


    "Just because there¡¯s a son and there¡¯s a father. So now you want a mother, you ask me to marry you?"


    "..."


    Xiu Meipletely snapped.


    "Marriage is a sacred promise between lovers to spend the rest of their lives together. It¡¯s not just something that you would casually say to anyone you think is the worthy mother of your son."


    "..."


    Lu Chen was at a loss. He didn¡¯t know how to rebuke her words because he knows that it was true. He suddenly felt apologetic for his hastiness.


    He wasn¡¯t just simply asking her to be his son¡¯s mother. He was also asking her to sacrifice the rest of her life for him and his son. It would be a loveless marriage.


    As the both of them sat inplete silence, Xiu Mei made the first move as she stood up from her seat. Lu Chen unconsciously follwed her movements.


    "I¡¯m going home. I apologize for overstaying here." With that, she left the living room stomping in anger. Lu Chen could clearly hear the clicking of her heels on the floor.


    As he heard the doors closed, his eyes trailed onto the folder on the table. He closed his eyes a few seconds after, contemting on all the events that happened in that mere 20 minutes of their talk.

 Chapter 18 - I Will Love You

    <h4>Chapter 18 - I Will Love You</h4>


    Xiu Mei threw herself onto the couch the moment she got home. Dumping her bag on the soft carpet, she brought her arm to her closed eyes as she leaned back onto the couch. All the .u.mted stress from the week was sinking in plus that chaotic situation she had for today.


    Her mind was inplete mess, to sum it up. From that sudden marriage proposal in the elevator up to that marriage registration form, Xiu Mei was thrown intoplete chaos.


    What she thought was a test or a joke from Lu Chen was actually a serious thing.


    He was seriously asking her to marry him.


    But for what reason?


    To be Lu Qiang¡¯s stepmother?


    Xiu Mei took a deep breath as her emotions red up again trying to calm it down. She stood up and walked to the kitchen. Downing a ssful of water, she calmed herself down. She ced the ss on the countertop and was left in a daze.


    No, that was not the issue.


    Bing Lu Qiang¡¯s mother was another thing. But rather, if they marry, she would be Mrs.Lu.


    Mrs.Lu.


    Lu Chen¡¯s wife.


    Her grip on the ss tightened. What a scary thought.


    Yes, bing that emperor CEO¡¯s wife is a heavy responsibility indeed.


    Lu Corporation was single-handedly brought up by Lu Chen from his early twenties. And it only took him less than 3 years to solidify the Lu Corporation¡¯s ce in the business world and less than 8 years to upy the top positions in various industries.


    In the span of 8 years, Lu Chen rose from poverty to being one of the top businessmen in the world. His name became so popr by that time being the youngest and most sessful businessman to date.


    Working for him for these past few years, Xiu Mei greatly dealt with heavy pressure. Being his secretary who works for him personally, all the people around have high expectations on her too. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t ck off and gave it her all. After all, she had to do well to be worthy of this position.


    And now, Lu Chen was asking her to upy the position of being his wife. What a great position, indeed. It was all what the women who was trying to climb his bed aspire to be. To be Mrs.Lu.


    Too bad Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t like those women.


    She didn¡¯t need the wealth. Her family didn¡¯tck any money at all. She didn¡¯t care about his face. She had met more good-looking people than him.


    But most of all, the two of them don¡¯t have that kind of feelings with each which was the most important for marriage¡ªLove.


    The marriage that Lu Chen was proposing was all just simr to how he handles his business. Kinda like how she is being paid for the work she did, Lu Chen was paying her with marriage in return of being Lu Qiang¡¯s mother.


    And being bound in a loveless marriage was what Xiu Mei never wanted. She didn¡¯t even feel that way to Lu Chen at all. So how was she going to agree with his proposal? Impossible.


    Even though Lu Chen is her boss, she won¡¯t sway under pressure. Her marriage, the person who she¡¯s going to be with for the rest of her life, it¡¯s not a simple matter.


    Hence, Lu Chen will have to give up.


    Because she will never ept his proposal.


    -


    The next day, Xiu Mei went to work as usual. Preparing tea in the morning and the morning breakfast, delivering the files needed to be signed for today and other stuff, and she continued at it until Lu Chen arrived in the office.


    The moment the two of them made eye contact, Xiu Mei faced him with apletely nk expression like yesterday didn¡¯t happen as she greeted him. Lu Chen stopped for a few seconds like he was thinking about something before continuing on inside his office.


    Since Lu Shao followed Lu Chen inside his office and her assistant was away for work, she was left all alone outside president¡¯s office.


    "Hoo..." Xiu Mei unconsciously sighed as she exhaled all the breath she was holding the moment she faced her boss. Since this was the first time she was having an argument with her boss, she didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Apologizing? No. After all, what did she even do to apologize for?


    For turning him down? In a million years.


    "Focus and get back to work." Xiu Mei repeatedly told herself as she returned to her cubicle and typed. She wasn¡¯t able to finish her assigned tasks yesterday that was why she was cramming everything today so she was moving in a quicker pace than normal. They are in a midst of a busy transition, hence, dying all these files will cause trouble for the other departments.


    For the next 4 hours, her eyes were glued on the screen and her mind wholly focused on the work to be done. Her concentration was broken when the inte buzzed, indicating that Lu Chen was paging her.


    Her heart suddenly jumped in panic. Why was he suddenly calling her?


    For work, you idiot. Xiu Mei thought, trying to convince herself it was really just for work and to stop overthinking things.


    A few knockster, she entered the room and saw Lu Chen sitting on the couch that was situated just beside his table. Without letting her speak, he had signaled her to sit on the opposite couch that was facing him.


    She hesitantly walked her way to the couch and nervously sat down in front of him. As she have observed, Lu Chen didn¡¯t seem like any bothered by what she had said yesterday.


    But she swore she saw him baffled by her response to him yesterday,...or was she hallucinating?


    "I will only love you."


    It was the first sentence he had said the moment he opened his mouth. His pair of eyes that was as dark as the night sky felt like a whirlpool pulling her in as he gave her a determined gaze.


    "I may not love you right now, but I will love you. I will do. Then you¡¯ll be Mrs.Lu."


    For some reason, Xiu Mei swear she felt that sudden tingling sensation in her stomach.

 Chapter 19 - Running away

    <h4>Chapter 19 - Running away</h4>


    "I will only love you, Xiu Mei." His resolute eyes clearly showed Xiu Mei that what Lu Chen was saying was true that she couldn¡¯t look away.


    For reasons unknown, his eyes felt like a dark whirlpool slowly sucking her in. And she knew that if she gets drowned in his eyes, there¡¯s no turning back anymore.


    She suddenly felt scared. This unfamiliar situation, the one she least expected. Especially from this person in front of her.


    Xiu Mei stopped her hands that was itching to reach out at her chest. Her heart was beating erratically that she couldn¡¯t stop it.


    Lu Chen on the other hand felt slightly anxious as he kept watching Xiu Mei for her reaction. After all, he was inexperienced at this area.


    "Confess and court her." Was what his bestfriends had said.


    And that¡¯s what he did.


    He confessed(Marry me. I will only love you.) and he will court her to show his sincerity.


    He waspletely determined to make Xiu Mei his son¡¯s mother. He will never let her go.


    The two sat inplete silence. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t reject Lu Chen outrightly this time, as she can feel his sincerity this time.


    "I-"


    "Sir, you have an emergency call from the Europe office." It was Lu Shao¡¯s voice.


    Her sentence was cut off when the inte inside Lu Chen¡¯s office red to life once again.


    Lu Chen almost wanted to smash the phone for always interrupting his important conversations. He grumpily stood from his seat and answered the connected call.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei sighed in relief. She didn¡¯t actually know what to respond at his confession and now is the right time to runaway.


    She stood up and signaled Lu Chen that she¡¯ll be leaving the room. She didn¡¯t even bother waiting for his response as she left his office.


    Quickly, she gathered her things.


    "I have to move forward my field visit schedule because something came up. If someone calls for me for something urgent, inform me immediately." Xiu Mei instructed to her assistant before leaving.


    She bid goodbye to Lu Shao who was watching her running away from his boss. She was sure that Lu Shao is aware of Lu Chen¡¯s ns, and her reaction would definitely be reported to his boss.


    But she doesn¡¯t care. What she needs to do right now is run away to have some space and time to think about everything.


    -


    After meeting with the field staff, she finally had the time to spend for herself.


    Xiu Mei watched the sky nketed by the stars as she walked across the parking lot. It was already 8 pm when the meeting ended and now, she was walking back to her car to drive home.


    "Miss Xiu!" A voice called her name. Xiu Mei reflexively turned around and saw one of the staff trying to catch up to her.


    "Yes?"


    "We forgot to give you this reports since it was just submitted while we were in the middle of the meeting." The said staff handed her the brown envelope. Xiu Mei epted it before climbing to her car.


    "Goodnight, and thanks." Then she left.


    After washing up, she sat in front of the dresser to do her night routine of applying skin products. Finishing up, her eyes trailed onto the brown envelope that wasst minutely given by the field staff.


    Being a workaholic that she is, she couldn¡¯t stop herself and pulled out the papers inside. It was just a few pages and she quickly skimmed through the first page.


    Few secondster, she halted. Her eyes glued to the couple of words printed on the paper.


    "...raw materials are sourced at Mt.Taifu." She mouthed.


    Mt.Taifu.


    One of the scenic mountains visited by a lot of tourists.


    A ce she¡¯s been to before.


    Her grip on the paper unconciously tightened causing the edges to crease and rip slightly.


    Mt.Taifu...


    It was the location where her nightmare all began.

 Chapter 20 - Nightmare

    <h4>Chapter 20 - Nightmare</h4>


    The rhythmic sounds of raindrops hitting the car roof was all the two girls could hear from the truck. Both of their hands and legs bound, and their eyes blindfolded by a piece of cloth, they could only stay put and reserved their energy.


    Since their freedom of movement was taken away, they really couldn¡¯t do anything.


    "Ouch." Ying Yue lightly reacted as she hit her head on the surface. Xiu Mei hissed a bit when her forehead bumped onto something hard as well.


    It felt like the truck was currently driving on a rocky and bumpy groundas the vehicle continued to shake back and forth while moving forward in an unsteady manner.


    The random eleration and halt often causes them to hit onto somewhere inside the enclosed truck.


    An hourter, they felt the truck go into aplete stop. Before they could absorb what¡¯s currently happening, both girls heard the door of the truck opening as it made a loud creaking sound.


    Few pairs of steps resounded as one of them spoke. "Bring them out."


    They weren¡¯t able to struggle as they were roughly manhandled as they pulled them up to stand up.


    "Let me go!" She heard Ying Yue say while she was being pushed to get off the truck. Xiu Mei also tried struggling to free from the hands of their kidnappers but ultimately failed in the end.


    "Silence!" What she heard next was a light sound. Xiu Mei grew worried as she realized that Ying Yue was pped by the kidnapper just so she could shut up. Seeing that putting up a fight would not bring them any good, the both or them remained quiet for the rest of the time.


    They finally dragged them by their arms while climbing out of the truck.


    Due to the uneven ground, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but trip every now and then while her body was continuously being dragged forward.


    A few minutester, they were thrown to the ground making both girlsnd on their faces as they crashed to the ground. Before they could even speak toin, they felt the cloths on their eyes loosened. What they heard next was the sound of the doors closing and some sound of metals clinking before it went silent.


    Xiu Mei took a full minute of blinking continuously before she could make clear of her surroundings. Since it was dark, her eyes haven¡¯t adjusted to the darkness so she couldn¡¯t figure out what was the things that were inside the room.


    "Mei Mei, where are we?" Ying Yue¡¯s voice was shaking as she asked her. Xiu Mei saw her trying to sit up from her position.


    "Away from the city, definitely." Xiu Mei realized this fact. Her eyes trailed onto the outlines of boxes on the other side of the room.


    She was very sure of the fact that their kidnappers had brought them outside the city. "A mountain, or a ntation, probably."


    An uneven and rocky ground, how could you possibly find it inside a city? The probability of them being imprisoned in the mountains was high as she felt that the truck ckimbed in an elevated ground in a continuous manner for more than half an hour.


    "Mei Mei, I¡¯m scared." Ying Yue cried out in fear, as she pulled her knees closer to her. Her stancepletely showing that she waspletely confused and helpless to what was happening to the both of them.


    "Don¡¯t be afraid. Help wille." Xiu Mei tried to give a reassuring gaze to Ying Yue as she responded to her. Though, she herself didn¡¯t know whether she was speaking it to Ying Yue or to herself instead.


    Ying Yue¡¯s expressionpletely engraved in her mind. The once presentable Ying Yue currently held a fearful face covered in mud. Her hair was in aplete mess and uniform full of mud.


    "NOOO!!!" Xiu Mei heard a shriek and she automatically followed the source of that voice. The scene distorted in front of her before finally showing her a new room.


    A light was lit in the middle and bottles of beer piled up on the table. The smell of smoke covered the room as she could hear theugh of people who were watching across the room. Their eyes was focused on the person at the center of the room. Her eyes trailed to where they were looking at.


    There,she saw Ying Yue on the ground. Her eyes wide open, her uniform nowhere to be found and she could some scratches and blood across her body.


    But what scared Xiu Mei the most was the lifeless gaze on the eyes of her best friend.


    "Ying Yue!!!"


    Xiu Mei suddenly bolted upward from lying down on her bed. Her hands were cold but she was weirdly sweating so hard. She was even catching her breath like she had jogged for quite awhile.


    Breathing hard, her eyes darted to the beaming red clock on her bedside. It was still 3 in the morning but it felt like she had been sleeping for quite a long time. She grabbed her phone when she saw that the screen was blinking to life.


    It was then she had finally remembered something.


    Xiu Mei was too busy these past few weeks and her mind too preupied that the date she always remembered was already approaching.


    On her screen shed a reminder.


    Ying Yue¡¯s 10th Death Anniversary.

 Chapter 21 - Childhood Friend

    <h4>Chapter 21 - Childhood Friend</h4>


    It was around 7 am when Xiu Mei received a call from Lu Shao. She was informed that Lu Chen and Lu Shao took an early flight to London due to some emergency in the London office. It must¡¯ve been a very serious case that the CEO had to leave such an early flight without leaving any instruction to her first.


    Without the emperor CEO, Xiu Mei had to go to work early to delegate the sudden tasks that was instructed by Lu Shao. She had her assistant disseminate the tasks and she herself had to take over the CEO¡¯s workload and Lu Shao¡¯s workload for the day.


    It was a real hell work day.


    In Xiu Mei¡¯s opinion, it was actually better that Lu Chen wasn¡¯t here for the day. Thinking about what he had confessed yesterday, she wasn¡¯t ready to face him nor give him a reply. His sincerity... it wasn¡¯t something that she could reply halfheartedly.


    "Miss Xiu," A cup of chamomile tea suddenly appeared in front of her sight. She looked up and saw her assistant giving her a gentle smile as she served her a calming tea. She quickly gave her thanks and looked at her watch.


    She was too engrossed with her work she didn¡¯t notice that it was already hours past lunchtime. Knowing that she¡¯ll be busierter, she quickly finished off what she was currently doing while sipping the drink. An hourter, she stood up and grabbed her wallet.


    "I¡¯ll be having a quick lunch outside." She had eximed before going out.


    A few blocks away from the office was a traditional family restaurant. The servers have been very familiar with her visiting every now and then thus, they had immediately assisted her to a vacant private room where she could eat in peace.


    "The usual, Miss Xiu?" One of the servers had asked. He had handed over the menu for her to skim through in case she wanted to order differently.


    Xiu Mei opened the menu and skimmed through it. Finally feeling that nothing seemed to be appealing for her that day, she just ordered the usual set.


    A few minutester, she heard a knock before the door slid open revealing a tall, lean man in chef¡¯s uniform. From afar, anyone would be instantly attracted by his looks but upon a closer inspection, any girl would feel more envious instead. His looks was almost simr to a woman- plump lips, big doey eyes, long eyshes, tall nose and a small face. His hair was kept longerpared to other men which he usually puts up in a ponytail. His body wasn¡¯t very muscr, but he wasn¡¯t too thin either.


    Basically, the guy could be considered the enemy of all women in the world being blessed with all the features any woman would ever want.


    "Kei!" Xiu Mei made a sound of surprise as she stood up from her seat to greet the said man.


    "It¡¯s really nice to see you again, Mei." Kei smiled gently on the woman infront of him. They both gave each other a hug before they sat on the opposite side of the table.


    "When did youe back from France?" Xiu Mei was quickly ted upon meeting Kei whom she hadn¡¯t seen for almost two years.


    "Just a week ago."


    "And you didn¡¯t tell me!?"


    Xiu Mei gasped in surprise before pulling an annoyed face at him. Kei let out augh seeing her pouty expression like he had betrayed her.


    ying with food was bad but Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t stop herself from throwing a piece of cuc.u.mber at him to show him how she was feeling. "How dare you not tell me! Are we still even friends?!"


    Kei effortlessly caught the poor piece of cuc.u.mber that was sacrificed in battle as he replied to her, "We are best friends, childhood friends, hmm, soulmates?" He jokingly listed out their rtionship status.


    "Tsk, this friendship is over." Xiu Mei clicked her tongue while crossing her arms, ring at him. Kei justughed at her reaction ignoring what she had said.


    "Come on now, when we were kids, you said that we¡¯ll be together forever?" Kei grabbed another piece of cuc.u.mber from the small te before casually eating it.


    Narrowing her eyes at her childhood friend, she kicked him underneath the table sessfully hitting his shin.


    "Ow!" Kei jumped in reflex after feeling a sudden pain in his leg. He rubbed the area that was kicked by Xiu Mei. "Hey, that hurts you know!"


    Xiu Mei rolled her eyes. "That was the idea."


    "You!"


    Before Kei could continue his protests, the door slid open once again. The food finally arrived and was immediately served at her table.


    "How¡¯d you get a food for yourself?" She wondered as she saw one of the servers ce a different set of food in front of Kei. It was vastly different from the one she had noticeably seeing the difference in food presentation.


    His was presented quitevishly, and he was actually served three more main course meals instead of just one.


    "Well, I am the owner of this restaurant of course." Kei quickly dug his spoon into the meal, not even bothering to wait for Xiu Mei to start eating.


    "I know, Captain Obvious. I was asking when did you have the chance to order your own food." She said as she took a bite from the dumplings.


    "Oh, I just told them I¡¯ll be here with you and to serve whatever food they have."


    "....you¡¯re testing them again, huh." She pointed out, staring at the beautifully ted foods.


    "They¡¯re rxing too much from my absence." Kei nonchntly replied as he continued to chew on the food he was tasting. "Enough of myself, how are you so far?"


    "Me?" She looked up and made eye contact with Kei. Confusion was written on her face, not understanding what Kei was implying.


    "How are you coping up? Today is THAT day you know." Kei reminded her, which instantly brought down her mood. Xiu Mei ced the spoon and fork on the edges of the te as she avoided eye contact with her childhood friend.


    "I know. I¡¯ll visit herter." Xiu Mei¡¯s voice wasced with sadness and longing as she replied.

 Chapter 22 - Strong Xiu Mei

    <h4>Chapter 22 - Strong Xiu Mei</h4>


    "Mei," Kei called out. Raising her head, Xiu Mei shed eye contact with Kei¡¯s. She immediately saw his yful turn into a serious gaze at her. "You¡¯ll be able to get through it."


    He was saying that to her like he was assured that it would really happen but she, herself, wasn¡¯t sure whether she could really do it or not.


    "I don¡¯t know." She smiled that wasn¡¯t exactly a smile. Her gaze now on the foods on the middle of the table.


    "You will. Because you¡¯re the strongest person I know, Mei. Ever since we were little kids, you¡¯ve always been the strongest among all of us." If Kei was sitting beside her, he would¡¯ve definitely given her a hug forfort.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t raise her eyes and thought about his words. Is she really that strong? What if Kei was just overestimating her capability and maybe, she was actually the cowardly person that other people was calling her?


    If she was strong, why weren¡¯t she able to save her best friend from harm? Why were she still alive and her best friend dead? Why... was she left to live just to suffer all those memories?


    She was thinking too much that she failed to notice that Kei was already standing beside her. When she had finally noticed his presence, she unconsciously raised her gaze seeing that he was towering over her seated form.


    Kei squatted down, to be on the same level with her gaze. He ced his hand on her hair as he pulled her to him. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t reject his hug and wrapped her arms around him. She hugged his shoulders like she was clinging to live. Her face buried in his neck, tears scarily making their way at the corner of her eyes.


    The both of them stayed in that position for a few minutes before they released each other.


    "Sorry for reminding you such a bad memory." He apologized realizing he had made her cry and sad.


    Xiu Mei shook her head. "It¡¯s nothing. And, this day had always been the dimmest day of the year for me."


    Kei just gave her a light smile before standing up again and walking back to his seat. "Let¡¯s continue our meal."


    The both of them finished their meal half an hourter before they parted ways. Xiu Mei, realizing that she spent a lot of time eating lunch than the usual rushed back to the office to continue the piled up work she doing.


    With all the paperwork she was covering for 3 people, she was only able to get off work at 10 in the evening. When she got back to her car, she quickly checked the thing she had on her backseat.


    It was a single Iris, the flower symbolizing Ying Yue and Xiu Mei¡¯s friendship. It was the special flower the both of them shared with each other a lot of times years ago.


    Knowing that it was still alive and good, Xiu Mei drove to the cemetery where Ying Yue was buried.


    Climbing off the car, she wore her windbreaker and carried the Iris flower in her hand, removing it from the vase.


    Since it was nighttime, almost everything was pitch ck except the garden lights that was lit up along the path. The cemetery gave off an eerie yetforting feeling even when the sky was already dark. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t feel a bit scared to say the least.


    She walked through the gravel path that was surrounded by countless trees. Beside the roots were engraved names and pictures of the people that was buried underneath those trees.


    After walking through the familiar path she had walked on every year, she stopped in front of a tree. Her gaze automatically shifted to the picture on the ground-the girl smiling brightly that would instantly lift up your mood except for this time, it was a smile that crushes the heart of Xiu Mei.


    She knelt on the ground,ying the Iris flower beside her name.


    "It¡¯s been awhile, YueYue." She caressed the engraved picture as she continued to speak like the person she was talking with was in front of her.


    "It looks like a lot of people has been here before me. I¡¯m sorry I got here sote." Her eyes trailed onto the various flowers that was left beside the tree.


    "The boss had to go abroad for some work and I had to cover for his workload today. Oh, and I met Kei today actually."


    Xiu Mei tried making her voice a bit cheerful, to make it as simr as possible to her usual conversation with Ying Yue.


    "Did you meet him today? He said he was gonna visit you this afternoon and I sure hope that he did not tell you anything unnecessary." Sheughed lightly. "He¡¯s a bully you know, he made me cry while we were eating lunch. Could you please go and haunt him for me please?"


    Xiu Mei suddenly nked out. She actually thought all the topics she would be talking about with Ying Yue today but suddenly, she didn¡¯t know what to say to her. She couldn¡¯t continue her words when she felt something cold stream down her eyes.


    She reached out to touch it and felt something wet her fingers.


    She was crying.


    For some reason, she suddenly cried. Why?


    Her eyes was glued to the drop of tears that stained her hands. After ten years, she still hadn¡¯t emptied her tears. She can¡¯t seem to stop from breaking down in front of Ying Yue every year.


    She... how can this be called strong when she¡¯s breaking down like this?

 Chapter 24 - Sinner

    <h4>Chapter 24 - Sinner</h4>


    The normal solemnity of the cemetery was now filled with faint sobs of Xiu Mei. All those painful memories that marred her for life was once again unearthed. She was weak, unbelievably too weak to face reality. For ten years, no matter how hard she tried to move on, she still couldn¡¯t.


    She could not forget. Her mind and heart wouldn¡¯t let her forget. That night waspletely engraved in her memories, every bit and every second of that nightmare.


    Feeling her knees go weak, Xiu Mei lost her bnce and dropped on the ground. Her hands stretched out to stop herself frompletely falling down. Her position made her eyespletely face-to-face with the picture of smiling Ying Yue. Her smile stung strongly in Xiu Mei¡¯s heart, burning her eyes. Her eyes instantly turned blurry with the tears.


    The clenching pain in her chest returned, worst that how it was years ago. Her breathing ran with difficulty, seeminglycking in oxygen.


    "I¡¯m... sorry..." She said in between her sobs as tears streamed down her face. She buried her face in her hands as she pleaded for apology,pletely ming herself to what happened her best friend.


    "I¡¯m really sorry..."


    "Sorry..."


    If she hadn¡¯t been so foolishly brave back then...


    If she hadn¡¯t pretended that everything was going to be fine...


    If she hadn¡¯t believed that someone woulde to their rescue...


    If she had listened to her to find a way to escape...


    If she had taken her ce instead...


    Ying Yue... Ying Yue wouldn¡¯t be like this...


    Xiu Mei¡¯s cry grew louder.


    Despite the peace and quiet filling the entire ce, her ears was ying tricks on her. She felt that she was back to that ce 10 years ago. That cold and stormy night, she was there chained onto the chair watching her best friend get r.a.p.ed by that sc.u.ms.


    Her helpless and foolish self that couldn¡¯t do anything but to watch.


    Xiu Mei could still hear Ying Yue¡¯s voice trying to fight back, she was shouting so loud as seconds passed by. What followed was a ripping noise of the clothes being torn apart.


    Xiu Mei took in everything that happened. Ying Yue who was being vited by those men. Ying Yue¡¯s eyes that was previously full of determination was now full of despair and helplessness. She could understand what was running on her mind at that moment, as she too thought the same.


    Just how it was better to die instead of being under this torture.


    A few minutes after, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t hear anymore Ying Yue¡¯s cries. She understood why. Xiu Mei was forced to watch her friend being tortured from start to end. By the end, she saw the empty eyes of Ying Yue who had already given up. Her lifeless eyes that continuously haunted her every night.


    How Ying Yue slowly lost her breath after being vited for hours that night.


    Pathetic.


    Xiu Mei felt so pathetic.


    She was so pathetic.


    She was rich, yes. Her family had the power, yes.


    But right now, all Xiu Mei could think of how useless those things were now in the face of her kidnappers.


    In their eyes, they were just weak and pampered daughters cradled by their parents. That the both of them could easily be used and thrown away just because they are weak, helpless teenagers.


    And they are.


    This fact was ruthlessly pped into her face, strong and loud.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s arrogance was justplete ridiculousness. She only had the power of her family behind her, it wasn¡¯t her that was strong.


    She was just a pathetic daughter trying to hide behind her family¡¯s power.


    She was really foolish to have such thoughts that she was as great as her brothers and parents when all she was but a pampered daughter that grew up and cradled in the peace her parents had given her.


    The 14 year old Xiu Mei waspletely pped by reality. Her eyes glued on the dead body of her best friend, she didn¡¯t know what to feel.


    Her mindpletely nked out from the despair and facing reality that she was the next person to be molested. Her fate exactly to same with Ying Yue.


    Xiu Mei was too engrossed and numb to what was happening around her that she didn¡¯t realize she was now being soaked under the rain that was already falling for quite a while.


    She did not stand up and go to some ce to find some cover butid still in front of Ying Yue¡¯s grave. Her eyes clearly empty and lost, while her tears was mixed up with the rain.


    That strong Xiu Mei they were all telling her was because they were probably fooled by her act.


    That strong Xiu Mei was just a bluff.


    She wasn¡¯t strong at all.


    She was pathetic and weak.


    She was just an arrogant, spoiled, and pampered daughter that got her bestfriend killed.


    She is a sinner ought to be dead too.

 Chapter 25 - Never

    <h4>Chapter 25 - Never</h4>


    After that night, Xiu Mei waspletely vulnerable.


    She didn¡¯t know how many times she tried to kill herself. Every night, she would see herself sitting on that chair again, or see herself underneath of the kidnappers being vited by them.


    She would wake up screaming every night,pletely frozen in fear. And then her hallucinations would start once again. She thought that Ying Yue was watching her by the foot of her bed, mocking her weak self.


    She would imagine Ying Yue loathing her, ming her for what happened to her.


    Why she was safe, and she was dead.


    She questioned herself too, why was she not dead too?


    Why was she left to live?


    She was too drowned with her thoughts to hear her phone suddenly ringing to life. Inside her windbreaker, her phone continuously shed and rang. Her phone continued to ring for a few minutes before it was gone. A secondter, it rang again. This happened for more than a few times but Xiu Mei still failed to hear the call even though it wasn¡¯t in silent.


    On the other side of the phone, Lu Chen¡¯s face was grim. He had just finished resolving the issue in one of his internationalpany branches and now his assistant, his wife-to-be couldn¡¯t be reached for the first time.


    As he persistently called her phone, his fingers tapped on the table in annoyance.


    Why was she not picking up the call? Was she avoiding him?


    It was only after he tried calling her for more than a few times that he had decided to cut short his sudden trip.


    "Book the earliest flight to China for tonight." It was still midday in London and fortunately, the issue was resolved quickly under his supervision. Lu Shao, who was doing his work just across his table nodded and called someone on the phone to move their flight at an earlier time.


    As for Lu Chen, he suddenly felt worried.


    This was the very first time Xiu Mei did not answer his calls. No matter howte it was in China, even if she was in the middle of her sleep, she would still wake up and answer his calls.


    But now, Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t even answering despite calling her a few more times.


    He was doubting it was because of what he had said to her previously since Xiu Mei¡¯s professionalism wouldn¡¯t just randomly ignore his call that might possibly be about work-rted matters.


    So all what¡¯s left was something might have happened to her. And that is why she wasn¡¯t picking up the calls. He grew increasingly worried when he thought about this possibility.


    Making up his mind, he instructed Lu Shao once again to call back to China.


    "Call Alex and have him track down Xiu Mei¡¯s current whereabouts. Inform me immediately when they find her."


    After finishing up his work in the office, Lu Chen and Lu Shao immediately left to return to the hotel. He was still in his car when Alex called back to report Xiu Mei¡¯s whereabouts.


    "Where is she?"


    "Boss, she¡¯s..."


    Hearing the hesitance in Alex¡¯s voice, Lu Chen became more worried that something really had happened to Xiu Mei while he was away.


    "Tell me quickly, is she alright?!"


    "Boss, we found her but she¡¯s passed out."


    Lu Chen¡¯s grip on his phone tightened, almost cracking the screen. His mood took turn for the worse as he ryed his instructions.


    "Call Tang Li. I want her fine and healthy once I get there." Hanging up the call, he instructed to driver to speed up quickly back to the hotel.


    Forget about leaving tonight, he¡¯s leaving as early as possible.


    Within an hour, Lu Chen was already on the first ss seat on the ne.


    Lu Chen had always been strong and fearless despite meeting people who have higher status than him especially in position and power. Especially in the underground world where people are always stained in blood and sudden death is quite normal, Lu Chen was already quite used to such things.


    That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t understand why he was scared and crazily worried for Xiu Mei hearing that his men found her passed out on the ground.


    Was he scared that something would happen with Xiu Mei?


    A thought suddenly hit him. What if one day, Xiu Mei disappears in his life?


    His heart throbbed heavily as he felt anger filled him. Once he thought about that kind of future, he suddenly felt angry and something darker filled his mind.


    No, he wouldn¡¯t let that happen. He wouldn¡¯t let Xiu Mei go. Over his dead body.


    "Boss?"


    Lu Chen was snapped back to reality while he was deep in his dark thoughts. He raised his head to turn to his male secretary that wasn¡¯t staring at him, but rather on his hands. Following his line of sight, he shifted his sight on his hands that was now covered in blood.


    The wine ss that he was holding was now only left with stem intact, while the rest was shattered to pieces. He was quite surprised not realizing that he was gripping his ss to tightly that it shattered into pieces.


    Some of the pieces was embedded on his hands, causing it to bleed yet he didn¡¯t feel any pain.


    Lu Shao immediately asked for a first aid kit to the stewardess. Seeing that one of the passengers was hurt, the stewardess rushed to the back to grab the first aid and she called another steward to help in cleaning the shattered pieces.


    "Xiu Mei will be fine, boss." Lu Shao muttered, as he slowly picked out the ss shards on Lu Chen¡¯s hands.


    His eyes shifted to the serious expression of his personal secretary that lookedpletely engrossed in healing his wounds.


    "She¡¯ll be fine. After all, she¡¯s the one you chose among all the people in the world."


    After that, Lu Shao didn¡¯t say anything anymore.

 Chapter 26 - Sick

    <h4>Chapter 26 - Sick</h4>


    ¡¯Where am I?¡¯ was what first came to Xiu Mei¡¯s mind.


    She had just regained her consciousness but she clearly felt even more tired than ever instead of being energized. Her eyelids felt heavy and it was difficult enough to open her eyes for quite a long time. Her whole body felt heavy and moving just a little bit brought pain to her body.


    Her breathing was slightly ragged and she felt a little bit stuffy. Her throat was a bit itchy too.


    After assessing herself, Xiu Mei realized that she was sick. And it wasn¡¯t just a simple fever, it was a really bad case of fever.


    But she had other things to worry about aside from being sick. When she opened her eyes, what weed her was an unfamiliar grey-ish ceiling. Forcing herself to shift her head, she realized she was in a dimly lit room with simple decorations. She didn¡¯t bother examining whatever objects were around her when her eyes trailed to the long tube stuck on the back of her hand.


    She instantly recognized that it was an IV bag, making her more confused.


    Xiu Mei knew she was in an unfamiliar room, definitely in a stranger¡¯s ce. And this stranger was kind enough to bring her home and even went to great lengths in putting her in a drip to treat her rising fever.


    She tried to remember herst memory before she hadpletely cked out.


    All she knew was that she had been crying for almost half an hour at Ying Yue¡¯s grave when she suddenly felt weak. Her vision was getting blurry and dizzy and when she tried to stand up to leave, her knees felt jelly and instantly gave away.


    She felt too weak to even support and prevent herself from falling, hence, she fell back onto her knees on the ground. The ground was damp and the windbreaker wasn¡¯t working well either especially that the rain was continuously falling which looked like won¡¯t be stopping anytime soon.


    Xiu Mei forced herself to clear her mind, trying to find some energy and effort to drag herself back to the car or she would really have to suffer the consequences of being sick. But her efforts were to no avail when her vision finally cked out a few secondster.


    Finally remembering how she had lost her consciousness, she grew frightful.


    She had visited Ying Yue¡¯s grave veryte that night, lost consciousness and found herself in someone¡¯s ce. She felt fearful thinking what kind of person(other than her) would visit a grave that veryte at night with the rain pouring so hard?


    Despite being sick, her mind had already mapped a lot of ways on how she would escape here but her thoughts were put into an abrupt stop when she saw the door opening.


    Finally, the stranger was unmasked. Xiu Mei breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her boss¡¯ familiar face.


    Quickly, she remembered. Wasn¡¯t he in London? Why is he here? or did she somehow teleport to London?


    Her eyes followed Lu Chen who was now approaching her. His attire a bit unkempt than usual, and he was wearing ck-rimmed sses that looked quite a bit s.e.xy for him. In his hands was a tray whereid a ss of water, a bowl and an insted sk.


    "How are you feeling?" Lu Chen asked, as he sat on the chair he ced just beside the bed hours ago. Heid the tray on the bedside table as his hands naturally stretched out to touch Xiu Mei¡¯s forehead.


    Xiu Mei grew stiff with the sudden contact but she didn¡¯t shoo his hand away. She let him touch her forehead with his slightly cold hands, which weirdly made her feelfortable under his touch.


    "Looks like your temperature won¡¯t go lower anytime soon." Removing his hands from her forehead, he brushed away the stray hair that was framing her face. The action was done so naturally like he head been doing it for years.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s cheek flushed in embarrassment. Her felt her heart made a leap and she wanted to smack herself. Damn it, she was treading to some dangerous waters.


    "Eat some lunch first before taking your medicine."


    Just like some experienced nurse, Lu Chen supported Xiu Mei¡¯s body by looping his arm behind her back with his other hand supporting her head. He raised her body and fixed the pillows behind her for support as he made her lean onto it. His action was done patiently and too gentle that Xiu Mei waspletely caught off guard with his actions.


    She had never expected that she would be able to see Lu Chen be so gentle to anyone, especially to herself. That aloof and cold president that she had worked with was vastly different from the one in front of her right now.


    She was too speechless to speak while Lu Chen pulled out the bed tray under the bed and ced it in front of her. His hands never stopped pouring the congee from the sk to the bowl.


    "Eat." Lu Chen ced the spoon in her hand, but Xiu Mei was too dumbstruck with his actions.


    Not understanding why Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t moving, his thoughts quickly made a decision that maybe she had thought he would feed her.


    And he wasn¡¯t exactly having any issue with that.


    He grabbed the spoon back from Xiu Mei¡¯s grasp and held the bowl with his other hand. He scooped a spoonful of congee before lightly blowing on it to cool down the temperature for a little bit before bringing it closer to her face.


    "Open your mouth."


    Before Xiu Mei woke up from being too dumbstruck with his actions, her mouth reflexively followed what he said. She opened her mouth when she tasted the warm and tasty congee cover her entire tastebuds.


    She blinked. Her eyes widened as her hands quickly flew to her mouth to cover it in shock.


    Her mind was in aplete mess. Holy shit, did she just really had her boss feed her congee personally?!

 Chapter 27 - Gentleness

    <h4>Chapter 27 - Gentleness</h4>


    Lu Chen¡¯s heart softened while watching every change of expression in Xiu Mei¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t even notice why Xiu Mei was reacting like that at his actions. His previous stiff and cold face was gone, only that gentle look and slight curve of his lips was left.


    He stifled hisugh before lifting up a spoonful of the congee again and held it near her face.


    "Another one." His tone was so gentle like a feather caressing one¡¯s skin.


    Xiu Mei shook her head as she kept her hands on her mouth. She was too taken aback with what she was witnessing as she kept looking wide-eyed at Lu Chen.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t let her though as he kept the spoon in front of her face. She finally made her decision. She quickly grabbed the spoon from his grasp and held the other side of the bowl that Lu Chen was holding. Her hand pulling the bowl to her direction a bit forcefully, clearly expressing her desire to grab the bowl from him.


    "I can eat on my own." Her voice slightly hoarse and shaky. She even had the urge to cough due to the itchiness she was feeling.


    Seeing that Xiu Mei was too weak yet still trying to argue with him, Lu Chen just gave up and let her take the bowl from his hand. He wouldn¡¯t want to her to get more stressed that she already is. From his experience everytime he argued with her, he was always the defeated one and Xiu Mei, despite being the dominant one, would always be consumed with anger instead.


    Xiu Mei quickly gulped down the congee in a few mouthfuls. She was feeling too hungry due to the fact that thest meal she had was the lunch she had with Kei yesterday. She was too engrossed with working that she forgotten dinner, plus she had to visit Ying Yue¡¯s gravete at night yesterday. And now, when Lu Chen mentioned before that this was supposed to be her lunch meant that she had also slept through breakfast.


    On the side, Lu Chen automatically refilled her bowl with food from the sk. Understanding that she was famished, he let her finish the entire contents of the sk. Eating a lot is also good since he had instructed the cook to mix some medicinal herbs on the congee to help Xiu Mei quickly recover from fever.


    "Drink this." Lu Chen was very much fine with acting like a nurse to Xiu Mei as he handed her a pill along with a ss water. Xiu Mei trusted everything that Lu Chen was making her eat would make her well, she willingly epted the pill and emptied the ss. Lu Chen then called for some maid to clean up the tray and foods that she had eaten clean.


    Xiu Mei only noticed the empty tes when she saw the maid taking it away and until she left the room. Her cheeks reddened, realizing how she had acted like a glutton in front of her superior. Really embarassed, ah.


    "Quickly go back to rest."


    "Um,.." She quickly held her hand up, stopping Lu Chen from his actions. He was going to help her lie down before he was stopped by the hand in front of him.


    "Why am I here?" She started bombarding him with questions. "Weren¡¯t you in London? How did you find me?"


    Even though she was sick and felt really weak, her mind couldn¡¯t be put to rest if these questions were left unanswered. She was really too confused as to why she had woken up here in Lu Chen¡¯s ce knowing that herst memory was she was still supposed to be in the cemetery.


    Lu Chen paused for a second, observing her face trying to understand her expression. He knew that look¡ªthat unrelenting look saying that she would never listen to him if he didn¡¯t answer her. Even though he wasn¡¯t an expert in social rtions, he was knowledgeable enough to know and understand how Xiu Mei¡¯s mind works. Or at least, he thought he did.


    "My men found you passed out in Nature Valley Cemetery." His mind recalling the moment he heard his men report this to him. He was furious, he really wanted to scold her. Yet he couldn¡¯t stop himself from worrying.


    He worried over her too much that he wanted to return to her side. He wanted to see her current situation himself even though Tang Li had said that she would be fine. And then when he saw her lying on the bed sleeping, his heart felt like being squeezed making him feel painful.


    He had sat at her side the moment he had arrived home. He felt painful seeing her face scrunched up from pain. He had even heard her asionally murmuring words sounding like she was pleading and in suffering.


    Lu Chen held her hand as he rubbed her forehead for a few times to straighten her furrowed brows. He was even whispering some soothing words at her, trying to stop her from having anymore nightmares. He had only left her side to go to the kitchen to supervise the cooking of her food. He also had to convince Lu Qiang to don¡¯t go inside Xiu Mei¡¯s room or else he will also get sick like her. He had to talk to him for quite awhile but in the end, Lu Qiang reluctantly agreed before letting him promise to let him see her when she recovers. When he returned to where Xiu Mei was and saw her awake, his heart instantly felt lighter. It felt like some stone was finally lifted up from his heart.


    Lu Chen originally nned to scold her. For being so careless in taking of her body and for making him worry too much. But his heart weakened upon seeing her pale face and weak self. He thought he really couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold her with Xiu Mei at that state.

 Chapter 28 - Reality

    <h4>Chapter 28 - Reality</h4>


    "Mr.Lu?" Xiu Mei waved her hand in front of Lu Chen¡¯s face seeing that he wasn¡¯t responding to her question. He just kept staring at her face for so long until she felt conscious of his stare. Her cheeks slightly reddened, feeling some slight tingling in her chest.


    Lu Chen snapped out from his drifting thoughts when he heard Xiu Mei¡¯s voice. Blinking, he was surprised. This was the first time he became so out of it in front of other people. He suddenly questioned himself what was wrong with him recently. He was acting far from his normal personality, and it all happened everytime he was with Xiu Mei.


    "What were you doing there?"


    "Huh?"


    "What were you doing in a cemetery thatte?" Lu Chen actually had a vague idea since he had heard from his subordinates where they found her.


    "Uh..." Xiu Mei scratched her cheek. "...just visiting someone."


    She didn¡¯t exin her answer further. After all, it was a sensitive topic and Lu Chen was just her boss. The reason she had gone there was for personal reasons and he didn¡¯t really have the right to know about it.


    "So what happened about the issue at London HQ?" She opened trying to change the topic of their conversation. Lu Chen also knew this, but did not tell her off. He knew she wasn¡¯tfortable about talking some things with him. He knew that Xui Mei doesn¡¯t trust him enough for that. But he was willing to wait and work hard for it. After all, he¡¯s the woman he chose.


    He briefly answered her question before reminding her that she has to take a rest. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t push any further and just followed his words. She really wasn¡¯t feeling well and sleep was what she desperately needs to do to quickly recover. She suddenly shuddered at the thought of the pile of work that will .u.mte by the time she returned.


    Best to get better, ah. Or I¡¯ll have to do more overtime again.


    Xiu Mei spent the rest of the day on the bed and by the next day, she was fully energized and well. She actually felt relief when shepletely recovered. Having her superior personally deliver her food for her was something she really couldn¡¯t take anymore. Her face was too thin for that.


    "Mom, eat more vegetables." A piece of celery appeared on her te. She raised her head to look at the little kid sitting beside her.


    "Thank you, little Qiang." Xiu Mei stuck her fork onto the celery and took a bite out of it. A triumphant smile shed in Lu Qiang¡¯s face before he continued to eat his breakfast.


    Xiu Mei on the other hand still felt a bit ufortable hearing Lu Qiang call her mother. Especially that there were a couple of servants in the room, she didn¡¯t need to guess what was ying in their minds after hearing their conversation.


    Her gaze lingered for a bit on Lu Qiang before she continued to consume her breakfast. Currently, Xiu Mei was taking her breakfast with Lu Qiang. She was supposed to leave Lu Chen¡¯s home earlier when she was informed that the emperor left quite a bit early for work that day. Thinking that she had taken a sick leave in the middle of the busiest period, she resolutely fixed herself with the clothes that was prepared for her beforehand by some servants.


    She was already nning out her entire schedule for the day as she was fixing her hair when the little ball barged inside the room and instantly gave her a hug attack. She was going to turn down his invitation for breakfast but facing that pair of limpid eyes that was practically begging her, she surrendered to his charms.


    Really cute little ball, ah. It was really a wonder how Lu Chen was able to raise Lu Qiang alone. She was even concerned for the future of this little ball, would he take after Lu Chen¡¯s stoic face when he grows up?


    After spending some short time with Lu Qiang, she went straight to the office. Seeing that pile of folders on her table, she let out a gloomyugh before facing reality again. Xiu Mei barely had any opportunities to talk with Lu Chen that day even though they were just separated by a door.


    By nighttime, it was time for Xiu Mei to go home. The only people left in the building was her, Lu Shao and Lu Chen. As she stood up from her seat and bid goodbye to Lu Shao, her eyes stopped at the direction of the door of Lu Chen¡¯s office. She paused, thinking of bidding goodbye. But then she remembered she never did that before.


    Before all those weird conversations with Lu Chen, she never said goodbye whenever she left the office first. At that time, their rtionship was strictly just an employee and her boss. But now, she wondered. Was it still the same?


    Her gaze lingered there for quite some time before she turned her back to it and made her way to the elevator. Xiu Mei scoffed at her thoughts. What kind of thoughts were she having? She clearly knew her stand. Lu Chen wants to have a closer and more personal rtionship with her, but she did not want that.


    Not only did she not have any romantic feelings to Lu Chen, she was also concerned on what other people will say. A president and his secretary having a rtionship¡ªit somehow sounded scandalous. She... will never do anything that would tarnish the image of Lu Corporation.


    The very next day, Xiu Mei went straight for the airport instead of going to the office.


    Rather, her schedule for the next five days was all in the field. She was going to travel in different cities to inspect their stores and factories. Field inspections sounded so easy but for Xiu Mei, it was one of the hardest part of her work.


    Not only would she have to personally examine the performance of each stores, she would have to keenly observe everything and do an assessment and rmendation for improvement for each store. The marketing team was the one who usually handles this type of inspections, but she would annually do some inspections like this randomly just to see if everything on the papers she was reading was real and if there are anything that could still be potentially improved.


    After depositing her luggage in the counter, she stayed at the VIP lounge to wait for her boarding time. She grabbed a piece of bread and cup of tea before settling in a single-seat couch in the lounge.


    Xiu Mei pulled out a couple of papers from her bag and carefully read them. Her hand reaching out from time to time to break a piece of the bread and sending it to her mouth. She was too engrossed with what she was reading that she failed to notice that someone had taken a seat across her.


    She only noticed that person when she raised her head to reach out for her tea cup. Her hand stilled as she suddenly felt the urge to pour the contents of her tea on the person sitting across her.


    The figure shed a sweet smile at her, what followed were the sounds of people sighing just around her.


    Xiu Mei quickly put her guard up. She had never won against the white lotus act of this female in front of her.


    "Xiu Mei, long time no see. How have you been?"

 Chapter 29 - Drag her out

    <h4>Chapter 29 - Drag her out</h4>


    "Xiu Mei, long time no see. How have you been?"


    ¡¯Very good, until you came.¡¯


    Was what Xiu Mei had wanted to say. However, the words in her mind waspletely the opposite of what wasing out of her mouth.


    "I¡¯m good, thank you Ms.Linda. Congrattions by the way. I saw in the news that you recently won an award in The Fashion Awards this years." She shed her usual polite and business smile as she slowlyid down the papers back on herp.


    Linda Yang, a veteran fashion designer, was one of the best white lotus actress she had ever met. Meaning by white lotus, she was so great in acting so innocent, and making other people feel like she was often being bullied.


    Many had fell victim in her hands, including Xiu Mei. She really couldn¡¯t forget that day years ago, when she had just started her internship under Lu Chen¡¯s wing. Just like other women, their eyes preyed on Lu Chen who was currently in the middle of talking with some other businessmen in the party.


    Being his intern secretary, she was brought as his partner for the partner. Even though she had tried not to show it, she was inpletely nervous on the inside. It wasn¡¯t her first time attending such event, but she had attended the parties before as the daughter of from the Xiu family. But right now, she was Lu Chen¡¯s secretary. She had to be cautious and maintain the image of thepany especially in external events like this.


    It was there where she met Linda Yang. At first, she were all acting nice while talking at her but the more time they spent talking, Xiu Mei finally noticed her weirdness. Most of the topics they were talking about was about her president, like coborating for some work or events and something along those lines.


    But what was weird that she was trying to y her words. She was discreetly asking her some personal information regarding her president. Unfortunately for her, even Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know so much details about Lu Chen at that point in time.


    Realizing that the person she had been talking to was useless, Linda Yang decided to go on a full force attack on the target. A few hourster, Xiu Mei was rang by Lu Chen to quicklye up to his room.


    If it were some other female, they would already be doubting why a man would call a woman toe up to his room during midnight. Xiu Mei however, knew that Lu Chen wasn¡¯t such man. And no, she wasn¡¯t talking about him being decent and a gentleman. But rather it was the tone of voice Lu Chen was using when he had called her.


    After working with him for a few weeks, she knew he was man of few words. He would never speak in more then two sentences unless it¡¯s about work. He would always be in his office, and after speaking a few instructions, he would return to working on his doc.u.ments.


    But when he had called her just now, it was the first time Lu Chen had spoken to her the longest on the phone. Along with that was his tone of irritation blended with anger. It sounded like he would instantly fire her if she waste even by a second ining to his room.


    Xiu Mei immediatelyplied, quickly changing her clothes into something more proper beforeing to his room. Upon sliding the card key, the door made sound before she twisted the door knob to open.


    Xiu Mei was bbergasted the moment sheid her eyes on the scene in front of her. She didn¡¯t know if she should cover her eyes or be wide-eyed instead. There, she saw Lu Chen still in his business suit however, it was theplete opposite of the neat andposed Lu Chen. His tie was almost undone, the suit was all with creases and the top buttons of his white shirt was unbuttoned. Basically, he looked really untidy. He was sitting in the sofa in the corner part of the room, as his face was dimmed with rage.


    It actually felt like Lu Chen was going to swing the leaf sculpture on the center table at the person lying in the center of his bed.


    Her sight shifted to the figure on the bed. It was a very familiar female, except she was n.a.k.e.d and on her cheeks was some blood dripping. It seems like it was shed with something sharp. She stared back at the man at the corner of the room, fear evident in her eyes. This was Linda Yang, one of the many people she spoke with back in the party.


    "Drag her out."


    "Understood." Xiu Mei pulled out her phone to dial some of the bodyguards that was staying at the opposite hotel. Lu Chen usually brings some bodyguards with him during events like this, and he would have some extra people that would stay outside for security.


    The moment she had seen that empty hallway, she knew something had gone wrong. There were always at least two people guarding by the door of the presidential suite Lu Chen was staying in, but this time, she did not see even a shadow of a person. She faintly smelled some weird fragrance in the air thus, she had automatically covered her nose.


    And seeing the circ.u.mstances inside the room, she immediately understood who was the mastermind behind this. Ah, to think that something this trivial got past to Lu Chen¡¯s security, it seems like all of them will be fired.


    It only took a few minutes when Lu Chen¡¯s men came in the suite floor. They immediately dragged the n.a.k.e.d female out of the bed. Xiu Mei immediately handed the bedsheet to one of those bodyguards to throw to Linda Yang. After all, they would also be spurned by the public if they had really thrown Linda Yang out there in her n.a.k.e.d glory.


    That wouldpletely tarnish theirpany¡¯s image and it would be really a problem.


    Understanding Lu Chen¡¯s mind, she went to the reception along with the bodyguards who were manhandling Linda Yang. The moment they exited the elevator, everyone¡¯s focus were on them.


    Who wouldn¡¯t be?


    A woman and a bunch of guys were walking in cl.u.s.ter with a female apparently only covered in bedsheet. The bodyguards already knew what to do with the female so Xiu Mei walked straight to the reception desk to have Lu Chen¡¯s roompletely changed.


    The incident wasn¡¯t exactly done in secret especially Linda Yang is one of the high profiled people in the fashion world.

 Chapter 30 - Abuse of power

    <h4>Chapter 30 - Abuse of power</h4>


    The incident that night easily made the headlines the next day. Xiu Mei quickly coordinated with the PR team that night expecting such results thus they were able to quickly lessen the damage on their side.


    Linda Yang¡¯s name was all red for the whole week. The next time Xiu Mei met her was a few months after that. She met her again in some coboration project with some clothing linepany. It waspletely out of her expectations when the Head of the Design department from X Company revealed to her in one of their formal dinners that they contracted Linda Yang for the designs.


    Xiu Mei immediately wondered how Linda Yang survived after that scandal a few months ago.


    Lu Corporation does not discriminate for people with talents, however, Xiu Mei had investigated this Linda Yang during the scandal period. It was revealed that a lot of Linda Yang¡¯s most famous designs were giarized and stolen by her from other designers.


    This kind of people, she disdain them the most. People who steal other people¡¯s hardwork and im that they own them, why are they the one sessful whenpared to those people who are really talented?


    However, Xiu Mei could not exactly pry on this matter. After all, Linda Yang was like the previous girls who had tried to climb the bed of Lu Chen so they had easily brushed off this small issue.


    But now, knowing that the other party was the one responsible for providing the designs and clothing line, she immediately demanded that they end their contract with Linda Yang. Stealing designs is definitely not a simple issue, and she won¡¯t gamble Lu Corporation¡¯s name with that.


    The X Company easily made their decision hearing Xiu Mei¡¯s demand. Lu Corporation¡¯s name is still bigger whenpared to the name of Linda Yang in the industry, especially that she already had a stain on her name.


    "What the hell?" Xiu Mei held her urge to smash the screen of herptop after reading the headline.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know what happened but one day, she saw her name in the headlines a few days after that.


    Basically, what she had summed up from the article was that she was abusing her power as the secretary of the president of Lu Corporation to oppress other people, for example, person A(unnamed) who is a fashion designer.


    Xiu Mei scoffed.


    Instantly, she knew who was the one responsible behind all of this. Linda Yang was the person they recently had issue with, and it seems like she was acting like a white lotus acting all so pitiful in the short interview she had provided as Person A.


    The matter was left with the PR team to resolve. After all, it wasn¡¯t something big that she really had to worry about. Her attitude as Lu Chen¡¯s secretary is already known to a lot of people. She was mostly in contact with high profile people and other employees.


    If the reporters really want to investigate her, they would easily find this information. Even her identity as a Xiu daughter wasn¡¯t exactly a secret either.


    After that incident was resolved, shepletely disdained Linda Yang not only as a person, but her whole being. How dare she try to taint her name like that? Even pulling in the name of the Lu Corporation?


    If it were the old Xiu Mei, she¡¯d make sure that Linda Yang won¡¯t even have a ce anywhere in the fashion industry may it be in China or abroad.


    "Hoho," Thatugh full of egoism by Linda Yang could bepletely felt by Xiu Mei. Ah, she just really want to get out of here or else she might do something so scandalous in front of her. Probably like pouring the tea she was drinking on her?


    Petty, but damn. She was tempted to really do it.


    "It¡¯s nothing big. It¡¯s just an award." Linda Yang said, trying to sound humble yet she couldn¡¯t hide that tone of pride when she spoke.


    "Yeah, just a simple award. After all, who knows who¡¯ll be the winner next year." Xiu Mei sipped her tea after saying that. She clearly felt that dagger like stare when the other party heard her words but she easily ignored them.


    "Or maybe, something might even happen and you¡¯d be quickly dethroned, right?"


    Her tea cup made a noise after she ced it back on the saucer. While speaking, Xiu Mei looked straight to Linda Yang¡¯s eyes. Her lips slightly curled up seeing Linda Yang¡¯s gaze shake.


    Xiu Mei picked up a napkin and made a gesture of rubbing her hands on it as she continued.


    "Maybe next year, themittee would decide a stricter criteria in choosing the winners I guess? For example, originality?"


    BLAG!


    Xiu Mei stood up from her seat with the folders sandwiched between her elbows and body while her other hand held the hand bag she was previously carrying.


    She nced again at Linda Yang who was seething with anger as she looked at her with intense re like she was ready to attack and pull her hair at any moment. She shed a smile of triumph before walking out. She took quite a big step, to avoid the pieces of the broken tea cup scattered on the floor.


    After leaving the VIP lounge, Xiu Mei walked a little bit more distance before stopping in some corner. Her left arm reached out and leaned on the wall as Xiu Mei almost cried.


    She was covering her mouth with her her other hand as she finally let loose theugh she was holding back ever since she exited the VIP lounge.


    "Pfft!! Hahahahahaha!"


    Xiu Meiughed herself to tears, her mood waspletely lifted up.


    She almostughed again, remembering that fear stricken face of the person she was conversing with awhile ago. Really, if she had not held back, she would¡¯ve easily got that woman chased awaypletely from her life.


    Afterughing for awhile, Xiu Mei tried topose into her calm self again.


    Aah, the old Xiu Mei is resurfacing after so many years. Should she be concerned?

 Chapter 31 - Information

    <h4>Chapter 31 - Information</h4>


    While Xiu Mei was rxing on the ne, the rest of the Lu Corporation employees felt like they were facing the worst enemy of their lives. Who told them to work under such a scary boss?


    TAP!TAP!TAP!


    Almost every person in the boardroom held their breath. They were trying their best not to make any sound lest they attract the emperor¡¯s wrath. They weren¡¯t sure where to look at either, to their boss or at the wall. Only the sound of the pen tapping the table echoed in the whole room. The man in the navy blue business suit held his fountain pen in one hand as he leaned back on the leather office chair. His face looked nk, yet anyone could feel the oppressive aura that he exudes. If one would really look closely, they could even see that his bows furrowed a little bit.


    The silence was too deafening that even a pin drop could possibly echo in the whole boardroom.


    TAP!TAP!TAP!


    "President," The voice broke the silence, and everyone breathed, fearful of what might happen to the owner of the voice who was idiot enough to interrupt his thoughts.


    And the said idiot was none other than the ever-so-brave personal eunu---secretary of the emperor president CEO.


    Lu Shao leaned in to the president¡¯s side, to keep everyone from listening in on their conversation. Which he doubts would happen as no one is really that brave enough to eavesdrop on the president, especially when he is on his emperor mode.


    "We are still in the middle of a meeting." Lu Shao had whispered. He saw Lu Chen¡¯s shoulder slight move, stiffening. However, it happened so fast that nobody except him had noticed that.


    In fact, he understood what was going through in all the minds of the people in the room.


    Everyone must have thought that the president was too disappointed with the results of thetest sales they were presenting to him resulting in him choosing not to speak anything due to his utter disappointment. But Lu Shao thought differently.


    He had trained and grew up with Lu Chen so he knew quite well what was going on with his mind. And with the way he was acting, he¡¯s quite sure he wasn¡¯t exactly angry nor disappointed. Rather, he was worried over something. He was in a state of dilemma and even though Lu Chen wasn¡¯t saying anything to him, Lu Shao could easily identify what he was worrying over about.


    After all, Lu Chen had started acting strangely a week ago after returning from Xiu Mei¡¯s house to pick up the little master. It seems like the president had seen his partner in a different light.


    And watching the slight changes he had observed this past few days, Lu Shao was more than pleased.


    Lu Chen finally woke up from his reverie when Lu Shao had called out to him. He was stunned for a second, before picking up his usual professional mood again as he tried to recall everything that was reported by the Marketing Director to him. Even though it looked he was listening to the report, his mind was actually elsewhere. However, he had read the report on his hands a few hours back so he understood the gist of his report without listening to the person in front.


    The meeting continued for more than an hour before he had everyone dismissed to return to their works. Lu Shao followed behind everyone after all the directors and other people had left the room. Slightly bowing his head in his direction, Lu Shao slowly closed the door of the room making a little sound.


    Lu Chen¡¯s gaze lingered on the door for a little more before his gaze shifted to the seat beside him. Staring at it, he was tempted to touch the chair just to prove that no one had really sat there. For some reason, he was imagining the presence of the female sitting on her seat who usually sat beside him.


    That doey eyes that had stared at him even though she was pretty weak. The determined eyes that refused to bend under his persuasion.


    And now, this seat that was usually filled with warmth felt so empty.


    Dang it, was he going crazy?


    Lu Chen finally removed his gaze away from the seat and took a deep breath. His emotions was too chaotic these past few days and even he himself doesn¡¯t understand what was happening.


    It felt like he was in a constant rollercoaster of emotions, yet he didn¡¯t find it irritating. But rather, he weirdly feltfort, yet frustrated.


    Fine, he¡¯s getting crazy.


    He¡¯s been getting crazy ever since he had proposed marriage to Xiu Mei.


    And now, he was in aplete mess.


    The phone in his suit pocket vibrated to life. He pulled it out and seeing the caller ID on the screen, he automatically frowned.


    His guts told him that this call would only worsen his mood, thus he was even more tempted not to answer the call. Yet, he knew that everytime this person calls, he provides the most vital information he needed.


    He slid his hand over the screen pressing the green button. Lu Chen did not bother speaking any greeting when he ced the phone on his ear.


    "Package B had been spotted by someone from the TEAM."The other side spoke in a hushed tone.


    Lu Chen¡¯s brows jumped. "Can this information be trusted?"


    After all, what he was telling him was a second hand information. And not everything could be trusted unless it was his intelligence that personally witnessed it.


    "Yes. I have verified it by having another guy loop in around the TEAM. It seems like they are nning a bit big this time."


    "Good."


    Lu Chen¡¯s fingers tapped on the table. "This time, they won¡¯t be able to escape in my anymore."


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes glinted sharply. His aura a minute agopletely changed into a more oppressive aura. Rather than the emperor aura, it was more simr to a lion king. A predator eyeing a prey,ying a trap to have him on his.


    "Continue with what you¡¯re doing." He gave hismand.


    "Copy that." And the line was instantly cut off.

 Chapter 32 - Mrs.Ying

    <h4>Chapter 32 - Mrs.Ying</h4>


    After the phone call, Lu Chen returned to his office. His eyes lingered for a second on the only empty table before he returned entered his office. It seems like today will be another long day.


    In City D, Xiu Mei¡¯s ne safelynded. She was picked up by the people hired by thepany to apany and drive her to ces for the day. After checking in at the hotel, she quickly continued on her itinerary by visiting all the branches she had scheduled for the day.


    "After 3 months, draft a report and send it to my email." Xiu Mei instructed to the manager of the 8th store she had visited. She did a final run through before finalizing some other stuff and handing over the doc.u.ments to the manager. After wrapping up her work at the 8th store, she left to go have somete lunch. Or rather, an early dinner.


    She was just making her way to a nearby restaurant when she stopped on her tracks. Her gaze paused on the person walking nearer to her, and it seems she haven¡¯t noticed her presence.


    She instinctively wanted to hide, yet her feet felt glued on the ground. Everytime, she would be filled with the same emotions.


    The other person finally noticed her presence and stopped. From it¡¯s smiling expression, it quickly changed into a stern look. It was even mixed with disgust as she looked at Xiu Mei.


    "Mrs. Ying." Xiu Mei bowed a little bit as a greeting. When she lowered her eyes to bow, she quickly saw thedy take a step back.


    "I don¡¯t dare ept the bow of Ms.Xiu, otherwise, your family might do something to our family again." Mrs.Ying¡¯s voice was very transparent. She was clearly mocking her but Xiu Mei didn¡¯t want to retort back as she understood where she wasing from.


    Hesitantly, she straightened her back again and looked at Mrs.Ying.


    "Looks like you¡¯re living well." It was stillced with disgust. "Unfortunately." Mrs.Ying added.


    She saw Mrs.Ying¡¯s eyes examined her up and down. Even after 10 years, Mrs.Ying would still look at her like she would automatically lunged at her to p her and pull her hair at every opportunity when she lowers down her guard.


    "I am." Xiu Mei retorted. Xiu Mei actually questioned herself whether she was answering thetter part of her statement.


    Mrs.Ying sneered at her statement before revealing a mocking smile. "Good, live well. So I could enjoy watching you climbing high only for you to crash down so pitifully without having the opportunity to stand on your own two feet again."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s hands clenched into a fist. Rainbow of emotions flowed through her¡ªanger, disappointment, and self-me.


    No matter how much Xiu Mei tried to pretend to be strong, she couldn¡¯t escape from that cage.


    Ten years ago, the good rtionship of the Yang family and the Xiu family was broken off. Xiu Mei never forgot how she was forced to leave by Ying Yue¡¯s parents in her bestfriend¡¯s funeral. She was kicked out after being pped by Mrs.Ying. Xiu Mei¡¯s blood continued to drip from behind her hand. It was from pulling out the IV needle stuck on her a few hours ago. Her feet was bare while her white hospital dress was dirtied with a trace of blood.


    At that time, Xiu Mei was still numb with shock she didn¡¯t feel the pain at all. Her empty gaze stayed on the the framed picture of Ying Yue surrounded by flowers and candles. That bright smile was in contrast with the lifeless image of Ying Yue embedded in her mind.


    The words being yelled at to her by Ying Yue¡¯s parents didn¡¯t register in her mind as she dazedly stared at the picture. It was only when her hair was suddenly pulled by Mrs.Ying and forcefully dragged out of the room that she woke up from her current state.


    She found herself pushed to the ground, looking all pitiful. Aplete difference from the usual Ms.Xiu that everyone knew of. She suddenly felt cold when something wet was sshed onto her. Xiu Mei looked up and saw the empty ss in Mrs.Ying¡¯s hand as she condescendingly stared down at her. She even saw that Mrs.Ying was going to throw down the ss to her when she suddenly heard a bunch of heavy footsteps.


    She even saw Mrs.Ying halt her movements as she stared wide-eyed at the source of those sounds. The next thing she knew, she was pulled up into the embrace of her eldest brother. She faintly heard him say a few words to Ying Yue¡¯s parents before he brought her out of that ce.


    She remembered cking out while she was making her way to the car. She was then kept under surveince by her family for years after her multiple suicide attempts that followed after that event.


    "Talking to you any further is just a waste of my time. I do hope you¡¯ll show a good y for me to watch, Ms.Xiu." Mrs.Ying said before she walked past Xiu Mei. Even after Mrs.Ying hadpletely left the ce, Xiu Mei remained rooted on the ground.


    Her fists remained clenched, causing it to wound her palms and bleed a little bit. The pain instantly woke her up as she subconsciously unclenched her fist to relieve the pain. She stared at the her palm filled with five crescent wounds. Then her sight moved onto her thin wrist. It looked so smooth that no one would have ever thought it was once filled with countless scars. She lowered her eyes as she let out a self-depreciatingugh.


    Stupid Xiu Mei.


    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She slowly counted one to ten in her mind before she opened her eyes again. Her feet finally took its first step forward after so long.


    She still had to go on with her life after all.

 Chapter 33 - First Love

    <h4>Chapter 33 - First Love</h4>


    Xiu Mei¡¯s next four days went by a bit too messy and chaotic. Over those four days, she had to terminate at least ten employees in total after assessing their behavior and performance. She also had to resolve the issue of some customer suddenly raging inside the storeining that they were being ignored by the employees.


    "I don¡¯t wanna get up anymore, ugh." Xiu Meiined as she threw herself on the bed, burying her face on the pillow. She even ignored that she was still wearing her business clothes, she was too tired to worry about that.


    Since the room was too quiet, Xiu Mei found herself slowly being hypnotized to sleep. Half an hourter, her phone rang to life disrupting her dreams. Half-awake, half-asleep, Xiu Mei fumbled under the sheets looking for her phone. A few ringster, her hand finally found the solid ringing object.


    With her eyes still closed, she epted the call.


    "Hello?" Her voice came out a bit deeper and huskier due to her being recently woken up.


    Xiu Mei heard a chuckle on the other line that she quickly ignored. Her mind wasn¡¯t really catching up to what was currently happening. Her brain right now could even bepared to someputer with slow processes that she even wondered if she would be able to understand the other person¡¯snguage.


    "Princess, you¡¯re already asleep?" That soothing, hypnotizing and warm voice alerted her senses. Her eyes jumped open and in an instant, her brain was suddenly in full function. Her eyes quickly shifted to the phone on her hand after pulling it away from her ears to look at the caller ID.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened. Oh my gawd, why is my first love calling?!


    Her heart quickly palpitated as she had to control herself from suddenly squealing on the phone.


    "Brother Lee!!" She tried to make her voice as normal as possible, yet, it was still noticeable that her voice rose a few notes higher.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t even hide the grin that was showing on her face as she kept thinking of Brother Lee¡¯s face in her mind. Ah, so dreamy.


    "Did I woke you up?"


    "NO! No!" Was her immediate reaction as she quickly shook her head. In contrast with her low energy just half an hour ago, Xiu Mei wasparable to someone who had just ingested an energizing pill and became too hyper after.


    In all honesty, it was half true. For Xiu Mei, Brother Lee could actually be considered her energizing pill.


    Brother Lee is one of her brother¡¯s bestfriends that Xiu Mei would often meet back when she was still little. Everytime Brother Lee woulde over in their house, he would always y with her, feed her and apany her while telling some interest stories.


    Xiu Mei liked spending a lot of time with Brother Lee until second year middle school. It was when Brother Lee entered the Military Academy for college. And throughout the years, he has been continually getting recognition as the one of the youngest Major General in the country.


    Xiu Mei looked up to Brother Lee not only as her brother but also as her Prince Charming. When she was still a child, she always thought Brother Lee was just a second from her brothers. Brother Lee was drop dead gorgeous, patient, kind, and he excels in almost everything the he does. Unfortunately, he utterly fails in cooking.


    Anyway, of all people that Xiu Mei had met, she considered Brother Lee as the most handsome of them all. After all, he was really good looking enough to be offered by multiple celebrity managers to sign a contract to be an actor or model. What attracts her even more to Brother Lee was that he is undoubtedly a living version of Prince Charming.


    He was kindhearted, and he almost had no w(except cooking!). How could the young Xiu Mei not fall in love with such a person, right?


    As Xiu Mei grew up though, her feelings for Brother Lee changed. Yes, he is her first love. But right now, that love that he had for Brother Lee was quite different now that she grew up. What she had before was just an innocent love a child had for someone older than her.


    "Then do you wanna go hang out?" Brother Lee offered.


    Xiu Mei jumped in surprise. It was very rare for him to have some free time to hang out with her after bing promoted to a Major General.


    "You¡¯re not busy? And do you even know where I am?"


    "Of course, I asked your mom where you were."


    Mom and her bbermouth. Really, she would always tell her whereabouts not only to her brothers but also to Brother Lee. Everytime she would go somewhere, one of her brothers would pop here in there to kidnap her in the middle of work and she would always be frustrated with that.


    Though, she was actually thankful for her mom for it because ever since she had started working, it was now quite difficult to meet up with her brothers due to their line of work. One is in the military and one is in the government. Both are too busy like her.


    "Okay!" Xiu Mei cheerfully agreed. After finalizing where they are going to meet, Brother Lee had offered to pick her up from the hotel instead so they could go to the restaurant together.


    Right after hanging up the call, she quickly rose from the bed and rushed to her luggage to find something decent to wear. It was Brother Lee ah. The most handsome Brother Lee! Who doesn¡¯t like handsome people with good attitude?


    Xiu Mei put on a light makeup after changing out of her clothes. She checked the time with her phone and left the room to go down to the lobby.


    "Little Princess, it¡¯s been awhile." A man, d in white button up shirtzily leaned by the wall just across the elevator she was riding on. The man¡¯s hair was cut cleanly as per military protocol and the muscles that had developed overtime could be seen due to how tight the long sleeves was hugging his arm.


    "Brother Lee!" She eximed. The same guy shed his white teeth with a smile at her.


    Really handsome, ah!

 Chapter 34 - Monitored

    <h4>Chapter 34 - Monitored</h4>


    Lee Yu An, but often called by Xiu Mei as Brother Lee, had brought her to a locale Szechuan Family Restaurant. Well aware of her favorites, Lee Yu An was able to quickly give their orders to the server. Xiu Mei who was still in the state of stupor just stared dazedly at him. Lee Yu An immediately realized her staring at him and he couldn¡¯t help but sh a smile at her.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Lee Yu An teased her a little bit.


    Xiu Mei blinked in surprise, realizing that she was being too straightforward at looking at him. Heck, she didn¡¯t even try to hide it! Damn it, one can¡¯t really forget their first love¡¯s huh.


    "Nothing, just.... it looks like Brother Lee got a bit thinner." Xiu Mei spoke out. It sounded like she was lying, however that was what she had also thought when she first saw him at the hotel awhile ago.


    Thest time that she had met Lee Yu An was six months ago, and seeing him again right now, his weight loss was really noticeable. She was a bit worried whether he was working too much that he¡¯s forgetting to take good care of himself. However, Xiu Mei should really say the same thing to herself for being too workaholic.


    "I just recently finished a harsh training camp, that¡¯s why."


    Lee Yu An stated as he nced down at his muscle-toned arms.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows raised as she spoke. "Again?" She sighed.


    "...I really don¡¯t understand why you and eldest brother are always so crazy with training camps."


    Lee Yu Anughed at her obvious expression of confusion as to his fascination with training camps. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from pinching her nose just like he used to do ever since Xiu Mei was still a little kid. "I could say the same to you."


    "Huh? What? Wait, let go!"


    Xiu Mei tried pulling back herself from Lee Yu An¡¯s evil clutches but it was useless. She was just an ordinarymoner against to a soldier, how she even fight back from his bullying?


    "Who was it who was so quick toe back to work right after recovering from being sick?"


    Xiu Mei paused as her eyes widened in surprise from what she had heard. How did they know she just got sick?! She never informed her mom about it nor anyone other than Lu Chen and his subordinates should¡¯ve known this fact. It was even more impossible for Lu Chen to tattle tale on her mom, they didn¡¯t even know each other!


    In Xiu Mei¡¯s mind, it is already a proven fact that it was always her mother who would always update everyone in the family about her daily life. Her mother didn¡¯t uselessly studymunications in college after all. She was so good at being a reporter to the family.


    "How did I know?" Lee Yu An grinned as he spoke out what was in her mind. Xiu Mei quickly nodded, affirming his thoughts.


    "It was Xiu Mo Ruo."


    Xiu Mo Ruo? Her second brother?


    Xiu Mei understood everything in an instant after discovering the culprit behind it.


    "Second brother was monitoring me?!"


    Lee Yu An didn¡¯t nod nor shook his head.


    "All this time?!"


    No response was heard from the person across her.


    Xiu Mei held back her anger down, breathing deeply. After all, Xiu Mei was quite sure that her family was still monitoring over her. Maybe not as much as they did before but it was still irritating hearing that they were still monitoring her movements every day. She often felt pressure of being careful with her every movement yet, she knew that it couldn¡¯t be helped.


    With what happened to her after that ident, her family was also on the edge by that time. And even after all those years, the pain that it left on her family remained and probably, monitoring her would is the only way for them to have a piece of mind.


    After piecing those rational thoughts together, Xiu Mei¡¯s anger finally subsided. Fine, for the family.


    While she was calming herself down, the foods were finally served in their table. Picking up the chopsticks from her side, she spoke.


    "We are too busy this days. Missing too much work could cause some problems in some of our projects."


    Lee Yu An easily understood her words and knew that Xiu Mei knew the reason why she was being monitored by her brother that was why she was notmenting on it after. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at the maturity this little princess of the family was showing.


    Before, she was theplete image of an innocent and spoiled princess but after growing up, the little princess turned into a matured, rational and intelligent princess that everyone would be proud of. Lee Yu An suddenly felt nostalgic about those times when Xiu Mei would still innocently cling to him to ask for permission to fish on theke. That has no fishes.


    "Being too workaholic is bad for your body." Lee Yu An dropped a spoonful of mapo tofu on Xiu Mei¡¯s te.


    "Throwing that line back to you, Brother Lee." She retorted back.


    "It¡¯s because I¡¯m a soldier, so I¡¯m required to train hard to not let myself get killed in the field. But you, you should stop pushing yourself too much."


    "Business is kinda simr to war, Brother Lee. No one knows if someday, someone would suddenly shoot thepany in the back that¡¯s why I also have to be alert and keep a tight reign on the overall situation of the Lu Corporation, you know." She paused to put a spoonful of rice and some mapo tofu on her mouth.


    "Really? Is that the only reason?" Lee Yu An narrowed his eyes at Xiu Mei as his hand rested on his chin.


    Xiu Mei showed a confused expression at him. "What other reason should I have?"


    Lee Yu An shed a teasing smile at her, like he knew some secret that Xiu Mei should be very concerned about. Xiu Mei suddenly dreaded the next the words that Brother Lee would say. That smile... is totally bad news.


    "I quickly returned here right after training because of you, you know?"


    Xiu Mei tilted her head as she got even more confused.


    "Because our Princess is finally getting married."


    Xiu Mei quickly choked, her hand flying to her mouth to stop herself from spilling the food from her mouth.


    WHAT THE HELL WAS BROTHER LEE TALKING ABOUT?! HER GETTING MARRIED?!

 Chapter 35 - Ill marry Brother Lee!

    <h4>Chapter 35 - I''ll marry Brother Lee!</h4>


    Xiu Mei almost spewed out the food she was eating when she heard Brother Lee¡¯s words. She even almost cursed and was barely able to stop herself from uttering it. After covering her mouth with her hand, her other hand immediately reached for the ss of water.


    She consumed it rather quickly, even making a loud noise as she ced the ss on the table. Her fl.u.s.tered self was too obvious to be hidden from Lee Yu An.


    Her widened eyes never left Lee Yu An¡¯s face, as she saw his lips slightly curl up from amus.e.m.e.nt after watching her reactions. Seeing that she was being made fun of, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but pout in annoyance at him.


    "You¡¯re so mean, Brother Lee." Sheined.


    "I¡¯m not."


    "You are. You¡¯re teasing me."


    "Ooh... you¡¯re quick." Lee Yu An shed a grin. On the other hand, Xiu Mei got even more annoyed hearing him admitting his intention.


    "You¡¯re too obvious!"


    "I wasn¡¯t even trying to hide it though." He spoke as a matter-of-factly. He even shed a triumphant smile, making Xiu Mei even more irritated.


    She dropped her fist on the table to express her annoyance as she red hard at him. It waspletely useless though, after all, how was Xiu Mei gonna try to scare a soldier who already faced countless life and deaths? She was just basically at the tip of the iceberg whenpared to those, no, not even the tip of the iceberg rather.


    "You.... Are you too bored in the army that you even went all the way here just to tease me?!"


    Lee Yu An didn¡¯t respond, yet Xiu Mei understood his response from the teasing smile that never left his face.


    "You-!!"


    "But honestly, you¡¯re in a secret rtionship, aren¡¯t you?" Xiu Mei was about to explode at Lee Yu An when he interjected her with his words.


    Xiu Mei buffered for a few seconds before his words registered in her mind.


    Her? In a secret rtionship? With whom?


    Confusion crossed in her face that Lee Yu An immediately gave her an idea what he was talking about.


    "You¡¯re reaction from my words about marriage awhile ago," Lee Yu An twisted the chopsticks in his hands before continuing as he lowered his gaze to stare at his food. "You reacted like it was a secret that wasn¡¯t supposed to be known by anyone hence, you were to dumbstruck on how to react after telling you that you were nning on getting married."


    Xiu Mei blinked. Inwardly, her mind was already cursing the fast wit of Lee Yu An. Damn this first love, why is he so sharp?!


    "...I wasn¡¯t." Xiu Mei quickly denied his usations. Lee Yu An¡¯s brow raised in question, as he signaled her to continue where was he wrong.


    After all, years of training in the militarybined with his experience in the field, he could quickly differentiate a person lying in front of him or not.


    In Xiu Mei¡¯s case, she was definitely trying to lie to him and looking for a way out and change topic.


    "Just like you said, I¡¯m too busy to date. I don¡¯t even have time to meet new people." More like, I¡¯m meeting a lot of people I¡¯m disgusted with recently. Was what Xiu Mei really wanted to add.


    "Hmmm,..." He hummed in acknowledgement, yet he didn¡¯t really believe her exnation.


    Inside his mind, Lee Yu An was already plotting on how he was going to investigate this secret of Xiu Mei that she was desperately trying to hide yet splendidly failed. He was very sure that it had to do something with romantic rtionsh.i.p.s, or else why would Xiu Mei react strongly to his teasing awhile ago?


    An innocent person would not react that big when he/she is used with that kind of statement.


    Lee Yu An continued on his thoughts. Seems like Xiu Min¡¯s and Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s vacation leave would be finally consumed this year, huh. Their dearest little sister is finally dating someone, and she¡¯s even hiding it from her family.


    Lee Yu An can already imagine the reaction of those two siscon brothers. Those two are the prime example of people who would definitely go until the ends of the earth to hunt a person who would dare to hit on their younger sister.


    Lee Yu An stared at the figure of Xiu Mei whose head is currently lowered as she savored the taste of the dishes she was eating. His mind conjured up the image of the little Xiu Mei he first me many years ago, and this image ovepped with the a.d.u.l.t Xiu Mei that was in front of him.


    He suddenly realized how fast everything had been for the past few years. The little girl that usually clung onto him is now a strong independent woman, who grew out of her parents¡¯ shell and bravely face the harsh world.


    "Brother Lee, won¡¯t youe back again next week?" Little Xiu Mei tugged the shirt of teen Lee Yu An who was carrying the little girl on hisp. He was reading aloud the famous fairytale that children usually loved yet, the little girl¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t even on the story but was on him.


    Seeing that round chubby face staring at him with full of hope, Lee Yu An couldn¡¯t even bare to say no to her request. His hand automatically went to her cheek as he lightly pinched it.


    With a gentle smile on his face, he spoke. "Of course, I¡¯ll y with you again."


    "Brother Lee is really the best!" The little girl cheered as she raised her hands to hug him. Her small arms tried their best to cling onto his neck but failed. So Lee Yu An hugged Xiu Mei¡¯s small body and cradled it.


    Lee Yu An felt even more nostalgic. Ah, how time passed by too fast.


    Lee Yu An¡¯s gaze lingered on Xiu Mei¡¯s figure once more before he finally dived in into his food. His hand temporarily paused when another memory shed in him before he quickly shrugged it off.


    A teenager and a little girl was sitting by theke with a fishing line resting just beside them.


    "Should we make a grilled fishter after catching one?" The teenager asked the little girl. The little girl vigorously nodded at his suggestion.


    "I¡¯ll cook it for Brother Lee!"


    Lee Yu An couldn¡¯t help but to smile at her innocent words. "Really? Can princess even cook?"


    "Yes! Xiu Mei can cook!" The little girl even made the gesture of putting her hands on her chest, like she was swearing that she can cook. "Xiu Mei will learn so I can cook for Brother Lee when I grow up!"


    "Will you really still cook for me when you grow up? What if you don¡¯t remember Brother Lee anymore by that time?"


    The little girl shook her head as she quickly opposed that idea.


    "I won¡¯t! Because when I grow up, I¡¯ll marry Brother Lee!" Little Xiu Mei said, as she shed a smile, making her missing front tooth be revealed in front of the teen Lee Yu An.

 Chapter 36 - Headline

    <h4>Chapter 36 - Headline</h4>


    "I won¡¯t! Because when I grow up, I¡¯ll marry Brother Lee!"


    When Lee Yu An remembered little Xiu Mei¡¯s words, he shed aplicated smile that disappeared very quickly.


    "You should spend time to meet people to date, Princess. Or else you won¡¯t find your Prince Charming." He said as he poked one of his chopsticks onto the dumplings.


    "..."


    Xiu Mei blinked. Prince Charming?


    She stared at the figure across her. ¡¯That¡¯s you, though.¡¯ She thought. And even if she meet other people, he would always be her Prince Charming.


    Xiu Mei bit her lip as she shifted her sight at her te. A Prince Charming was what she desired when she was still young and innocent on this world. After all, a Prince Charming is also the Princess¡¯ knight and shining armor. Before, she thought she deserved her nickname as the Princess. But now, she realized how naive she was.


    In this harsh world, a prince charming was what she shouldn¡¯t ask for. The love she wants was fidelity, honesty and understanding. Xiu Mei had grown up so much to realize that. No matter how perfect Lee Yu An was, she knew that he wasn¡¯t the person she really needed.


    Xiu Mei understood that this person, wasn¡¯t the one she could imagine standing beside her for the rest of her life.


    Suddenly, the face of the cold man appeared in her mind. She felt her heart freeze up and her thoughts paused.


    Why was she suddenly remembering Lu Chen right now?


    She lightly pinched herself on the leg. My god, was she going crazy? Really? Why was she remembering the president while thinking about the ideal man she wanted to be with?


    After thinking such bizarre thoughts, she quickly shrugged it all off before asking some random question at Lee Yu An to change the topic.


    The both of them finished their dinner while catching up with each other. Lee Yu An would often throw some antics at Xiu Mei, and she would easily point it out and tell him out right away.


    The two went to a nearby park before they went home. Side by side, Lee Yu An continued on his stories that went on in his training, and other fun stuff he went with Xiu Mei¡¯s eldest brother.


    Unbeknownst to Xiu Mei, a man inside the ck car had been watching her movements ever since she left the restaurant.


    "Drive." Lu Chen ordered. He tried to soundcalm, to act like he was not bothered by all the things he had witnessed just now, yet his eyes was full of frost. It almost felt like someone would instant die from how sharp his gaze was right at this moment.


    The ck car immediately drove away, distancing away from the location of the woman.


    Lee Yu An dropped off Xiu Mei at her hotel before returning to the camp. He had offered her a ride to the airport for tomorrow¡¯s flight but she quickly turned him down.


    Xiu Mei knew how much work Lee Yu An had to set aside just to make time for her tonight and she didn¡¯t want him to skip work even tomorrow just to drop her off at the airport. She didn¡¯t want to tire him out too much.


    Returning back to her room, she did her nightly routine before going to sleep.


    Back in City A.


    What was supposed to be a normal morning was disrupted by an explosive business news.


    Lu Chen of the Lu Corporation is now getting married! The partner? None other than the only female he was always seen with, his secretary Xiu Mei hailing from the prestigious Xiu Family!


    Almost every person in China was in a buzz. Lu Corporation¡¯s name is known in the entire country and globally, and even Lu Chen¡¯s name also rocketed up high in the search list in various websites.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s name also made it into the list, especially after her identity was uncovered in front of the whole world to see. Our unsuspecting protagonist however is just currently sitting and rxing on the ne that was flying back to City A.


    The PR team of the Lu Corporation was now in chaos. Not only them, but including the other departments who was also being bombarded by calls from the media and some unknown male and females. When all the Lu Corporation employees saw this headline in their televisions this morning, almost every person spewed out anything that they were drinking and eating. Some people who were oversleeping was woken up by the colleagues who was trying to call them to tell them news.


    Basically, even the employees was thoroughly shocked by this unexpected development of the two bosses of Lu Corporation. Even though some employees have been specting regarding the rtionship between their two bosses, they did not expect that the rtionship was actually too hidden and now, they are already on the stage of getting married.


    Come on! The most they had expected from their emperor CEO was just getting a girlfriend you know? They didn¡¯t even understand that someone would really be willing to get caught in his and be together with such an ice block.


    "Sir, what should we do--"


    "Just leave them." Lu Chen spoke, never leaving his gaze at the report papers he was reading. Lu Shao stood in front of him for awhile, debating whether he should just really ignore this big issue involving Xiu Mei. As far as Lu Shao understood his partner¡¯s personality, Xiu Mei is sure to explode in anger after learning of this issue.


    She would definitely be even more angry if she learns that Lu Chen was not even doing anything to pacify the media. Without Lu Chen¡¯s instructions, the PR team also didn¡¯t know of how to respond to the media¡¯s questions because they themselves weren¡¯t aware of what was the true rtionship between the two of them.


    Lu Shao sighed in defeat as he thought that Xiu Mei¡¯s ne would be arriving the next two hours. He could already imagine some war that would have no end. Xiu Mei¡¯s personality.... she really wasn¡¯t the type of person to not care about this.


    Goodluck, boss. Lu Shao thought.


    After chanting a short prayer for his president¡¯s welfare, Lu Shao finally decided to leave his room and returned to his work station.

 Chapter 37 - Really getting married?

    <h4>Chapter 37 - Really getting married?</h4>


    "Hmm~? Hmm~?" Xiu Mei hummed as she listened to her current favorite music in her headphones. Her eyes trailed on the words on the book she was currently read while holding a ss of champagne in her other hand. The littlemp was the sole light that lit her ce as she read the book. Around her was probably the sleeping passengers since their seats are mostly dimmed.


    Unbeknownst to Xiu Mei, this peace and quiet she was having wouldn¡¯tst for too long.


    An hourter, the ne she was on finallynded on City A. Gathering her bag on her hand, she followed behind the other first-ss passengers getting off the ne. She calmly made her way to the carousel where her bag would be dropped off. On her way, she felt the trailing gazes of other people on her. Xiu Mei¡¯s grip on her shoulder bag tightened as she suddenly felt anxious.


    Did something happen? Was something on her face?


    Her mind already conjectured a lot of possibilities. Her mind finally remembered her phone. Pulling out her turned off phone, she used her phonescreen as a mirror. She saw nothing out of ce except a few hairs slipping out of her bun.


    She looked up and checked whether their luggages have been dropped off but there were no bagsing out behind the ck curtains so she continued to look down on her phone as she turned it on.


    Xiu Mei was almost freaked out when she received a bombard of messages on her phone as it didn¡¯t stop firing to life due to the amount of texts she was receiving. She was even barely able to click on anything as the messages kept popping out in the middle of the screen.


    Confused, she opened the messages inbox and read a couple of texts. It was from some of the employees she had exchanged numbers before and some friends she would sometimes hangout with. They were all congratting her and wishing her the best. Xiu Mei got even more confused.


    She scratched her head as she continued on reading the messages, hoping to get enlightenment about the truth of the matter.


    Then came the messages from some of her cousins. As she read through the long messages she got from them, she finally understood what was happening.


    "What the hell?!" Xiu Mei almost dropped her phone to the ground due to shock. Her eyes widened as she kept repeating in reading the text from her cousin. She was hoping that by the end of her message, she would see a word ¡¯Just kidding!¡¯ or ¡¯It was just a joke!¡¯. Anything along those lines were what she was wishing to see however, her cousin utterly failed her and instead, what she saw was more congrattions and for her to have a baby soon.


    What the fudging hell?


    Xiu Mei became even more tempted to throw her phone onto the nearest trash bin.


    She just cut offmunications with everyone in just a few hours and suddenly, everything had changed. It¡¯s weird!


    Exiting from her inbox, she quickly opened her phone¡¯s browser and opened the news channel.


    There, inrge, bright red fonts read ¡¯The Ultimate Romance: Lu Corporation¡¯s President and Secretary¡¯s Future Married Life¡¯.


    "..."


    What an oundish headline. Who¡¯s the editor for this?


    Xiu Mei immediately shrugged off the weird headline and focused on the main topic. She read that headline once again before she finally had an idea of what was currently happening.


    "The president and I? Married?" She whispered as she asked herself.


    Even though she didn¡¯t remember saying ¡¯yes¡¯ to Lu Chen¡¯s proposal before, she still panicked inside. She thought hard to remember if she had carelessly forgotten that maybe she had agreed to his proposal. She even thought back whether she called Lu Chen after getting drunk in some dinner parties with the team. But no, nothing came up in her mind.


    Heck, she even forgot that Lu Chen¡¯s proposal is only known by her, Lu Chen, and Lu Shao. Her? Was she that stupid to even leak such a thing that could potentially start a big issue? Lu Chen? Hah. Xiu Mei doesn¡¯t even need to think hard about it. Definitely not. Lu Chen is not the gossipy type and she couldn¡¯t even imagine that he¡¯ll be the person who would spread this kind of news.


    Lu Shao? Too impossible. He was too loyal to Lu Chen to the point that she had even thought Lu Shao was like a father spoiling his son¡¯s whims?


    Xiu Mei thought hard if there are still any people who could¡¯ve possibly known this matter.


    Hmm...her second brother?


    If she was being monitored by her siblings, they would definitely know about this matter. However, her siblings were the two people in the world who wouldn¡¯t dare to leak this matter. They would even be the ones to be against it knowing how protective they are to her.


    Dang it! So who was it? Who dared to be stupid enough to conspire against them--to a powerful CEO and to a military family to boot? Was that person asking to be killed?


    After knowing the reason why she was getting the looks after getting off the ne, Xiu Mei took out and wore her sunsses just so to find the chance to slip out of this crowd and maybe, disappear into somewhere so she could leave the airport safely.


    Finally spotting her luggage, she quickly dragged it off the moving delivery belts and pulled it while walking away from the ce. Despite the stares she was receiving, Xiu Mei was quite calm as she showed her passport and other doc.u.ments on the window before heading straight to the exit.


    "There she is!"


    "Ms. Xiu, a word please!"


    "How do you feel about getting married to your superior, Lu Chen?"


    "When and where will the wedding be held?"


    Xiu Mei hadn¡¯t even taken more than 10 steps after passing the doors before she was weed by the lunging reporters who were trying to get a word from her. She instinctively took a step back, increasing the distance from the reporters when the airport security finally reached her area. They quickly held back the energetic reporters as they helped find a way to leave the airport.


    Finally reaching her car which she had parked on the parking lot, she dropped off her luggage on the trunk before she sat on the driver¡¯s seat.


    Her hands didn¡¯t move to key the car nor start it. Her gaze was in a far far away distance.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts were suddenly nk, still too dumbfounded with the scene awhile ago.


    Was she... really getting married?

 Chapter 38 - Lu Chens plans

    <h4>Chapter 38 - Lu Chen''s ns</h4>


    Despite all the news, Xiu Mei decided to go back to report at Lu Corporation first before going home. She also wanted to ask any update on how the PR team would be resolving the issue about the news of her and Lu Chen. After all, they had to rify that the marriage news was just a rumor and not true.


    Xiu Mei could feel the eyes of all the employees on her. Some people tried their best to act normal while greeting her while some really stopped on their tracks and gawked at her. She even saw some hopeful gazes that felt like they were trying to have her spill some information about the marriage.


    She sighed in defeat. Xiu Mei held back herself from telling all of them that what they heard on the news wasn¡¯t true. She shouldn¡¯t act too rashly and leave everything to the PR team else, it may cause more damage.


    "Ms.Xiu." The Head of the PR team greeted when they saw her enter the PR room. Almost everyone stood up from their seats to greet her so Xiu Mei just quickly held her hand up to stop the others from standing. She shook her head as she signaled the PR head that she needs a word with him.


    The PR head quickly lead her to her office and served her with tea.


    "Tell me what¡¯s really happening." Xiu Mei asked directly.


    The PR head already knew that Xiu Mei would immediately ask for this once she returns to the office hence, she was already prepared and already had the materials ready. She handed over a couple of papers before further exining what it was all about.


    "Our team couldn¡¯t find the person who spread this news however, it seems like it was done deliberately due to the fact that when we were trying to trace the news back from the first article, the writer seemed to be fully prepared. Everything pinged back to a nonexistent IP Address and that person had used a dummy email to send the information in various media publications before deleting itself in the inte."


    Xiu Mei read the paper and saw the IP address and dummy email they were talking about.


    "What about the Cybersecurity team?"


    "Umm,..."


    Xiu Mei saw the PR Head was hesitantly answering her question. With her brows raised, she wondered.


    "Are you not coordinating this issue with the Cybersecurity team yet?" She raised her voice quite a bit, akin to almost scolding the PR head for not immediately taking such actions.


    Xiu Mei wondered why the PR team wasn¡¯t coordinating with the Cyber team for resolving this issue since the news this time is too serious this time and they all need to take this news out of all the website as soon as possible or else, everything will be uncontroble anymore.


    "I¡¯m sorry Ms.Xiu." The PR head apologized. "Mr.Lu Shao gave a word not to do anything about to address this issue."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s head snapped back up, her frows creased. "What?!" She couldn¡¯t stop her voice from raising even further. "Lu Shao did what?!"


    Xiu Mei stood up from her seat reflexively as she threw the papers down on the table. She stared with unbelief at the person in front of her, scrutinizing her whether she was telling the truth or was just making an excuse.


    However, she knew it better than herself. These employees wouldn¡¯t dare throw a shade at Lu Shao, who has higher position than them.


    Xiu Mei bit her lip when she reached the conclusion. Lu Shao wasn¡¯t going to stop the PR team if no one had instructed it.


    Then it had to be him.


    Lu Chen.


    Xiu Mei was biting her lip too tightly that it drew blood. Tasting the tang of iron in her mouth, she grimaced.


    She felt her anger rising after realizing the true of culprit of Lu Shao¡¯s action.


    Xiu Mei quickly stormed out of the office as she stomped her way to Lu Chen¡¯s office.


    She ignored all the people that were trying to greet her as she quickly rode the elevator and pressed the button to the president¡¯s office floor.


    Her hands were curled into fists as the elevator moved.


    Damn Lu Chen.


    What game was he ying?!


    Why is he just letting this kind of news get more uncontroble?


    Instantly, Xiu Mei could think of the answer. And she wasn¡¯t happy realizing the possible reason behind Lu Chen¡¯s n.


    "Is he inside?" Xiu Mei¡¯s voice was full of frost as she asked Lu Shao who was working on his own table.


    She watched Lu Shao examine her with his gaze, trying to observe her current mood. He sighed before nodding, signaling her that the person she was looking for was inside.


    Xiu Mei knocked on the door and opened it, not bothering whether the president was letting her in or not. She could care less about manners at this point of time.


    "You¡¯re here."


    Xiu Mei had expected him to be on his desk, signing doc.u.ments in the middle of the pile of work on his desk but contrary to what Xiu Mei was expecting, Lu Chen wasn¡¯t working at all.


    He was standing by the floor to ceiling ss windows, his back facing her. Xiu Mei suddenly felt an oppressive feeling from Lu Chen, like he really was an emperor overseeing his kingdom as he stood like that watching the people below.


    She quickly shrugged off her thoughts as she quickly confronted him.


    "What kind of game are you trying to y right now?"


    "..."


    She approached his table as she got a clear view of Lu Chen¡¯s back from where she was standing. She quickly realized he wasn¡¯t looking down at all, rather, he was staring from afar seemingly thinking deep about something.


    Lu Chen just kept silent as she ignored her question. Xiu Mei fumed in anger.


    "You--"


    "Your heart has someone."


    Lu Chen¡¯s voice wasced with poison as he turned his head to face her. His gaze was cold, simr to a deep abyss making Xiu Mei shudder in fear.

 Chapter 39 - Predator

    <h4>Chapter 39 - Predator</h4>


    "Your heart has someone."


    When Lu Chen spoke those words, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from showing an ugly side of his to his female secretary. He saw her face change into one filled with fear, and he almost let out a self-depreciatedugh. It¡¯s been a long while since he had seen her fear him.


    He quickly turned away to stop himself from exploding any further. He shifted his sight onto thendscape outside the ss window while he held down his anger.


    Xiu Mei felt chill on her back as her mouth stopped uttering any words. Seeing Lu Chen look at her like that, she suddenly felt dread. She haven¡¯t been on the receiving end of those eyes ever since she first met him, and now, he was looking at her with that eyes.


    Somehow, she felt confused. What did she do to anger him? Isn¡¯t it supposed to be the other way round? She was the one who was supposed to be angry with his actions yet, she suddenly felt that she had to apologize to him.


    The words he uttered dawned on her.


    ¡¯I have someone in my heart?¡¯ Xiu Mei thought. Who?


    Xiu Mei opened her mouth to question him, to ask what he meant by those words. Yet no voice came out and she just stood there without moving. She stared at his back that never turned to her, and even though Lu Chen was just a reach away, she felt that high wall separating him from her.


    With the two of them not uttering any word, the room was filled with silence. Only the sounds of their breathing could be heard. A few minutester, it was Xiu Mei who finally had the courage to break the silence.


    She straightened her back as she fiercely gazed at Lu Chen¡¯s back once again. The fear quickly disappearing on her face.


    "Were you the one who had tipped off the media?" She interrogated him.


    "..."


    Even with no response, she continued pressing him with questions.


    "If not, why did you stop the PR team from taking any actions against the news?"


    "..."


    "Mr.Lu, what kind of game are you trying to y with me?"


    "I¡¯m not ying any games with you." Lu Chen sharply answered her, as he finally turned his body to face her. There, he saw that determined gaze that was trying to pick a fight with him. He admired Xiu Mei¡¯s courage, despite feeling scared by his gaze, she stood her ground and faced him.


    Really, the girl he chose wasn¡¯t an average girl at all.


    Lu Chen paused before speaking again. He directly met her eyes as he walked away from his desk and approached her.


    "I, Lu Chen, is not interested in ying games with anyone, especially if it doesn¡¯t benefit me at all." He stopped in front of her. Since Xiu Mei¡¯s height is a head shorter than him, she was forced to look up and meet his towering gaze.


    "And the person I chose..."


    Before Xiu Mei could move a muscle, Lu Chen was already caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. "...will never be in other people¡¯s arms." He had said those words like a spell, luring her in until she was chained and could not escape from his clutches.


    Xiu Mei clearly felt like she was a prey. As she listened to his words, she felt a ripple on her heart. She couldn¡¯t even shift away her gaze from his eyes.


    Lu Chen¡¯s hand didn¡¯t stop on Xiu Mei¡¯s cheek. Keeping that hypnotizing stare at her, he memorized every curve and the shape of her face. His eyes then shifted down and stopped at her lips. His hand followed right after and using his thumb, he pressed and traced the bottom of her lips.


    Feeling the softness with his hands, Lu Chen felt a tremor building up inside him. He realized his body was getting excited with the contact, and he found the feeling unfamiliar yet addicting.


    While Lu Chen was enjoying feeling out Xiu Mei¡¯s lips, the girl woke up from the daze from the sudden intimate contact.


    Xiu Mei automatically took a step back, feeling her face flush after realizing that Lu Chen¡¯s thumb almost got onto her mouth. Her heart was beating crazily than ever before, as she took a deep breath and avoided Lu Chen¡¯s gaze.


    The courage she had a second ago vanished in an instant and she was too tempted to escape from the room to hide away from Lu Chen¡¯s sight. Somehow, there was a voice whispering in her head that kept saying that if she don¡¯t runaway now, she would never be able to get away from this person¡¯s side anymore.


    But before Xiu Mei could even take a move, Lu Chen chased her arm and locked his hold onto her. Startled, she looked at her arm that was being grabbed and before she could even utter any word, she was dragged forward.


    "Wha¡ª?"


    She was effortlessly dragged and was forced to sit onto the sofa by the emperor. Lu Chen eventually sat beside her, keeping his hold onto her arm as he kept his predator-like gaze at her.


    She gulped.


    All of Xiu Mei¡¯s senses was screaming alert and that she should quickly run away from this ce. Unfortunately for her, it was all toote.


    "Mr.Lu, please let go of m¡ª"


    "Lu Chen."


    She felt his grip on her arm tighten, she quickly let out a sound of pain. Lu Chen must have realized how tight he was gripping her hence, he quickly loosened his hold and freed her arm.


    Finally getting the freedom of her arms, Xiu Mei reflexively held the spot where Lu Chen gripped her hard and rubbed it hoping to relieve the slight pain.


    "¡ªmy name."


    "What?"


    Xiu Mei raised her head when she didn¡¯t hear the first half of Lu Chen¡¯s words as she waspletely focused on her arm.


    "Call my name." He pressed.


    She felt confused. What was he saying?


    "Mr.Lu, I won¡¯t¡ª"


    "Mrs.Lu." Lu Chen suddenly dered that Xiu Mei almost choked on her spit.


    Did she hear him wrong?!


    But Lu Chen never removed his gaze on her as he pressed on. He repeated his words as he pulled out a familiar folder and ced it on the table. Pushing it to her direction, he continued.


    "Marry me and be my son¡¯s mother."

 Chapter 40 - Declaration of the Hunt

    <h4>Chapter 40 - Deration of the Hunt</h4>


    "Marry me, and be my son¡¯s mother."


    Lu Chen said as he pushed the papers towards her. Taking a peek to it, she quickly recognized the marriage registration papers he had once showed her before.


    "Marry me." He repeated. Xiu Mei¡¯s attention quickly returned to the person beside her. Her eyes shed with Lu Chen¡¯s pair of dark-orb eyes. His eyes simr to a whirlpool slowly pulling her in to him, and she quickly retracted her sight and turned away.


    She thought back to his words again.


    Why was he at it again? Proposing to her and convincing her to be his son¡¯s mother. It¡¯s not like she¡¯s the only woman out there that he could propose to, isn¡¯t it?!


    If he¡¯d like, a lot of women would¡¯ve fought over for the spot for being his wife. Why was he too insistent in being with her?


    "I refuse." She stood her ground against him as she finally returned to fiercely ring at him. He saw him stiffen with her answer but she didn¡¯t care. All she knew was that she wouldn¡¯t let him push her around and blindly follow his orders. Her personal life and career are two separate things. She would never dare to be rash in terms ofmitting in a rtionship with anyone.


    Lu Chen¡¯s gaze hardened as the both of them kept staring at each other. Neither one was giving up and looking away. A few secondster, Xiu Mei flinched from her seat when Lu Chen suddenly moved and stood up making his body tower over her. She unconsciously followed his movement making her look up to him which she instantly regretted.


    Startled she moved backwards and almost lied down on the sofa when she saw the magnified face of Lu Chen nearing her face. Xiu Mei felt that oppressive aura he was emitting that almost made her want to surrender under his power. She couldn¡¯t even find the strength to fight back against his oppression. She felt his hand caressing her chin, while the other was on her side stopping her from moving any further. He shed a sly smile at her which stirred something weird on her stomach. Weirdly, she even felt her funny little heart made a flip.


    "You won¡¯t be able to escape. You¡¯re mine."


    That smile... it felt like he was nning something that she wouldn¡¯t be able to get away. A trap that would prove difficult for her to escape from. Her breath hitched as she tried to get a grip of herself.


    If she¡¯s not going to fight back, at this rate, she¡¯ll be eaten! Eaten without bones by the emperor CEO. Xiu Mei understood how fierce and sharp every attack n Lu Chen creates and now, being the target of his attack was something she wasn¡¯t sure she could fight against to. His and her capabilities are still way too different and Lu Chen was the type to attack and earn the best of benefits from the situation.


    However, she mustn¡¯t surrender now! Finally gaining the courage, she pped his hand away with her other hand lightly pushing his shoulder thus, increasing their distance with each other.


    Finally free from his oppressive chains, she quickly stood up and took a few steps backwards to increase their distance.


    "We¡¯ll see about that." She quickly need to get out of this room and think of a game n, else, she would be gobbled up by this wolf in front of her.


    And that she did.


    Xiu Mei did her best to act calmly, yet, her feet was betraying her. She thought she was walking just like normal however, her brisk walking to the door didn¡¯t escape from Lu Chen¡¯s eyes. In just a few seconds, Xiu Mei was already outside of the room.


    All those actions was witnessed by Lu Chen who was now standing upright from his bent position awhile ago. A slight curve of his lips could be seen as he repeated the endearment he had called her a few minutes ago.


    "Mrs.Lu..."


    Hearing his words, Lu Chen suddenly felt euphoric. Somehow, that endearment seemed perfect on his mouth. Mrs.Lu....Xiu Mei.


    A pair of predator-like eyes glinted as the sunlight spilled into his room.


    He slowly walked back and returned to his seat. After contemting about something for a few seconds, he pushed a couple of buttons on the drawer beside him until it beeped open.


    Inside, he pulled out a small brown envelope. Pulling the contents out, he held a couple of printed images.


    It was the images of Xiu Mei with Lee Yu Anst night. Her bright smile as she stood in front of the soldier. Theugh and sweetness she only showed to that person while they were having dinner. The asional yet intimate touches of locking their arms together or brushing of their shoulders as the both of them walked under the moonlight.


    That familiar coldness returned on his gaze, and his sense of possessiveness was woken up as he darted through the photos.


    Lee Yu An.... Kei....


    It seems like he have to be on guard. A lot of people are eyeing his woman, he doesn¡¯t have time to be slow and careful in catching her.


    No matter if he doesn¡¯t love her right now. Once he chooses that person, he will never let go. No one will be able to snatch the person he chose in front of him, nor let that person walk away from him.


    Love?


    He would slowly get to that. But first and foremost on the list, seal the deal first so that his woman wouldn¡¯t dare to escape from him anymore. Cut off all escape routes, so that she would be left with no other choice.


    Lu Chen moved aside the photo as he inteced his fingers and rested his chin on it.


    "Xiu Mei.... let¡¯s start the hunt, shall we?" He whispered to no one in the room. A chuckle escaped from his mouth as he thought of the days toe.

 Chapter 41 - Different Him

    <h4>Chapter 41 - Different Him</h4>


    Seriously, what was wrong with the emperor CEO these past weeks?


    Aside from career-rted matters, all he would ever talk about was proposing to her and getting married. Why was he so insistent with getting her to marry him?


    She had already turned him down for so many times, yet it looks like he won¡¯t be giving up anytime soon. Ugh.


    Ever since the day she discovered Lu Chen was Lu Qiang¡¯s son, the president¡¯s attention on her became even more imposing.


    Before, all she would ever talk about with Lu Chen would be about work. It¡¯s also understandable that sometimes, they would also talk about something personal. However, all the personal things they¡¯ve talked about in the past were nowhere near to the types of conversations they were having recently.


    He was also acting quite differently from before. In the past, Xiu Mei could still feel the line drawn by him to her. He may not be showing it through his actions, but she could feel it in his eyes. Those eyes would sometimes feel uninterested or distant, but recently she could sometimes see a slip of his emotions.


    He would show bewildered expression, sometimes a tenacious look that he would only show in front of her. And it felt weird. Everything was.


    And it felt like meeting a different person. A different Lu Chen. Not the emperor she had known for so many years that was cold and distant, but right now, he was more humane. It¡¯s like he became more colorful with all those emotions on his face.


    Her mind automatically drifted to the gentle expression Lu Chen had shown to her when she was sick in bed. It felt like she was meeting a different person. He was so gentle and attentive that she almost didn¡¯t recognize him. And then she met the ferocious Lu Chen next, and it was knowing him all over again.


    Just how many sides of the president was there really?


    Xiu Mei was already by the elevator when she paused. She finally remembered the papers she was supposed to submit the reports to the president. Looking at the folder she was holding, she became hesitant in returning inside that office.


    She was sure that she would only get into another argument with Lu Chen if she goes back in there again.


    Forget it, I¡¯ll just give it to him when I officially return to work tomorrow.


    The moment Xiu Mei reached the underground parking, she regretted not choosing to return to the president¡¯s office instead rather than going home.


    Because after the elevator opened, she failed to see the reporters hiding and surrounding the elevator doors. And the moment she finally realized what¡¯s in front of her, she knew she made a great mistake of not closing the elevator doors quickly.


    That¡¯s why right now, she found herself being bombarded by the reporters inside the elevator. They were blocking the elevator doors that it didn¡¯t have any chance of closing anymore.


    Dang it, where are the guards?! How did they get inside the building? She would be having a good talk with the security team after this!


    Xiu Mei¡¯s back was glued onto the elevator wall while being surrounded by the elevators shing their cameras, and microphones to her. She couldn¡¯t even understand what they were all saying since they were all speaking all at a time.


    "A few words about the engagement please!"


    "Ms. Xiu, how does it feel to be married to one of the best businessmen in the world?"


    "Is this a political marriage?"


    They were hounding her with questions, but Xiu Mei did her best to act calm and unfazed in front of those reporters. She was patiently and silently waiting for the guards to control the reporters, and then she can go.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t want to do or speak at all in front of these reporters since her words might get twisted in the hands of the media. She understood this perfectly that the media would always try anything just to get poprity, even if that meant twisting your words and nting ideas on the readers that wasn¡¯t your intent.


    It is scary, but this is reality. Lu Chen and her are a public figure, and especially high-profile ones at that. Her,ing from a prominent family in the country and him, hailed as one of the best businessmen in the world.


    And after hearing the ¡¯engagement¡¯, the media went crazy on the possible union of the only daughter of the Xiu family and one of the most sought men in the country. How could the media give up on that scoop, right?


    After patiently waiting for a few minutes, the security was finally alerted of what was currently happening and quickly went down to control the situation in the underground parking lot. They forcefully obstructed the reporters that were trying to get close to Xiu Mei while some were helping her return to her vehicle.


    "Finally reached!" Xiu Mei eximed as she sat onto the driver¡¯s seat. She didn¡¯t waste any more second and quickly ignited the car to life. She drove away at the ce and was finally officially freed from the clutches of those aggressive reporters.


    Xiu Mei sighed. What¡¯s with everyone being too aggressivetely? Was she missing something or what?


    She was on the way back to her home when her phone rang to life. Pressing the call button on the screen of the car, the call was finally connected.


    "Hello?"


    Xiu Mei asked, not checking who the caller was as she was entirely focusing her sight on the road.


    "Xiu Bao Bao! Are you nning to get married without informing us?!" A thundering voice resounded inside the car.


    The moment Xiu Mei listened to the voice, she almost stepped on the breaks and caused an ident. Thankfully, she was able to stop herself at thest moment.


    When the traffic lights turned red, Xiu Mei quickly shifted her attention to the call that she had epted. Her eyes widened, as dread quickly filled her.


    Please let this be a dream.


    The family¡¯s queen, her majesty, her mom. Was. Fudging. Calling. Her.


    She was so dead. How did she forget about exining the situation first to her family?!

 Chapter 42 - Yu Shi Huang

    <h4>Chapter 42 - Yu Shi Huang</h4>


    Xiu Bao Bao.


    Every time she hears her mom call her with this nickname, all hell will break loose. Ever since she had grown older, her parents had never called her that for quite some time. Her mom, Her Highness the Queen as what her and her brothers call their mom behind her back, would every so often bring up this name.


    When?


    It¡¯s when she was angry. Like really angry. And when the Queen is angry, of course, the King would suffer and then the princes and princess would be too.


    Her Mom, Yu Shi Huang, came from a deeply rooted line of a military family. Basically, almost every member of the Yu Family are involved in the military, not necessarily a front-line soldier but some entered as an army doctor, scientist, and etc. A lot of Xiu Mei¡¯s rtives have upied high positions in the army, including her eldest brother, Xiu Min, who entered the military at such a young age.


    The Yu Family is one of the few families who have solidified its authority not only in maind China but in other countries as well. Therefore, in the social circle, no one dares to get in trouble with a Yu Family member.


    "Hi Mom~" Xiu Mei did her best to make her voice sound a bit childish hoping to soothe her mom¡¯s loving heart.


    "Are you sure I¡¯m still your mom?" The Queen angrily retorted. "Such a big event and you never thought to tell us?!"


    Xiu Mei gulped. Ah, she had forgotten this part. Dang it!


    She was too preupied with resolving the issue that she had forgotten to rify everything to her mom first. If Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t driving, she would¡¯ve pulled her hair out from frustration. How the hell did she forget that her mom would never let go of this?


    "Mom, let me exin it first."


    "Home. Right now." A firm voice replied. Xiu Mei stiffened in her seat for a second before she quickly shifted her car gears.


    "Roger that." The Queen has spoken and it shall be served.


    Xiu Mei quickly took a quick U-turn as she drove into a different direction to her ce. She better forgo getting rest, she still has some exining to do.


    It took an hour for Xiu Mei to drive to the Xiu private residence. Since her family home is located in the suburbs, she had to drive for quite a while in the middle of nowhere before reaching her destination.


    At the gate, there were guards who were blocking the gates for security purposes. She rolled down the window, ced her hand on the scanner before a beep sounded verifying her identity. Even though she is a daughter of the Xiu household, every person who enters the residence still has to do an identity verification before going in. It was a protocol to be followed to make sure that every personing in would be recorded and it would lessen the danger that was constantly following their family.


    Inside, it still drove for a few minutes before arriving at the doorstep of the Xiu Mansion. Handing the keys to one of the servants, Xiu Mei saw her family¡¯s butler already standing outside the doorstep when she alighted her car.


    "Wee home, Miss Mei." Arnold, the butler, uttered. Xiu Mei returned him a slight bow and a smile before she continued walking to enter the mansion.


    Inside, she met a couple of servants greeting her way as she made her way to the garden where her mom would usually be at this time of the day. And just what she had expected, she saw her mom in the garden wearing her gardening clothes.


    Xiu Mei had to watch her mom slowly destroying the bush of flowers as she kept digging through the soil. She even saw some of the maids apanying her mom to be looking down as well, seemingly feeling pity for the destroyed beauty of that part of the garden.


    She sighed. Looks like the gardener will cry when he sees this.


    Xiu Mei raised her hand to knock the outside door, informing her mom of her presence. Yu Shi Huang raised her head, and with a face smudged with mud, she fiercely red at Xiu Mei who was standing by the door.


    She quickly stopped whatever she was doing and stood up. She signaled for Xiu Mei to sit on the chairs as she quickly busied herself in cleaning up. One of the maids handed over a wet towel for her to wipe with thus, she quickly epted it. After removing the gardening clothes she was wearing on top of her homewear, Yu Shi Huang joined her daughter on the garden table and sat across her.


    A cup of tea and cookies have already been served when she seated.


    Xiu Mei watched her mom act so fiercely at her. She watched her trying her best to ignore her while asionally taking a quick peek at her as she sipped on her tea.


    Xiu Mei had to hold back herugh with the way her mom was acting.


    "When¡¯s the wedding?" Her mom dered as she ced her cup on the table that made clinking sound.


    "There is no wedding." Xiu Mei calmly remarked. Her mom¡¯s brows raised as she pped her hand on the table making all the tes and cutleries on it shake. Because her mom had been trained as a soldier before, her strength shouldn¡¯t bepared to other elite housewives.


    "Xiu Bao Bao, what do you mean there¡¯s no wedding?!" Yu Shi Huang¡¯s voice yelled at her as she gave her daughter a look with all the ridiculous words she was spouting.


    "You and Mr.Lu are already engaged. Don¡¯t you dare tell me that both of you are not nning on conducting a wedding?!"


    "There¡¯s no wedding because Mr.Lu and I aren¡¯t engaged at all!!!!"


    Yu Shi Huang paused.


    What did her daughter say?


    She wasn¡¯t engaged with her superior? Who was she trying to fool?

 Chapter 43 - Explained

    <h4>Chapter 43 - Exined</h4>


    "So you ARE in a rtionship." Yu Shi Huang¡¯s words sounded like a fact, rather than just stating it. Hearing her mom, Xiu Mei paused before the wordspletely registered in her mind.


    "I¡¯m not!" She retorted within 0.5 seconds.


    She was perfectly single. Alone. Self-partnered. Not dating anyone. Period.


    How did her mome up with that idea?


    "Right?" Her mom¡¯s head titled a little like she was thinking about something.


    "I¡¯m telling the truth!"


    "I didn¡¯t say you were lying."


    "And you didn¡¯t say you were believing me either!" Xiu Mei argued. She quickly took a deep breath after realizing that she was too overwhelmed by her feelings that she was already standing from her seat with both her hands on the table. She was hovering halfway through the table as she faced her mom.


    "Okay, listen to me."


    She took a deep breath before continuing, "Mr.Lu and I are neither dating nor engaged at all. We¡¯re not involved in any romantic rtionship. AT. ALL."


    Xiu Mei exined, trying to clear up the misunderstanding of her mom. She looked so desperate while trying to exin that it made her seem more guilty instead.


    "Right."


    "Mom!"


    Xiu Mei watched her mom stretch her hand out as she received a magazine from one of the maids. Her jaw almost dropped in disbelief after seeing the front cover.


    It was a wedding magazine!!


    Why the hell is she looking through that?!!?


    She had to stop herself from grabbing that magazine off her mom¡¯s hands, desperately trying to calm herself down. Knowing her mom, the level of difficulty in trying to make her understand believe or understanding something is quite high.


    Her mom just basically doesn¡¯t followmon sense. If she weren¡¯t famous as a Yu family daughter, people would¡¯ve doubted that she came from a high upbringing. The Yu family was really made of oddballs whose personality doesn¡¯t entertain logic ormon sense. They are full of entric people that excel best in their expertise.


    Truly, a weird family they are.


    "Mom, I am not getting married nor in any rtionship." She continued convincing her mom.


    Yu Shi Huang just made a sound of agreement as she continued flipping the pages of the Wedding Magazine she was reading. She would often hum in delights from time to time as she examined the wedding dresses in the pages.


    In the end, Xiu Mei justpletely gave up. She¡¯s just really wasting her saliva and energy in exining it to her mom who would never listen to her at all.


    "You don¡¯t have to exin anymore." Yu Shi Huang opened her mouth. She raised her eyes from the magazine and looked at her daughter who was now obediently sipping her tea acting like she doesn¡¯t care about anything anymore.


    Hearing her mom¡¯s words, it piqued Xiu Mei¡¯s attention.


    "Lu Chen already exined everything a few minutes ago."


    Her hand that was lightly pushing the cup to her mouth paused. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    Shit.


    In her mind, a string of curses was already forming as she panicked. Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t deny that there is a really small possibility that Lu Chen would say something to her mom that¡¯s going to really anger her and put her in a disadvantageous position.


    If Lu Chen says that they are really engaged, then it¡¯s all over.


    Her mom would never really let go of it!


    In her mind, Xiu Mei prayed. Calling out to all the gods and goddesses she knew, she prayed that Lu Chen exined everything clearly. With no lies mixed in or trying to grab this opportunity to tie her down to him.


    "He exined that the two of you aren¡¯t really engaged or in any rtionship." Her mom said.


    Xiu Mei released the breath that she was holding back. Hearing those wordse out of her mom¡¯s mouth, she felt so relieved.


    Her expression actually almost slipped, as she tried to stop herself from smiling too much. If she shows such a big reaction in her mom¡¯s statement, she would get even more suspicious as to why she had reacted that way.


    All her worriespletely disappeared finally knowing that Lu Chen exined the truth to her mom.


    Even though she originally understood Lu Chen¡¯s character, she was still doubtful. Even though the emperor CEO is logical and trustable most of the time, he was still a businessman. And businessmen are an opportunist.


    They would grab every opportunity avable and use it as a sharp sword, efficiently and effectively defeating theirpetition.


    She thought that the Emperor CEO would take this opportunity to tie her down to him. After all, she had declined his proposal for more than twice, and she was sure that turning him down took a blow in his ego. Who would want to be turned down if you¡¯re proposing marriage, right?


    And now, she could finally remove all those doubts in her mind.


    She actually felt thankful for Lu Chen. For sticking to his character and being honest.


    She even thought that she should forget all the grudges she had for him a while ago and just call it quits. He helped her sort out her problem, so she should just let go of all the frustrations she had with their previous conversation.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you we weren¡¯t really?" Xiu Mei eximed.


    Her mom just chuckled lightly, seeing her reaction. She saw her mom¡¯s lips turn into a smirk as she put down the magazine on the table. She looked at Xiu Mei like she was seeing the most foolish person on earth.


    And yes, what a fool she really was.


    "W-what?"


    "And you know what other things he also said?"


    Nervousness crept up in her heart. All her senses were screaming that she shouldn¡¯t be hearing what her mom is going to say next or else, she will regret it forever. But her stubbornness won over as she stuck around to listen to her mom¡¯s next words.


    "He said he¡¯s nning to visit here to officially ask for permission to court you."


    BLAG!


    Ah, that was the sound of her teacup hitting the grass.

 Chapter 44 - Spilled Milk

    <h4>Chapter 44 - Spilled Milk</h4>


    "What the hell did you say to my parents?!"


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t stop herself from pressing Lu Chen¡¯s number after hearing her mom¡¯s words. She quickly shot up from her seat, ignored the fallen teacup and rushed to her own bedroom. Quickly locking the door, she pulled out her phone to call her persistent superior.


    "That we were not engaged." Lu Chen briefly replied.


    Xiu Mei red up in anger as she listened to his words. He knew why she was calling yet he was trying to act so innocent!


    "But you told them you were trying to court me!!"


    "Then should I have directly told them I was proposing marriage to you instead?"


    Xiu Mei almost choked with Lu Chen¡¯s words. Was he trying to tease her?! Ugh!


    If Lu Chen had mentioned those to her parents... Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t even imagine what kind of disaster will start. She would not even have any way out!


    Xiu Mei paused and took a deep breath to gather her thoughts.


    Fine. Since it already happened, she can¡¯t do anything about it anymore. It¡¯s no use crying over spilled milk.


    Since it¡¯se to this, the only option she has is to move forward.


    She bit her lip, quietly and calmly thinking about something. Surprisingly, the person on the other line wasn¡¯t bothered by the silence at all. It seems he was patiently waiting for Xiu Mei to speak as if he could easily see through her thoughts. Like he knew very well what she was contemting about right now.


    "Lu Chen."


    This was the first time Xiu Mei had spoken Lu Chen¡¯s name. She would always call him ¡¯Mr.Lu¡¯ or ¡¯boss¡¯ to stay professional but now, she was willingly calling his name.


    Hearing his name being softly spoken by Xiu Mei, Lu Chen¡¯s grip on his phone tightened. Her soft voice caused his once calm heart to throb nervously. The slight ripples that he was feeling were something very unfamiliar, yet it felt so right. He didn¡¯t find it ufortable and he even felt himself being morefortable than before.


    "Xiu Mei." He spoke her name back with such gentleness that no one could¡¯ve ever imagined. He smiled as he called her name, and the tone he used was so tender and filled with an indescribable sweetness.


    Xiu Mei jumped in surprise. Even though this wasn¡¯t the first she had heard him call her by her name, she couldn¡¯t help being startled.


    She immediately ced a hand on chest, patting it lightly. Her actions seemingly trying to calm her heart that was beating so fast. She could even feel her cheeks slightly reddening from fl.u.s.ter.


    "I don¡¯t wanna be bound by a loveless rtionship." She voiced out her thoughts.


    "You won¡¯t be. I promised you that I may not love you right now, but I will love you." Lu Chen firmly said. He sounded so assured that he will fall in love with her in the future, ignoring the possibility of him falling in love with other women.


    He was promising her so sincerely that she almost felt like epting his proposal.


    "But what if I won¡¯t fall in love with you?"


    This is also one of the possibilities.


    Their situation right now is really weird. Two people trying to get into a rtionship yet they don¡¯t have feelings for each other. If others would¡¯ve known this, they would surelyugh at them for saying such ridiculousness.


    "You will." Because I won¡¯t let you. Was the unspoken sentence of Lu Chen.


    Her breath hitched. So confident. How confident was he that she would really like him back?


    "But it¡¯s weird."


    "What is?"


    "This. Is this really just for the sake of turning me into Lu Qiang¡¯s mother?"


    This was one of the main reasons why she was so against in epting Lu Chen¡¯s proposal. She knew that Lu Chen was just persistently chasing her is because he was desperate in looking for a mother figure for Lu Qiang.


    Xiu Mei was actually fine with to be Lu Qianq¡¯s mother figure, but without the premise of marriage. She was fine with just being a mother but not as the wife of Lu Chen.


    "Partly." His honestly prickled Xiu Mei¡¯s heart. "But not only that."


    Leaning back on his office chair, Lu Chen continued his words.


    "You are the only woman I¡¯ve taken interest in."


    Weirdly, Xiu Mei felt like pping Lu Chen after listening to him. She knew that it was his true thoughts, yet she couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. Was he courting her just because he felt like she was a very interesting person? It sounded like he wasparing her to a toy he¡¯s enjoying ying with.


    "It¡¯s because you don¡¯t interact with other women at all!"


    Her meaning was that, if Lu Chen wasn¡¯t very elusive with women, he would probably meet more interesting women than her. And if that happens, he would start ignoring her and throw her away.


    Basically, this reason that Lu Chen has at the moment is too vulnerable for Xiu Mei to believe in. How can she entrust herself to a person who¡¯s merely chasing her because she is an interesting person?


    "No." He quickly said. "It¡¯s because it¡¯s you."


    Lu Chen scoffed at the thought of meeting other women. He had met a lot of women before and all of them tried climbing his bed with the intention of marrying him. He understood their thoughts and he was pretty sure that aside from his face, it was his wealth and fame that they were in love with. That was why he had no intention of marrying at all before, but now, he was very weing with the idea of marriage if Xiu Mei is his partner.


    "Me?"


    "You¡¯re different from them."


    "Like how?"


    "Because you just kept being yourself despite everything that happened."


    Of all the people who have a simr status as Xiu Mei, one would really wonder if Xiu Mei really dide from such a great family.


    He may not know herpletely but after working with her for a few years, his opinion on Xiu Mei is really high.

 Chapter 45 - Sly

    <h4>Chapter 45 - Sly</h4>


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion as her head tilted. She didn¡¯t understand what Lu Chen was trying to say.


    Lu Chen lightly chuckled. "And it¡¯s because it¡¯s you."


    Xiu Mei got even more confused. Why was Lu Chen speaking in such cryptic words she did not understand? Seriously, he¡¯s getting even more difficult to understand day by day.


    He was like a pregnant person with mood swings.


    "You¡¯re bing really weird, boss." She said. Xiu Mei was now sitting on the sofa in her room, rxingly leaning her back on the pillow. She acted so rxedly in her seat as he chatted with Lu Chen.


    "Hmm." She heard him say.


    Really, everything was going weird.


    Before she realized it, the person she thought to be the most aloof person became her suitor. He disliked making contact with women especially those who have hidden motives yet, he¡¯s now consistently chasing after her. And what¡¯s even weirder was that he doesn¡¯t seem to be in love with her but he¡¯s very determined to marry her. And his only motivation is to make her his wife and be his stepson¡¯s mother.


    He was showing some of his unfamiliar sides to her that she would¡¯ve never known if they had stayed within their professional bounds. The person she once thought would just stay to be an emperor CEO suddenly became even closer to her.


    She hadn¡¯t even thought that this day woulde where she would decline his marriage proposal, and not just once but multiple times!


    If this really continued, she was really going to lose her sanity. She couldn¡¯t keep with how everything was changing so fast. It just felt like yesterday, she was still asking for a day off just to go on a blind date and now, Lu Chen was now chasing her.


    "So you¡¯re giving me permission?" His deep voice startled her for a moment. Her line of thoughts paused and she remembered she was still on the phone with him.


    "Permission to what?"


    "To court you. To show my sincerity."


    Hearing that deep husky voice mixed with a tone of sincerity on the other line, Xiu Mei almost fell into a trance. Shit, why was his voice too s.e.xy?


    "What if I say no?" She yfully said.


    "Then I won¡¯t stop chasing after you."


    "Then what¡¯s the sense of asking for my permission if you¡¯ll just ignore it?"


    "Just to make it official."


    "What are you going to make official?"


    "Official suitor and the permission to ward off other boys who are eyeing you."


    She gaped wide open.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed by his words. What was he saying?!


    It¡¯s not like a lot of people are hitting on her. And even if there is, she usually never noticed it.


    "What are you¡ª"


    "When should I visit your parents?"


    "Huh?"


    Why was Lu Chen jumping from one topic to another?


    She couldn¡¯t keep up with his train of thought!


    Xiu Mei scratched her head in annoyance. She would never understand the way his mind works at all. He¡¯s too mysterious and a genius that she would never dream to understandpletely.


    "Should I visit next week?"


    "Huh? What? No!"


    My gawd, does he have to be so serious in asking permission to her parents just to court her?


    What are we, in the early 90s era?


    "Why not?" She heard his voice turned dangerously low as he questioned her.


    Xiu Mei almost pped her mouth. Damn it, she¡¯s really putting herself on the line every time she opposes Lu Chen¡¯s words.


    "You didn¡¯t really have to go here just for that." She was trying to convince him to stop him from going all the way here, to the Xiu Mansion.


    "Are you embarrassed by me?"


    "What? No!" Then Xiu Mei stopped.


    Wait. No. That¡¯s not it. She hasn¡¯t even said yes to allow him to court her. And why did his words sound so wrong? It sounded like he was her hidden boyfriend that she couldn¡¯t introduce to her parents?


    Xiu Mei then realized how sly Lu Chen was.


    Really, he has his way of turning her words into apletely different meaning. Or was it just her thinking too much?


    "Lu Chen, you¡¯re too sneaky!"


    He was trying to slowly manipte her. If she¡¯s toote in realizing it, would she wake up when she was already eaten bone dry?


    He is really a dangerous wolf. She really wondered what would happen if she makes an enemy out of him. Would she wake up in hell afterward?


    "No." He denied her usal.


    "You¡¯re not being honest."


    "I am honest."


    "But you¡¯re lying when you said you weren¡¯t trying to slowly manipte me."


    "I was just pushing you into my so you wouldn¡¯t run away." He said that so seriously and calmly like he didn¡¯t say something so scary.


    Xiu Mei was startled. His words sounded like she was a prey that he was trying to catch and he was the predator. What was she? A Rabbit? Then he¡¯s the wolf?


    She suddenly regretted her recent words. Did she just walk right into his trap?


    Would he... eat her dry?


    Dang it! Xiu Mei panicked. The opponent is too scary!!

 Chapter 46 - Premonition

    <h4>Chapter 46 - Premonition</h4>


    Hence, the chase for the rabbitmenced.


    "What the¡ª?" Xiu Mei eximed, as she almost dropped her bag from surprise. She stopped on her tracks after seeing a little guy curled up like a ball just outside her door. She was even more curious as to how the little kid was able to get inside the gate of her apartment despite the fact that people have to know her home password and have their fingerprints registered before they are able to get inside.


    The supposed-to-be strict security in the subdivision was bypassed by the little kid too. Every people thate inside would always be reported to the residents first before they could get in.


    So how the hell did Lu Qiang sneak into her home?


    "Little Qiang?" She softly called out his name. It seems the little guy was able to instantly hear her as he lifted up his head from her arms and looked at her way. Slowly, the guy¡¯s empty gaze sparkled to life as she watched his lips curl up into a small smile. That bright smile instantly brushed away all the stress that Xiu Mei had just awhile ago.


    "Mom?"


    "Come here." Xiu Mei ushered him closer to her as she opened the back door of her car, entered inside and grabbed a piece of clothing.


    She took out one of her spare scarves and knelt in front of Lu Qiang. She quickly wrapped the scarf around Lu Qiang¡¯s body to warm his little body that got cold because of the night wind.


    Tsk. Really, why was Lu Chen¡¯s home security sox? Can¡¯t he see how many times have Lu Qiang escaped from home?


    What if Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t a bit sensible and wandered off to far and unfamiliar ces instead?


    Hugging up the little kid, she quickly pressed the password of her home until it beeped open. Dropping her bag on the floor entrance, she quickly ced Lu Qiang on the sofa. She reached out for the remote to adjust the heating of her home to make it a bit warmer. After all, Lu Qiang¡¯s body was too cold meaning that he had stayed outside of her house for quite awhile.


    Little kids are weaker than a.d.u.l.ts and they get sick easier too. What if Lu Qiang gets sick? That would be bad!


    "Stay here for awhile. Watch some cartoons. Mom will quickly get you some warm milk to drink, okay?" Sheforted him. She gave him the television remote before leaving him alone in the living to go straight to the kitchen.


    She quickly filled up a cup of milk and heated it inside the microwave for a few seconds. She quickly took it out after warming it enough and gave it to Lu Qiang.


    "Here, quickly drink this to warm you up." She ced the cup in Lu Qiang¡¯s hands as her other hand smoothened the few hairs that were sticking out from his head.


    Lu Qiang obediently followed Xiu Mei¡¯s request and drank the milk like a good kid he was....he wasn¡¯t really.


    Xiu Mei sat beside him as she wound up her arms beside him. "What are you doing here thiste? You¡¯re getting yourself sick!"


    No matter what weather it was, nights would always be chilly and one could easily get sick if they don¡¯t properly cover up themselves.


    "To see you." Lu Qiang whispered, as he innocently shot Xiu Mei a cute nce that she couldn¡¯t resist.


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t able to resist his cuteness and tightened her hug on him. Damn it, why was the father and son pair quite irresistible? They¡¯re both attacking her on her weak sides.


    "Me?"


    "Hmm." Lu Qiang nodded.


    "Why?"


    "Because I missed you."


    Listening to Lu Qiang¡¯s words, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t stop herself from attacking Lu Qiang with an even tighter hug. Lu Qiang was really too adorable ah!


    "I missed you too!"


    The two of them chatted for quite a bit before bringing him to bed to sleep. Leaving the little kid alone as he changed his clothes, she was quickly reminded of something and pulled out her phone.


    She sent a short message to Lu Chen informing him that Lu Qiang was at her house and he would be spending the night together with the kid just so that he wouldn¡¯t worry. But for some reason, she felt some premonition that she shouldn¡¯t have done that.


    "Mom, I¡¯m done." Lu Qiang called. Xiu Mei turned her head and saw the little head of Lu Qiang popping out from the door of her bathroom. She smiled and ushered him toe to her side.


    Running her fingers on his hair, she smoothened them out while her other hand busied herself in fixing the pajamas of Lu Qiang.


    "Then let¡¯s go to sleep?"


    "Hmm."


    The two of them shared the bed for the night. With Lu Qiang crawling in her arms, she weed the ball of warmth that was voluntarily hugging her. She softly told him some stories to help him sleep when she heard him whisper something.


    "Mom?"


    "Yes?"


    ".....when?"


    "Ah?"


    She wasn¡¯t able to hear Lu Qiang¡¯s words. Lu Qiang shyly repeated his words a bit louder this time.


    "When will youe live with me in the house?"


    "Live with you?"


    She got confused. What does he mean by living with him?


    "Hmm. With me and Dad."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s words got caught in her throat after hearing his words.


    Live.... With Lu Chen and Lu Qiang?!


    With...with Lu Chen?!?

 Chapter 47 - Genius Little Kid

    <h4>Chapter 47 - Genius Little Kid</h4>


    For a moment, Xiu Meipletely nked out. She was extremely astonished to utter anything. Her innermost thoughts are in a jumble. She panicked on how she would reply to Lu Qiang¡¯s frank question.


    It¡¯s not like she can just randomly say something andter, he would use her of lying to him. What if Lu Qiang will be too disappointed with her and ignore her from now on? That would be a disaster!


    The hand that was stroking Lu Qiang¡¯s hair stopped before it resumed moving again. Xiu Mei tried to pass it off with augh before finally reacting.


    "At the right time, I guess." Sheughed nervously.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s round and innocent eyes took a peek at her from beneath the nket. Cutely blinking, he followed up another question.


    "When is the right time?" He asked. "Tomorrow? Next week?" He barraged her with questions that she¡¯s having a dilemma in responding.


    Xiu Mei knew very well the answer that Lu Qiang wants to hear. However, she did not dare to make any promises that she wasn¡¯t confident in keeping. She didn¡¯t want to give false hopes to the little kid and make him sad afterward.


    Her current rtionship with Lu Chen, she could easily state that it¡¯s still in the most vulnerable stage. They had just went past the line of limiting their rtionship from professional to a more personal and close rtionship. Nevertheless, they still don¡¯t have any foundation that they could hold on to.


    Everything that she agreed with Lu Chen was giving him a chance to prove himself to her. And with Lu Chen still figuring out his feelings for her, basically, anyone can interpret that if both of them are going tomit in an official rtionship with each other, it would easily fall apart. Just like how a building would copse without using proper foundation or up-to-standard cement and other raw materials.


    Especially that the two of them are both clueless about how a rtionship should go. Both of them haven¡¯t been in a rtionship, but it could also be considered a good side of this situation. If Xiu Mei decides tomit herself to Lu Chen, they would both have the time to learn and take everything step by step at the same time.


    Xiu Mei suspended her thoughts. Seriously, what was she thinking too far in the future? She quickly realized that she was entertaining the thought of being Lu Chen¡¯s girlfriend. Was she mad?


    "Mom?" Her thoughts were put on-hold again when she felt a light tug on her sleeves. She shot the little kid in her arms a nce again before deciding to just bury him in her arms instead.


    "Just sleep. Let¡¯s talk about this tomorrow." She shushed, patting Lu Qiang¡¯s back lightly as an attempt to rx him and make him sleep.


    "Mmm. Goodnight, mom."


    "Goodnight, my love." Then she lightly kissed his hair.


    A few minutester, Lu Qiang was breathing in a rhythmic pattern implying that he was already asleep. Xiu Mei stayed there for another half an hour before slowly separating herself from Lu Qiang.


    Tiptoeing, she grabbed her phone and opened the door of her room and made way to her study. She pulled open a mahogany door and behind is a table with stockpiled papers, pens, and other unidentifiable stuff. Behind are multiple shelves full of books while some are figurines to liven up the room.


    She sat on the office chair and bit her lip as she tightly gripped the phone on her hand.


    She was contemting whether she should have a talk with Lu Chen regarding Lu Qiang.


    She was getting concerned on his well being especially the fact that Lu Qiang has been escaping multiple times from Lu Chen¡¯s home. It was a concern she would like to raise, but with her recent conversation with Lu Qiang a while ago she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bit conscious.


    After pondering for a few more minutes, she took a deep breath and opened her phone. She typed a short message to Lu Chen instead of calling him, afraid that he might already be asleep.


    Ms.Xiu: Can we talk?


    A few secondster, a respond quickly came bbergasting her. Was he awake? He responded too quickly too.


    Emperor Lu: Mm.


    What a short reply, she thought. She quickly shrugged it off and responded to his message.


    Ms.Xiu: It¡¯s about Lu Qiang. Is he doing fine when he¡¯s right there?


    Xiu Mei had wondered about the normal lifestyle Lu Qiang has been living in ever since he was a kid. She knew very well how busy Lu Chen was, and she was sure that he would¡¯ve been too busy to always interact with his adopted. But she was pretty sure that Lu Chen should be receiving a report on Lu Qiang¡¯s everyday welfare, still partially fulfilling his duty as his Dad.


    Emperor Lu: He¡¯s doing fine.


    Fine? Fine. Why was she asking the wrong person, really? It would¡¯ve made more sense to ask the nanny and the butler as they are the ones who are always interacting with the Young Master. They should be very familiar with his habits and personality.


    Emperor Lu: Is something that matters? Are you all alright?


    Her phone buzzed again after a new message came in.


    Xiu Mei raised her brow after reading the message. Just look at that, he didn¡¯t even have any idea as to why she was asking.


    Seriously, why were boys always so slow-witted? It¡¯s not like all the girls are tooplicated to understand. Some, maybe. But not everyone.


    Ms.Xiu: There is. How could he bypass your security right there? He was even able to get past my gate too!


    She was sure of it that if she hade anyter, he would¡¯ve been already inside her home instead.


    Xiu Mei was actually having a hard time figuring this one. How did a little child figured out her code and was able to enter her premises without her telling them how to ess it?


    Seriously, Lu Qiang is too much of a genius!

 Chapter 48 - Doll

    <h4>Chapter 48 - Doll</h4>


    If Xiu Mei hadn¡¯t gone to his house, she would¡¯ve thought that the security there is toox. However, she knew very well that there were securities surrounding his home and it would be quite a feat for someone to sneak into the Lu home.


    Well, it must not be within their ns if the person sneaking out was from inside the Lu home. They should really be starting to prevent that especially that Lu Qiang was able to get past them twice in a row.


    Emperor Lu: He¡¯s just doing his job.


    Xiu Mei raised her brow as she read his message.


    Ms.Xiu: What job?


    It took for another minute before she received the emperor CEO¡¯s reply.


    Emperor Lu: To bring you to my arms.


    Xiu Mei instantly choked on her saliva after reading his reply. The phone slipped from her hands which were fortunately caught on the soft carpet of the study room. She quickly rushed to pat her chest, trying to remove the feeling of the stuck saliva that was caught on her throat.


    Dang it! She wasn¡¯t prepared for that!


    Lu Chen, you¡¯re such a devil! How can he say something so shameless?!


    After getting a grip of herself, Xiu Mei red at the phone lying face down on the carpet. She was staring at the device so hard like she was wishing that it would stand up by itself and walk back into her hands which waspletely impossible.


    She hesitantly crouched down to pick up the dropped phone. Flipping it over, she was quickly met with the ck screen, her finger just kept hovering over the fingerprint scanner just behind her phone.


    What if... she receives another flirty message from Lu Chen?


    At the thought of that, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but shudder. Even though Xiu Mei was very well aware as to why Lu Chen was doing this, she still wasn¡¯t quite used to it.


    It was just a few days ago that she was still acting so formally and professionally in front of Lu Chen and now, she was going to have to see the different faces of Lu Chen that she wouldn¡¯t be able to see at work.


    Her phone buzzed to life again, cutting off her thoughts.


    She reflexively opened her phone to read the message.


    Emperor Lu: Xiu Mei.


    It was just two words. And that was her name. Somehow, Xiu Mei could hear Lu Chen¡¯s voice uttering his name with his husky and deep voice. She quickly felt herself getting fl.u.s.tered at her wild thoughts and instantly shrugged off the idea away.


    Xiu Mei, what were you thinking? Stop thinking about stupid things!!


    Ms.Xiu: What?


    Emperor Lu: I¡¯ll pick you two up tomorrow.


    Ms.Xiu: Huh?


    Emperor Lu: Goodnight.


    And their conversation abruptly ended just like that out of Xiu Mei¡¯s expectations.


    She stared hard at thest two messages Lu Chen had sent before she was finally able topletelyprehend his words.


    She was picking her up here? Tomorrow!?


    On the other side of the phone, what Xiu Mei hadn¡¯t known was the freezing temperature that was being experienced by everyone inside the room.


    Some of Lu Chen¡¯s people were gathered inside the living room, a few folders in their hands.


    The man who was sitting in the main seat in the living room faintly nced at his phone before he returned his sight at the box in the middle of the table.


    Lu Shao, who was standing just beside him, could clearly feel the enraged aura of Lu Chen that he was emitting. He was so sure that he was enraged the moment he left the office and after receiving the report from one of his people.


    Anf from what he could see in his current situation, it seems that war would be breaking out anytime soon.


    "Have everything getting inside the building under proper and strict inspection." Lu Chen gave out his orders. The other people let out a loud ¡¯Hn!¡¯ signifying theirpliance towards his orders.


    "I don¡¯t want anything like these in Xiu Mei¡¯s hands."


    Lu Chen quickly picked up the box.


    Inside was a doll with a broken neck and limbs all pulled out.


    Beside the doll is a small note in bold letters, ¡¯It¡¯s not yet over."


    It was written in blood-red letters that some people had quickly thought that it was blood. It was even written by hand, thus Lu Chen was quick to call people who were going to be assigned beside Xiu Mei.

 Chapter 49 - Pregnant?

    <h4>Chapter 49 - Pregnant?</h4>


    Xiu Mei went straight to bed right after finishing her conversation with Lu Chen. The fact that he will be picking them up tomorrowpletely flew out of her mind as she went to do her night routine before settling herself beside Lu Qiang¡¯s side.


    Draping her arm around the kid¡¯s body, she lightly pulled him closer to her embrace before closing her eyes.


    In her dreams, Xiu Mei found herself inside Lu Chen¡¯s office.


    She was standing in the middle of his office while holding a couple of doc.u.ments in her hand.


    What was she doing here? Wasn¡¯t she just sleeping with Lu Qiamg a few minutes ago?


    Xiu Mei looked at herself and was instantly startled seeing herself wearing her ck pencil skirt and white button-up top that she wore the first time she started working here in Lu Corporation.


    This... why was she...?


    Her head shot up like a bullet as she gave a quick glimpse of the room. Everything was still the same as the current office of Lu Chen except that she seems to be in her old look. Weird, she remembered donating these clothesst year for charity.


    While her thoughts are still in disarray, she heard the sound of the door opening behind her. She automatically looked behind her, weed with the sight of Lu Chen in his usual suit and tie. His hair neatly tied up and his suit perfectly ironed.


    She saw Lu Chen stop for a second as his gaze stopped on her. In a split second, her eyes widened in shock and horror when his nk expression quickly turned gentle.


    He shed her a smile as he took a step towards her direction, his arms stretched out like he was asking for a hug from her.


    Instinctively, Xiu Mei took a step back in horror,pletely weirded out by Lu Chen¡¯s behavior. However, before she could even increase her distance from him, she was caught in his arms as one of his arms looped around her waist while the other one went straight to her right cheek.


    "Mei¡¯er..."


    A chill automatically went through her whole body after hearing what Lu Chen had called her. She was utterly horrified with what she was witnessing, her mind just really couldn¡¯t match it up with the Lu Chen she knew and the one that was in front of her.


    Lu Chen acted as though he didn¡¯t saw her stiff expression as he thoroughly enjoyed staring at her face while his hand smoothed out her hair and lightly pinching her cheeks.


    He seemed to be enjoying having her in his arms, his arms never loosened at all as he hugged her.


    He then pulled her into the sofa, but no, she wasn¡¯t sitting on the couch at all.


    She was sitting on Lu Chen¡¯s legs.


    Oh yes, Xiu Mei is sitting on him.


    Wait, that sounded a bit dirty. Xiu Mei shook her head, quickly shooing away her thoughts.


    Damn it, her mind was turning dirty!! What was she thinking!


    "Hello, my little darling."


    With wide eyes, she raised one of her brows as she threw a look at Lu Chen using a weirdly gentle tone.


    He sounded so sharine that she quickly concluded that she was really dreaming. Never in a million years would she hear Lu Chen speak like that. AT. ALL.


    Xiu Mei wanted to flee from Lu Chen¡¯s arms after being horrified by his actions.


    Lu Chen was stroking her belly very gently like he was too afraid that he would hurt her from his action.


    Her eyes darted to her belly then back to Lu Chen¡¯s face that lit up like a Christmas tree with his smile and sparkling eyes. He was like a child excited to receive his gift on Christmas.


    Oh shit.


    That moment was when everything clicked together.


    His little darling and his hand caressing her belly.


    If she didn¡¯t realize it quickly, then she would really be too stupid.


    Was she pregnant?!?


    "Mei¡¯er," Lu Chen had called, but Xiu Mei was in too much shock to hear his words. He tucked a hair behind her ear as he softly whispered to her.


    "No, it should be Mommy now, right?"


    Lu Chen leaned forward, sticking their foreheads together.


    Xiu Mei held back her breath after seeing Lu Chen¡¯s getting too close to her face. She could feel his warm breath hitting her face that sent some butterflies on her stomach.


    Xiu Mei felt lightheaded with the close contact, she couldn¡¯t even believe howfortable Lu Chen was like he had done this many times with her before.


    "M-Mommy?"


    She stuttered as she repeated his words.


    She was going to be a mother?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s head felt like exploding. Seriously, what was really happening?! She couldn¡¯t understand anything.


    Mommy Mei?


    Mommy Xiu Mei?


    Her? A mother? Seriously??


    "Mommy." Lu Chen spoke.


    She shot him aplicated look but Lu Chen just kept repeating it.


    "Mom."


    "Mommy."


    "Mom."


    "Mom!"


    "MOM!"


    Xiu Mei jolted awake after feeling someone jumping on her body.


    She was gasping like she had just run a few kilometers.


    "Mom, good morning!" Lu Qiang jumped on her, giving her a hug.


    Her brows jumped after hearing the endearment but she easily hugged Lu Qiang back. She stroked the back of his head as Lu Qiang buried himself in her arms.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s other hand flew to her stomach, her dream still fresh in her mind.


    She gently stroked her belly, and she quickly removed it after realizing how ridiculous her thinking was.


    Did she just really dream she was pregnant with Lu Chen¡¯s child? Damn it, this must be the effect of constantly talking with Lu Chentely. Now she was even visiting her dreams!!


    After getting her thoughts clear, she washed her face and pulled Lu Qiang to the kitchen to cook breakfast.


    But as she was making her way into the kitchen, Xiu Mei stopped on her tracks. She heard the nking of utensils in the kitchen and something sizzling like someone was cooking. Xiu Mei instinctively did a headcount¡ªLu Qiang is beside her!!


    Shit, then who was in the kitchen?!


    Where¡¯s her phone?! Xiu Mei looked back at her bedroom door that waspletely shut. Should she go back to grab her phone and call the vige security?


    In her mind, Xiu Mei tried to remember her few hour session of self-defense with her brothers. Nah, she really didn¡¯t dare to go down there on her own.


    Xiu Mei quickly signaled Lu Qiang to shush as grabbed his arm to stop him from walking any further. Lu Qiang shot her a weird look, confused as to why was her Mom telling her to do that. He was about to speak but her Mom just repeatedly put a finger on her mouth, signaling him to keep silent.


    He blinked before shifting his gaze downstairs. He repeated his Dad¡¯s instructions in his mind, to wake up Mom and have breakfast together.


    Yes, that¡¯s what Dad said. He should listen to him since he said it¡¯s good for Mom.


    Lu Qiang shook his head, defying Xiu Mei¡¯s instructions as he grabbed her hand to pull her down the stairs.


    "Let¡¯s eat together, Mom!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened realizing that they¡¯ve revealed their presence in the house. Oh my god, the thief would¡¯ve definitely heard it!!


    Before she could even stop Lu Qiang from pulling her down the stairs, another figure came into her view. The figure was standing at the end of the stairs and was rxedly ncing at the two of them.


    "Goodmorning." He greeted.


    Xiu Mei forced herself to halt from being pulled by Lu Qiang to have a proper look at the suspected thief sh intruder of her home. However, shepletely missed a step and perfectly slipped from the stairs and fell straight into the arms of the intruder.


    Holy--!!


    A pair of arms automatically encircled her waist as the figure quickly steadied her body.


    "Did you suddenly miss me so much?" A familiar voice whispered in her ear.


    Her eyes widened after realizing the owner of the voice. She shifted her head and came face-to-face with that familiar dark pool of eyes.


    "Lu Chen?"


    "Goodmorning." He repeated, as he suddenly shed her a yful smile that tickled her heart.


    ....What was he doing here in the morning? In her house? In her kitchen?!


    WAIT. How the hell did he even get in her house?!

 Chapter 50 - Little Balls Thoughts

    <h4>Chapter 50 - Little Ball''s Thoughts</h4>


    Xiu Mei awkwardly sat on her own seat in the dining table. It was weird watching her superior bringing out all the tes full of sumptuous foods that she discovered was what he personally cooked for her. She wasn¡¯t sure what she should do¡ªsnatch the te out of his hands and stop him from trying to serve her or should she be thankful and let him do everything on his own.


    After all, she knew the motive behind Lu Chen¡¯s actions today. She had given him permission to court her and to try to win her heart. But still, she couldn¡¯t just let her superior serve her which was too different when they are in the office where she serves him instead and do a lot of work for him.


    The fact that Lu Chen was really willing to chase her heart hasn¡¯t sunk in Xiu Mei¡¯s mind yet. She still sees Lu Chen as her own boss, and still not as someone who can potentially be her husband that she can befortable with.


    While Xiu Mei contemted her life decisions for the future onwards, Lu Qiang settledfortably beside her so-called Mom. Even though he might seem calm, he was actually skipping lightly showing his good mood.


    He felt very rxed and calm watching his Dad serving all the foods, which was quite an unusual view after all the years he¡¯d been with him. Lu Qiang took a peek at her Mom that was seemingly spacing out on her seat, probably surprised by his Dad¡¯s appearance in the morning.


    Lu Qiang, however, was not surprised with his Dad¡¯s appearance in her Mom¡¯s ce. After all, this was a well-built n by this Father-Son duo to trap Xiu Mei. A n that was originally and impulsively started by him.


    > shback a few days ago


    Lu Qiang was already quite used to Lu Chening home toote, and sometimes not even going home at all. That night, Lu Qiang couldn¡¯t sleep at all even after turning around a few times on his bed.


    He was an intelligent kid that likes to move on his own despite having his own nanny and the butler watching over him everyday. This little ball climbed off his bed and decisively left his room to go to the kitchen.


    Maybe he needs more milk, yes.


    Lu Qiang independently poured his own milk and drank it before cing it on the counter where the maids tomorrow can wash it for him. When he just arrived at the top of the stairs, he heard a couple of steps signifying that someone had entered their home.


    Lu Qiang already knew how heavy the surveince is in his home, and with that knowledge, he had used it to escape once from here. He was quite assured that the people who had entered were his Dad and Lu Shao and it was quickly confirmed when he heard their voices downstairs.


    "Search everything that you can find about Lee Yu An and what is his rtionship with Xiu Mei." It was his Dad¡¯s voice.


    "Yes, boss." Lu Qiang knew that it was Lu Shao who had replied.


    Lee Yu An?


    Lu Qiang blinked curiously as he repeated the conversation he had heard. This Lee Yu An is connected with Mom?


    To satisfy his curiosity, Lu Qiang immediately tiptoed back to his bedroom and locked his own door. He quickly grabbed and opened hisptop, his fingers moving fast all over the keys. After half an hour, he was able to find some information about that person, Lee Yu An.


    The little ball quickly understood that this person has a good rtionship with her Mom. He had seen a lot of pictures where his Mom has been clinging to Lee Yu An¡ªhugging him, being carried on his shoulders, kissing his cheeks and the likes.


    From those, Lu Qiang was able to analyze that his Mom is really intimate with this Lee Yu An. An ufortable feeling bubbled in his heart.


    Was this guy going to steal his Mom from him? What if he takes her away somewhere far away and he would never let her see him again?


    No! He wouldn¡¯t let that happen. Xiu Mei had already let him call her his Mom and he wouldn¡¯t let her leave him alone.


    He needs to stop Lee Yu An from taking her away. But how?


    Lu Qiang thought deeply, his finger making rhythmical sound on the table.


    After thinking for a few minutes, Lu Qiang finally remembered his Dad. Lately, he noticed that he was more expressive than usual. He also noticed how nice his Dad is acting to his Mom before when she was sick.


    Lu Qiang had wanted to take good care of her, but his Dad was quick to oppose his idea and locked him out of her room. Even though he hadined a lot and stomped loudly in front of him, he never budged and allowed him to visit her at that time.


    He was only able to see her when his Mom had already recovered from her sickness that next day. He had even noted that all the foods on that table that day was all for his Mom¡¯s nourishment.


    Hmm....so does Dad like Mom?


    Lu Qiang considered that idea for quite a while before he came up with another thing.


    If Dad likes Mom, would Mom stay with them then?


    Lu Qiang thought back to the person he had chosen to be his Mom. He remembered when his Mom called him out in the yground before when he once escaped from home to explore a little.


    With some money in his pocket, he resolutely rode a cab to explore far away from his home. He was quickly attracted to the sight of other kids on the yground so he did not hesitate to go there and watch a little more of the scene before him.


    His Dad hired a tutor for him to be home-schooled hence, Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t able to mingle with other kids his age and didn¡¯t know how to interact with them. So at that time, he was only able to awkwardly sit under that tree and watch the other kids ying as he didn¡¯t how to approach them at all when another scene caught his eye.


    His ears followed the source of the sound when someone yelled "Mom!". There, he saw a kid jump onto his mother¡¯s arms and a male, probably his father, standing beside them. It seems like the parents are here to pick the child up and he noticed the gentle smile on the face of the parents as they talked with their child.


    In that split second, Lu Qiang remembered the voices of the maids whispering in the kitchen. He had heard their conversation and he was quick to realize that they were talking about him. He already knew from the very start that Lu Chen wasn¡¯t really his Dad. He knows it very well but when he heard it being talked about by other people, Lu Qiang felt something squeezing his heart.


    He felt ufortable hearing it that¡¯s why he had run away from home.

 Chapter 51 - Little Culprit

    <h4>Chapter 51 - Little Culprit</h4>


    Lu Qiang¡¯s nk expression was in contrast with the aching feeling he felt in his heart. His child-like eyes never left the family of three even until they¡¯ve disappeared from his sight. He unconsciously bowed his head and stared at the muddy ground.


    His feet repeatedly stepping on the soft mud, he watched it create mini craters on the ground. Lu Qiang took a deep breath.


    His Dad¡ªmore urately his Uncle, had already exined it to him that his biological parents passed away when he was still a baby. He understood this very well at such a young age and since he had no idea of what it was like to have a mother and a father, he never dreamt to have aplete family.


    For him, he was fine with just his Dad and him. He was not used to talking with strangers either especially that he¡¯s been approached by weird people before just for the sake to use him to get his Dad.


    This is fine.


    This.... Is really fine.


    "Ji An! We¡¯re going home now!"


    Lu Qiang crouched down and sat under the tree as he watched the children being picked up by their parents one by one. He followed their movements every time he sees someone being picked up by their parents and that ache in his heart just kept growing and growing as time passed by.


    It was until that someone had suddenly called out to him.


    "Are you not going to y with them?"


    And that was when Lu Qiang first met Xiu Mei. At first, he had thought of her as someone very irritating just like those other people but when she had asked him where his parents were, the little child in him came out.


    It sounded like he was just simply stating a fact, but the reality was that for him, it sounded like he wasining to someone about his apprehensions.


    Weirdly, he had followed this strange girl¡¯s home and quickly, he realized that this person in front of her didn¡¯t know of him at all. When the girl offered him to lend her a hand in the kitchen, he hesitated at first before stepping into the kitchen to join her.


    That¡¯s when he realized that cooking was actually quite fun that he couldn¡¯t help himself asking a couple of questions to the girl.


    Hourster, Lu Qiang suddenly found his Dad on the girl¡¯s doorstep.


    He quickly hid behind the girl because he knew that his Dad was here to pick him up. However, Lu Qiang was surprised when he discovered that his Dad and the girl knew each other.


    Is she a friend of Dad¡¯s? Lu Qiang innocently thought.


    He soon understood that the girl worked for his Dad. Xiu Mei was the girl¡¯s name and he works as Dad¡¯s secretary just like Lu Shao. And it seems that Dad has a good rtionship with her because he listened to her request and let him continue cooking in the kitchen. His Dad even agreed on letting him sleep in Xiu Mei¡¯s ce overnight which he wouldn¡¯t normally agree to. So Lu Qiang got even more curious to this girl and he soon fell to the charm of Xiu Mei.


    It was from then that Lu Qiang quickly gotfortable with Xiu Mei, enough for Lu Qiang to consider her as his Mom. Thankfully, his Mom let him call her that and she was very doting on him everytime they meet.


    And now...


    The little ball gave a hard gaze on hisptop screen where a picture of Lee Yu An in soldier¡¯s uniform is being shed. His mom.... Is just for his Dad¡¯s. He wouldn¡¯t let anyone take away his Mom.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s finger suddenly glided on the keyboard with an unbelievable speed that no one would ever imagine a child can do. In just a few minutes, hepiled a string of paragraphs and after pressing a few more keys, Lu Qiang watched the article slowly climbing up in the search bar.


    Lu Qiang grinned. He smiled triumphantly like he had done the greatest thing in the world. Yes, his Mom is just his and his Dad¡¯s.


    After seeing that everything was going ording to his ns, Lu Qiang finally decided to go back to bed wherein he was able to sleepfortably and easily this time around.


    The very next day after that incident, he saw his Dad giving him a hard gaze before suddenly reaching out to touch his hair to pat it. He even saw his Dad¡¯s lips curl up ever so slightly that no one except him saw it.


    > Present Time


    "You really cooked all of this?" His Mom¡¯s eyes narrowed suspiciously as she questioned his Dad. Following her sight, he looked at his Dad that was showing a gentle smile that he would rarely see on his face.


    "Of course."


    "You can cook?"


    "Yes."


    "Oh." His Mom quickly gave up on further questioning his Dad. She just gawked at the food on the table as his Dad sat on the seat just beside his Mom meaning, she was being sandwiched by the two of them.


    Lu Qiang, just like the usual good child he is, served himself some foods he felt like eating for breakfast. Lu Qiang would often sneak a peek at the two people sitting just beside him as he bit onto the bread and the egg he was munching on.


    He watched his Dad reaching out for the french toast that was in the middle of the table and served a piece of bread on his Mom¡¯s te. Lu Qiang then saw his Mom¡¯s face burn, her ears turning red as well.


    She had even threw back a few words before she finally chose to eat the bread that was served to him by Dad.


    He tilted his head in curiosity with his Mom¡¯s reactions.


    Was his Mom sick again?


    --------


    A snippet from the future


    Xiu Meizilyid on the bed as she felt her backache more than usual due to theck of restraint from someonest night.


    Lu Chen: Are you still going y around like that when I¡¯m away?


    Xiu Mei quickly shook her head. She really didn¡¯t want to die this way in the hands of Lu Chen. Suddenly, he pressed her once again on the bed, giving her a suffocating kiss.


    Xiu Mei: Wait, what did I do again?!


    Lu Chen: Nothing, just this my way of saying I missed you. *kiss*


    Xiu Mei: Stop fooling me, you¡¯re just being rouge again!


    Lu Chen chuckled before he descended upon her again.


    Lu Chen: The wife is too smart, ah.


    Xiu Mei cursed inside her mind. Damn it! She really wouldn¡¯t sneak out to y with Brother Lee again. Her life is always on the line if she dares to keep a secret from him again.

 Chapter 52 - Eggshells is healthy too!

    <h4>Chapter 52 - Eggshells is healthy too!</h4>


    "..."


    Xiu Mei suspiciously stared at the french toast on her te as if she was trying to burn holes on it. This.... won¡¯t she get a stomachache from eating this?


    She took a peek at the person on her right by her peripheral vision and she could faintly make out the expectance in Lu Chen¡¯s eyes as if he was waiting to see her reaction with his cooked food.


    She gulped nervously as she returned her sight on the food on her te.


    It should be....safe, right?


    Her right hand finally moved to nervously reach for her fork. With the knife in her other hand, she poked the bread and sliced a bite-sized piece. She bit her lip in as she hesitantly raised the food to her mouth.


    Finally finding her resolve, she brought it into her mouth and chewed slowly as if she was trying to taste it so carefully.


    CRACK!


    "...."


    "...."


    "...."


    ...Was that an eggshell she had chewed on?


    Xiu Mei blinked as she held her breath. She paused her movements of chewing after hearing that suspicious sound that came from inside her mouth. That sound was actually loud enough that the three of them clearly heard it as their eyes all turned to her mouth.


    On the outside, she looked calm and steady as if what happened was just an illusion however, Xiu Mei was already screaming internally in her mind.


    That was an eggshell. Damn it, she really should¡¯ve trusted her guts that Lu Chen didn¡¯t look like a person that could cook.


    Now, she has no choice but to continue chewing what was in her mouth and finish what¡¯s on her te. It¡¯s not like she can just spit it out in front of Lu Chen, her superior, who especially cooked breakfast for her and Lu Qiang.


    Seriously, what was he doing here and why did he have to volunteer in making breakfast?!


    Xiu Mei was really tempted to knock her head on the table before she goes crazy.


    Lu Chen was just starting to court her and with his actions today, Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t really sure if she would still be in her right mind in the near future.


    "It¡¯s terrible."


    Lu Chen suddenly spoke up.


    Xiu Mei had forgotten his existence after thinking too much of her future dilemma. She turned to her right and saw that he was still watching her as his previous expression changed into its usual stoic expression. However, Xiu Mei was quick to pick up the difference in his tone when he spoke.


    He clearly sounded disappointed after seeing her reaction. Xiu Mei suddenly panicked after realizing that Lu Chen read what was on her mind. She hastily picked up another bite and put it into her mouth, munching it as it created some weird crunchy sounds in her mouth.


    After swallowing what was in her mouth, she eximed, "No, I mean, eggshells are good for the body too. I think I do need some calcium right now."


    She backed as she tried her best to ignore the crunchy shells mixed in on the french toast and continued on finishing the toast on her te. However, before she could reach out for another piece, a hand stopped her as he finally pushed the te of french toast away from her. Another bowl was then ced in front of her of what seemed to be a mushroom soup.


    Xiu Mei stared at the soup for a few seconds before she quickly covered up her expression and smiled at Lu Chen. "Thanks!"


    She quickly dug in on her food and ate a spoonful. Xiu Mei froze in surprise before resuming in swallowing the food. She couldn¡¯t help but look at the soup which was surprisingly good. Did Lu Chen really make this?


    "Have another."


    "O-oh, hold on." This time, Lu Chen was pulling a sunny side up egg on her side. She quickly stopped him from adding another food on her te. "I¡¯ll just finish what¡¯s on my te first."


    "Hm." Lu Chen listened to her. He finally removed his focus on her as he started to serve himself some food, ignoring the poor french toast that was pushed in istion on the table.


    The three of them finished their breakfast, with Xiu Mei finally forgetting that hopeless case of french toast she first had,


    "Get dressed first." Lu Chen said as he looked at his foster son, Lu Qiang. He handed over a small bag full of his personal products and Lu Qiang willingly epted it before running upstairs to dress himself.


    Xiu Mei was about to follow behind him to help him get dressed when he was stopped by the wrist by Lu Chen, halting her actions. She c.o.c.ked her head as she looked at him, puzzled.


    "I have to ask you something."


    "About what?"


    Lu Chen did not answer her question as he just stared at her face before finally deciding to pull her onto the sofa in her living room. Xiu Mei let him drag her to the sofa, sitting beside him.


    "How was it?"


    Xiu Mei furrowed her brows in confusion.


    "How was what?"


    She finally noticed how Lu Chen stiffly moved in his seat as if he was nervous about something. He also saw that he tried to look away from her quite a few times which is more than usual. Was he nervous?


    Shes stopped to think for a moment about his question. She thought deeply for a few seconds before finally connecting the dots.


    Ah! Was he talking about breakfast?


    Trying to see if she was right, she quickly smiled, nodding her head. "The breakfast was great. Probably just a little mishaps." She wasmenting on the french toast.


    Xiu Mei saw his shoulders finally rxing after hearing her words. She was right!


    She almost stifled augh at Lu Chen¡¯s adorable reaction. My god, where is the aloof Lu Chen she knew at the office? He clearly is simr to a little kid waiting for his parents¡¯ praises after doing a good job. She didn¡¯t expect that Lu Chen would have this cute side of him. And it is clearly refreshing!


    "That¡¯s good." Lu Chen smiled in relief, all the tension leaving him. He was actually kind of nervous about how Xiu Mei would respond to his self-cooked foods. And even though he failed in some parts, he was quick to pick up and did a good job in the end.


    Seriously, he didn¡¯t have the faintest clue on how to chase a girl and here he was, proudly dering his intention to court Xiu Mei.


    No matter how genius he may seem to be, Lu Chen is still human. The number of times he had cooked in his entire life up to now can be counted in one hand. His previous crafts were just of decent quality, but starting right now, Lu Chen knew he had to work on his cooking skills.


    He read online that one way of getting a girl is by cooking her some delicious foods.


    He should let Lu Shao order some cookbooks for him to read next week.


    Because starting today, the journey to chasing his wife is a long long road.

 Chapter 53 - A Fun Place

    <h4>Chapter 53 - A Fun ce</h4>


    It had been two days since Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t able to return to the office. The day after the rumor broke out, she had to stay in her family to seek refuge. Even though she was sure that the security in her subdivision was quite strict, Xiu Mei believes that paparazzi would always find a way just to find something newsworthy that could possibly add fuel to the fire.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen did not give any feedback regarding the issue. He just ordered the PR department to handle the issue carefully.


    Xiu Mei actually asked him about this as to why he didn¡¯t just give a statement that all the things on the news are just rumors. She was quickly shut up by Lu Chen through the phone.


    What he said exactly was this.


    "No need. Let them practice for when in the future."


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t have to let him finish his sentence to understand what he was trying to say. Her cheeks burned as she felt the urge to throw the phone at Lu Chen¡¯s face if he was ever in front of her at that time.


    How can he say something so shameless?! And how is he so sure that the two of them would really end up together you know? A lot of things can happen!


    It was two dayster that Xiu Mei went home and found Lu Qiang outside her door. And right now, Xiu Mei hesitantly opened the door of her home. She held the urge to look behind her wherein the two ice blocks stood, waiting for her to exit the house.


    At this rate, won¡¯t they easily stay in the headlines for a week then?


    Xiu Mei. Lu Chen. Lu Qiang.


    The CEO¡¯s secretary. The CEO. The CEO¡¯s son.


    Oh, what a perfectbination it was for a headline.


    She¡¯s pretty sure that the paparazzi will feast on them for months if they ever find out that she was well acquainted with Lu Chen¡¯s son. It was basically hammering a nail on your coffin.


    Right outside the gates was Lu Chen¡¯s personal car. It was a white Jaguar XJ that Lu Chen had customized ordered to his likings. Xiu Mei had seen him using this car for quite a few times, though Lu Chen would still often use his work car when going to work.


    Xiu Mei took her time admiring that piece of a luxury car that her family could actually afford. Her family was never one to spend suchrge amounts of money on a car, maybe except on military jeepn that her Mom and brothers would often fawn about.


    Aside from that, anything with 4 wheels and bulletproof windows is fine.


    With Lu Shao staying in the office to substitute for the two of them, Lu Chen took over his job. Xiu Mei watched Lu Chen opened the passenger¡¯s door with such gentlemanliness and ss you would suddenly feel how great of an honor it was for him to open a door for you.


    "Get in."


    Xiu Mei shot Lu Chen a nce before finally making a move to climb onto the car. After settling herself on her seat, she heard the sound of her door closing. Her eyes followed Lu Chen¡¯s actions when he opened the door behind him to carry Lu Qiang in. Twisting herself to look at the back, she watched Lu Chen securely cing Lu Qiang on his seat with a seatbelt.


    A few secondster, Lu Chen sat on the driver¡¯s seat and roared the car to life.


    "Where are we going?" She asked as she kept her eyes in front, watching the constant changing of sceneries.


    Lu Chen¡¯s lips curled up as he rxed on his seat while his hands busied on the wheel. Taking a peek at the rearview mirror, he saw his son shot him a knowing look before returning his attention to the book he was reading.


    "Somewhere fun." Lu Chen replied.


    Xiu Mei looked at Lu Chen who was being so secretive. Her brows furrowed in suspicions as she tried to figure out where he could be possibly taking her that¡¯s ¡¯fun¡¯.


    Amus.e.m.e.nt park maybe?


    An hourter.


    Xiu Mei raised her head as she stood agape at what was in front of her. Behind the metal gates were a green forest spanning so wide that Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t find where it ends. She could clearly hear the chirping birds and she was sure that what she was currently breathing right now was the cleanest air she had breathed in all her life.


    She wondered whether she was still in the city or somewhere urban when she noticed that this ce was quite isted from the people. She remembered that they were just driving in the highway fifteen minutes ago and now it looked like they were in the middle of nowhere in the forest.


    "Let¡¯s go, Mom." Feeling her hand was tugged, Xiu Mei bowed down to look at Lu Qiang who was holding her hand. He looked so indifferent but she could feel that slight excitement in his eyes and the light squeezes he was giving her.


    "Where is this?" She asked. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was asking Lu Qiang or Lu Chen but it was the little kid who was more than happy to answer her question.


    "It¡¯s my ce."


    "Huh?!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s head abruptly turned to look at Lu Qiang. Her expression clearly showed how bbergasted and confused she was as she tried to understand if she interpreted his words wrongly.


    Maybe she was hearing wrong?


    It can¡¯t be that Lu Qiang really owns this wide hectare of forest... right?


    Her thoughts were easily answered by Lu Chen. Reaching out to her as he sn.a.k.e.d his arm onto her shoulder, he spoke.


    "This is Lu Qiang¡¯s."


    Seriously?!


    "His own pet house."


    "..."


    It took a full ten seconds before his words fully registered in Xiu Mei¡¯s mind.


    Say what?


    Xiu Mei looked at the greenery in front of her with her mouth wide open.


    H-His own pet house?!


    This ce is?


    This big?!


    If you¡¯re not reading this on , then the content you¡¯re reading this at is stolen!

 Chapter 54 - Teased

    <h4>Chapter 54 - Teased</h4>


    "ROAAAAAAR!!!"


    Xiu Mei jumped back in fright hearing the lion¡¯s fierce and loud roar. Instantly, she moved behind Lu Chen¡¯s making him as her shield in case the lion suddenly jumps on her and eats her alive. She unconsciously took hold of Lu Chen¡¯s shoulders as she nervously scanned the green and wide area in front of her. Noticing her actions, Lu Chen couldn¡¯t help but slightly curl his lips up in amus.e.m.e.nt.


    So, she is a scaredy-cat, eh.


    If Xiu Mei ever hears his thoughts, she would definitely retort back.


    Who in the right mind wouldn¡¯t be afraid of being eaten alive by a live lion, right?! That¡¯s king of the jungle you know! It would just take a few bites for her to be eatenpletely. She may not be even left with bones you know.


    Lu Qiang, on the other hand, went off first leaving both of them behind. He had already decided to show off all his pets to her Mom, and he was pretty sure that she would definitely like them.


    Poor Xiu Mei being unconsciously tortured by love by the father and son pair.


    "W-Woah! W-wait! Where are you going?!" Xiu Mei almost screamed, her fright causing her to stutter. She quickly pulled back Lu Chen who was going to take his first step forward. She gripped his clothes so tightly she knew she had officially messed up his well-ironed attire but she could care less.


    If she were to choose, she¡¯d rather die by the hands of Lu Chen rather than a wild animal.


    A few yearster, this decision of hers would one of her greatest regrets apanied by a usual pain on her back caused by the beast. Yeah, THE beast. *wink*


    "We¡¯d have to go in." Lu Chen turned his head as he answered her.


    "B-but..."


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes glinted as he nned in his mind whether he should take advantage of this chance to tease her more.


    Xiu Mei saw Lu Chen¡¯s expression change in a split second, and before she could react, she suddenly felt dizzy. She realized she was floating¡ªno, someone was holding her up.


    She felt someone¡¯s arms under her legs, and the other behind her back supporting her upper body. Extremely startled by the sudden change of position, she whipped her head to look at Lu Chen.


    "Lu Ch¡ª"


    Fudge.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s first reaction was to move away after discovering the sudden closeness of Lu Chen¡¯s face on hers. But since she was in Lu Chen¡¯s arms and with the difference in strength, no matter how much she tried to push him away she couldn¡¯t increase their distance from each other.


    Her heart palpitated in nervousness too quickly, clearly different from how nervous she was just a minute ago. Her previous thought process was forgotten and now all she could think about was how warm and close Lu Chen was.


    She prayed in her mind that Lu Chen wouldn¡¯t feel how quick her pulse was at this moment because damn it, she really couldn¡¯t calm herself down with the sudden princess carry Lu Chen had done to her.


    Xiu Mei was too preupied with her thoughts that she failed to notice that they¡¯ve now finally passed the gates. They¡¯ve now officially entered the den of the animals who live in the wild a.k.a. Lu Qiang¡¯s pets.


    "How are they?" Lu Chen spoke to the person who bowed in front of him. Xiu Mei turned her head to the person Lu Chen was speaking to and saw a ck-haired man in brown safari uniform. Just like Lu Chen, this person also disyed a stoic expression much to Xiu Mei¡¯s expectations.


    So far, from Lu Qiang to Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates, she had observed that all of them donned an indifference and stoic look that would unconsciously be avoided by a lot of people. Seriously, was this part of the requirements to be Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates? Because Xiu Mei should really be thankful that he wasn¡¯t in charge of the HR department way before.


    If he did, Xiu Mei would turn crazy working with such people.


    "All of Young Master¡¯s pets are in good condition. Since young master ys with them every so often, the animals are quite familiar with him and would often look for him whenever he¡¯s not around." The guy exined.


    "Hmm."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes darted back and forth to the two guys as she kept still in Lu Chen¡¯s arms.


    Uh... is she still on earth?


    How did that guy report so normally to Lu Chen as if what he was reporting some normal topic? Hell, they were talking about some pets missing Lu Qiang!!


    And she was quite the pets they were talking about wasn¡¯t the kind of pets she was thinking about.


    Giving a slight nod to the person, Lu Chen continued on his way as he opened yet another metal door.


    Xiu Mei watched Lu Chen¡¯s movements in opening the door.


    "ROAAAAR!!"


    "WAAAH!!" Xiu Mei cried out as her arms automatically looped on Lu Chen¡¯s neck as she buried herself in his shoulders.


    She was hugging Lu Chen as tight as she could like she never nned to separate from Lu Chen anymore. She was holding on so tight to him as she heard a soft growl of the white striped animal behind her. Her body trembled in fright as she prayed to all the gods that she knew of in her mind.


    Would she suddenly be one of Lu Qiang¡¯s pet¡¯s dinner if she wasn¡¯t careful enough?


    "Lucia, get back." Lu Chen¡¯s voice ordered.


    Hearing a light growl, the white tiger obediently walked off after greeting its owner.


    Seeing the tiger walk away, Lu Chen shifted his attention to the person who was now snuggling herself in his arms. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from smiling in triumph as he waspletely amused by how his n went well.


    Now, she wouldn¡¯t even notice how he had been taking advantage of her unguardedness right at this moment.

 Chapter 55 - Human Language

    <h4>Chapter 55 - Human Language</h4>


    "Stop! No! Don¡¯t!" Xiu Mei screamed as she grabbed Lu Chen¡¯s shirt with all her might, clinging onto him like her life depended on it.


    Fear and panic came over her as Lu Chen slowly tried lowering her to the ground, letting her go. A few minutes ago, Xiu Mei would¡¯ve felt happier if he did that but right now, all she wanted to do was glue her arms around Lu Chen¡¯s neck just so he wouldn¡¯t be able to separate from him like he was doing right now.


    It¡¯s not like she was left with any choice aside from clinging onto him. It¡¯s better than being closer to the other wild animals that were surrounding them right now.


    Yes, other wild animals. Specifically a lion, jaguar, gori, zebra, and many more than she could name of. She suddenly felt like she was in some children¡¯s animation where they go into a wildlife adventure.


    "You¡¯ll be fine." Lu Chen whispered to her ears, his lips curling up showing evidence of his amus.e.m.e.nt right now. He understood that right now, Xiu Mei was too fearful of the animals that she was seeing right now.


    She must¡¯ve thought that they would be attacking her but what she didn¡¯t know was all the animals in here were all taken care of when they were still infants by Lu Chen and his other subordinates. They were taken care of as pets, but they also trained them to attack to protect themselves and their caretakers.


    And right now, all the animals here clearly understood that the person he was with right now is a friend. Lu Chen even went to rub his scent onto her, as seen as how he had suddenly hugged her up when entering the personal zoo.


    Lu Chen smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt. Xiu Mei would¡¯ve surely doubted that it was the real reason if he had exined this to her, and maybe she was right. After all, there are a lot of ways to transfer his scent onto her but right now, since he was courting her and desperately chasing after her, he needed to be shameless.


    If he has to be aggressive with his techniques, that he will.


    "No!" Xiu Mei retorted as she wound up her arms around Lu Chen¡¯s neck, unaware of their intimate position right now.


    "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be here." Lu Chen slowly let go of his hold on her legs, lowering it to the ground. But he did not dare distance his hands from her. What he did was snaking his free hand to her waist making it look like that they are both hugging each other. Which they really are.


    "Xiu Mei." Lu Chen whispered, trying to soothe Xiu Mei with his voice. With that, Xiu Mei¡¯s stiff body faintly rxed in his arms yet he could still feel that nervousness she was having.


    "I won¡¯t let anything happen to you. Trust me." He was sincerely promising. Lu Chen himself only knew that he was promising this not just for now, but for all the days toe. He knows that once Xiu Mei promises him to spend the rest of her life with him, he¡¯ll have to be honest with her.


    And that includes the dark side of himself.


    Yes, he is quite selfish. Too selfish to just let Xiu Mei peacefully lead her life.


    Xiu Mei bit her lip as she carefully thought about his words.


    "Okay." She faintly said, believing his words. If ever Lu Chen ever lies to her and suddenly leaves her alone here, then he¡¯ll be damned.


    She slowly removed her arms from his neck, then one of her hands went straight to attach itself on his arm.


    "MOM!"


    A voice behind called. Xiu Mei immediately recognized the owner of that voice and turned to look behind her. Her eyes went wide seeing Lu Qiang approaching her.


    He... was sitting on a lion.


    A damn. Fudging. Lion.


    How do you even get to sit on a lion?! That¡¯s the king of the jungle you know!!


    But no voice escaped from her mouth as she gaped in shock. Lu Qiang finally reached her side and hastily climbed off from the lion¡¯s back to run to her side.


    "Mom, meet my pet and friend, King." Lu Qiang merrily said as he pointed at the lion that he came with. Her eyes automatically followed the side he was pointing at and saw the said lion that seems to be looking at her as well. More precisely, she felt like she was being scrutinized by the said lion before letting out a huff.


    Weirdly, she even saw that he lightly bowed his head to greet her.


    Her brows creased. Shit, do the animals here understand humannguage?!


    Did she weirdly stepped into some fantasy world where animals can understand and talk to humans???


    She whipped her head to look at Lu Chen, asking for enlightenment. She tried signaling at him that she needed some exnation as to why Lu Qiang have a lion as a friend and how in the world did he train all of these animals.


    She¡¯d noticed it for quite a while that the animals here seem to be keeping a certain distance from her, like they are in fear of agitating her too much. They hadn¡¯t made any single sound or growl at all ever since they¡¯ve surrounded her.


    What Xiu Mei had vibed from these animals is that they seem to be more curious about her rather than pouncing on her as their dinner.


    "How...?"


    "Because they can understand you."


    "...what?"


    Lu Chen repeated. "They can understand what we are saying." And then he roamed his eyes to all the animals that were surrounding them.


    "Because they were trained to understand it. Ournguage. Every single word that you say, they can understand it."


    Xiu Mei nked out.


    Oh gawd, she must¡¯ve really stepped into a dream world, a fantasy one that is. Because she had actually heard Lu Chen say something ridiculous that she would¡¯ve never imagined in her entire life.

 Chapter 56 - Protection

    <h4>Chapter 56 - Protection</h4>


    Xiu Mei blinked in bewilderment. Her mind nked out automatically after receiving that information.


    ...the animals here can understandnguage?


    ¡¯Am I somehow inside an illusion right now?¡¯ Xiu Mei thought.


    Or did she just discover a whole different reality?


    Crazy thoughts wandered inside Xiu Mei¡¯s head after listening to Lu Chen¡¯s words. I mean, who wouldn¡¯t be?


    Somehow, she weirdly felt that the animals here seem to know that she¡¯s quite afraid of them.


    Second, the pet lion little Qiang had just introduced her seemed to had scrutinized her from top to toe before acknowledging her.


    Third, and the maddest of them all, Lu Chen had just dered that the animals could understand all the things she had been saying.


    With those three points, the only conclusion she could really think of was that she entered in some kind of fantasy world in her sleep or this is the other side of reality that she hadn¡¯t discovered before.


    In the line of her family¡¯s work, she had listened to his great grandpa¡¯s stories of war. From time to time, he would tell her about his journey in some witchcraft ces to investigate and decide whether they are a threat to the country. Xiu Mei herself didn¡¯t understand what was witchcraft at that age.


    Her grandmother would also tell her stories about the spirits of people she met when she was still in her earlier years. As a kid, she had thought that these stories were so fascinating but as she grew up, she thought that the elders in her family must have been enjoying so much in tricking her.


    She actually believed their stories until before high school! That¡¯s ridiculous!!


    And now, Lu Chen was saying that the animals he took care of can understand her.


    Hmm.... If shepared it to her views in primary school, this one would have been more usible.


    "Don¡¯t think too deeply about it." Lu Chen¡¯s deep voice sounded.


    She c.o.c.ked her head, questioning him.


    "As I¡¯ve said before, all of the animals here were trained for quite a long time." His hand that circled on her waistfortably went unnoticed to Xiu Mei. He even drew small circles on the spine of her back but she seemed too curious and confused at the moment that she wasn¡¯t aware how Lu Chen was clearly taking advantage of her putting her guard down.


    With a curve on his lips and a glint of naughtiness on his eyes, he continued. "They are trained to be apanion and protection."


    Xiu Mei, who was still in Lu Chen¡¯s embrace, furrowed her brows.


    "Companion and protection? For what?"


    Is Lu Chen¡¯s life in danger? Is he being threatened by some nasty people?


    Her sight wandered around as she thought back to all the people she had met before for work. Her forehead creased.


    Not many people really had the guts to dare to threated Lu Chen. As a businessman, Lu Chen is famously called as the emperor. He is ferocious yet wise, and he wants to have the greatest result in every business venture he takes.


    He¡¯s an intelligent businessman whose words seem like a decree that brings prosperity to the empire. And that was how Lu Corporation was built today.


    But people who are envious of his sess could still be counted in more than two hands. She had met a lot of people who tried to poach her from Lu Chen but utterly failed. Everytime Lu Chen gets a word like this, mostpanies would suddenly be closed down and go bankrupt.


    That¡¯s why almost every person in the business industry is wary and fearful of Lu Chen. Because no matter how great he is, they are still scared of the fact that maybe one day, he might target them and instantly crumble their powers into dust.


    So really, who is the stupid one to dare try to threaten Lu Chen¡¯s safety to the point that he had to raise a lion and a tiger for protection?


    With her question, Lu Chen¡¯s gaze shook in a split second before it returned to its yful gaze on Xiu Mei. "Just in case."


    "Just in case what?"


    Lu Chen stretched out his hand to smoothen her hair. "Just in case someone tries to hit on you."


    "What?" Xiu Mei had a feeling that Lu Chen dodged her question. She blinked before pushing the question once again.


    "Are you lying to me?" Because she was pretty sure that Lu Chen was just ying with her when he said that he did all this just in case someone tries to hit on her. It¡¯s a ridiculous thought that Lu Chen had prepared all these years before they even met.


    Who was he trying to fool? A ten-year-old?


    "Why would a lie to you?" Lu Chen replied, neither confirming or denying her usation. He wasn¡¯t lying to her at all, but rather, he¡¯s just vaguely replying to her.


    This little wife of his might runaway if she knew the real reason why he had to do all these. He knew what kind of danger Lu Chen was pulling Xiu Mei into. And if she discovers the reason whyter on, he was sure that Xiu Mei would certainly get mad at him.


    After all, who would want to live and worry every day that someone might be pulling a trigger just behind their heads?


    His eyes glinted as he remembered the numerous presents that were being delivered in thepany. All of them were filled with horrendous things inside and more than that, Lu Chen wasn¡¯t happy with the fact that they were all being delivered to Xiu Mei.


    He had to intercept even the presents that were all going to be delivered at her home. Lu Chen¡¯s eyes dimmed as the thought of someone clearly threatening Xiu Mei was being too direct.


    And until now, his people have yet to discover who was behind all those presents. He grew concerned as he pondered the culprit behind all of this. Is it done by his enemies or....?


    His grip on Xiu Mei¡¯s waist unconsciously tightened.


    Either way, he would be protecting her. He knew that he does not have any feelings of love for her yet, but even though it might be like that, he still has the instinct that he must protect her at all costs.

 Chapter 58 - Housewife

    <h4>Chapter 58 - Housewife</h4>


    The three of them continued to stroll around the forest. Lu Qiang happily toured her around the ce, whimsically introducing her to the other animals in the forest.


    Xiu Mei felt like she was in some fairytale book, kinda like Snow White where she¡¯s surrounded by some animals and they are able tomunicate with her. Much like what Lu Qiang is doing around right now.


    Lu Chen casually walked alongside her, his hand gripping hers. He must¡¯ve thought that she hasn¡¯t noticed it until now but she was feeling overly conscious about the contact.


    She was even nervous at the fact that Lu Chen might discover how fast her heart is racing at the moment.


    After walking for almost an hour, the three of them finally stopped walking after arriving at their destination.


    Xiu Mei gasped in awe as she stared at the very scenic view in front of her. From the spot she was standing at, she can see the mountain ranges spanning widely in front of her eyes. The lush green trees decorating beautifully the ce and even from afar, she could hear the sound of the waterfalls. Every now and then, she would hear various bird noises of different types.


    "It¡¯s beautiful!" She eximed as she continued admiring the ce. To think that such ce still exists up to know, she really couldn¡¯t help but admire it even more.


    "Mom." Lu Qiang called. Xiu Mei halted her admiration on the view in front of her to shift her attention to the little kid that she was holding in her other hand.


    "Hmm?"


    "Let¡¯s have lunch here!" He said, as he pointed at the direction of theke a few steps away from them.


    She followed the direction he was pointing at and saw a nket sprawled on the ground and a basket on it.


    Before she could even respond to Lu Qiang, she felt her hand being pulled by Lu Chen towards theke. He then pressed down on her shoulders to make her sit down on the nket. After doing so, Lu Chen opened the basket and took out everything inside it.


    While he was still preparing the food, she felt something shuffling just behind her that made her look back. Xiu Mei almost jumped off of her seat upon discovering that it was Lu Qiang¡¯s pet lion, King. She turned stiff on her seat realizing how close she was to the lion.


    King felt her staring at him, opening one of his eyes to stare back at her before growling softly and started ignoring her.


    Scared stiff, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t remove her gaze at King. Even though Lu Chen had rified it to her so many times that they won¡¯t hurt her or anything, she couldn¡¯t help but be scared.


    "Xiu Mei."


    "Oh?" She answered him but kept her gaze behind her back.


    "Eat." Feeling something soft on her hand, she hesitantly moved away her gaze to look at what was handed over to her. She looked at the sandwich on her hand then raised her eyes to look at Lu Chen.


    "Or do you want me to feed you?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes jumped seeing the yful smile on Lu Chen¡¯s face as if he would really feed her if she don¡¯t start eating any time soon. Like an obedient kid, she quickly took a bite of her sandwich and munched on it.


    Seriously, Lu Chen seems to be having so much fun teasing her. Xiu Mei red at Lu Chen who was smiling and watching her eat the food simr to a parent proudly smiling at his good kid.


    Damn it, did she just reallypare herself to a little kid?!


    "You... I wanna file for resignation!" Xiu Mei blurted out in frustration.


    "Oh?" Lu Chen wasn¡¯t a tidbit surprised at her statement. His reaction sounded like he did not believe anything from what she said.


    "I.."


    "You¡¯re resigning to be my housewife?" Lu Chen teased.


    What the fudge?! Where did thate from?!


    Xiu Mei looked at Lu Chen in disbelief hearing his words. How shameless was he to be able toe up with that?


    "Who said about being your housewife?!"


    "You."


    "!!"


    Really shameless!!!


    "Mr.Lu, you¡¯re being delusional." She crossed her arms as she said that and straightened her back as if she was proving how true it was.


    "Mrs.Lu," Crease showed between her brows after hearing his endearment to her but she still did not speak. "I¡¯m just telling the truth."


    Lu Chen said that so confidently like it was really going to happen. Like hell, it wouldn¡¯t!


    "First and foremost, I AM never going to be a housewife. Married or not, I¡¯ll decide my own path whether I want to work or not." Xiu Mei even raised her index finger showing number one.


    "Second, I can still turn you down and stop you from pursuing me any further. After all, I really don¡¯t care since I¡¯m not really that interested in going into a rtionship with anyone for that matter."


    Xiu Mei spoke everything as a matter-of-factly. She wouldn¡¯t let anyone decide her future for her, and if she wants to continue working after marriage, no one won¡¯t be able to stop her.


    And right now, she thinks Lu Chen is speaking too highly of himself. Where did he get the guts to be so assured that she would marry him?


    Even though she¡¯s having butterflies in her stomach and heart-racing moments whenever he was around, she¡¯s still clear that this wasn¡¯t at the level of love yet. She can still grasp her feelings very well and she can turn down Lu Chen at any moment.


    After all, the only reason she epted Lu Chen¡¯s courting in the first ce was that she felt his sincerity thest he had asked her, and she was actually also considering his proposal due to Lu Qiang¡¯s sake.


    Every little kid thirsts for a maternal love. And that¡¯s the thing that Lu Chen wouldn¡¯t be able to give Lu Qiang no matter how hard he try thus, even if she hasn¡¯t decided to ept the marriage proposal of Lu Chen, she can try being a ¡¯mom¡¯ for Lu Qiang right now.

 Chapter 59 - Attack

    <h4>Chapter 59 - Attack</h4>


    Lu Chen extended his hand out and wrapped her hand in his as he replied, "You can be whatever you want, but you¡¯ll be my wife." He spoke with seriousness in his deep voice that Xiu Mei almost fell into his spell.


    Lu Chen pulled her hand towards him as he lowered his head. Lightly kissing the back of her hand, he continued. "I won¡¯t let you go."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s courage instantly wavered with Lu Chen¡¯s actions and words. Wha--did he really just kiss h-her hand?


    In reflex, she quickly pulled out her hand out of his grasp and clutched it towards her chest. She stared in disbelief at Lu Chen, her face filled with shock as she stuttered on her words remembering that soft pair of lips at the back of her hand.


    "W-We¡¯ll see a-about that! Hmph!" Xiu Mei turned her head away to avoid his sly and yful gaze at her. She didn¡¯t even notice how red her cheeks and ears were at this very moment however, Lu Chen saw every bit of her reactions that he stifled augh.


    Xiu Mei was then quick to re at him before rolling her eyes and continued in ignoring him again.


    Really ah, this wife is so cute.


    Lu Chen held himself back from reaching out to pinch Xiu Mei¡¯s cheeks.


    As the two yed and flirted by themselves, they actually forgot the two other presence around them. They didn¡¯t notice how the little ball took out his phone and quickly snapped a photo of the two and saved it in his folder.


    Lu Qiang smiled in triumph at himself as his other hand reached out for a slice of the sandwich. He looked down at his phone before hiding it back to his pocket.


    It¡¯s really better to have a backup n, ah. His Dad¡¯s techniques in chasing her mom don¡¯t seem as effective as he thought it would be.


    When the sun was almost set, the three of them finally returned to their homes. After dropping Xiu Mei to her home, the father and son pair directly went straight to their home.


    "Boss, we have news." Lu Shao stated upon Lu Chen¡¯s return at home. Instantly, Lu Chen¡¯s mood dropped and Lu Qiang feeling the change in his Dad¡¯s mood was very considerate and understanding that this was going to be an a.d.u.l.t¡¯s talk that he shouldn¡¯t interfere. He quietly went back to his room under the eyes of his butler.


    Lu Chen and Lu Shao went straight to the study where Lu Shao presented a folder to him.


    "ording to our spy¡¯s report, the Sy¡¯s has been slowly bringing in various kinds of firearms and they have been also expanding their numbers quite faster than usual." Lu Shao reported as Lu Chen skimmed through the file.


    "As we¡¯ve expected, they¡¯re aiming for war in the underworld. It seems like they¡¯ve been growing fearless day by day." Lu Chen didn¡¯t hide the anger in his tone as he thought about his enemies who are nning to put the underworld into chaos.


    "We¡¯ve already started preparing on the counterattack, however, we¡¯re still figuring out the whole n that the Sy n is setting up against us, and to the other organizations."


    Lu Chen did not respond and grew silent. He contemted his next actions, which one would have the best results with fewer casualties. Afterall, he did not gather all his subordinates to be killed, but to live and fight for themselves.


    It doesn¡¯t matter if they are called assassins or murderers, his subordinates do not kill those innocents and who did not deserve death.


    "Did the Legion head has announced anything?"


    "Not yet."


    "Good. Call back Ming Xuan and Lee In from their posts, we¡¯ll need them back this time."


    "Copy that."


    "Tighten the security around Lu Qiang and Xiu Mei. Be careful not to get caught by her brother¡¯s guards. Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s people are hot on our feet after we saved Xiu Mei thest time she had an ident. It wouldn¡¯t be good if he tried to delve in any further."


    Lu Shao nodded as he listened to Lu Chen¡¯s instructions. He quickly left the room to start disseminating their boss¡¯ orders.


    Lu Chen leaned back on his office chair as he held his forehead. He can feel a headacheing and he wasn¡¯t feeling good about this uing chaos.


    Plus, he hasn¡¯t found anything about the people behind the presents targeted at Xiu Mei.


    Everything seems to be going to be so chaotic in the near future and he was afraid whether Xiu Mei would be able to take it all in once she really starts mixing in on his world.


    Even though it will be dangerous for her, he selfishly wants to cling onto her and not let go. Was it because he¡¯s still yet to love her that¡¯s why the thoughts of letting her go to keep her safe haven¡¯t hit his mind?


    Or is it because of his selfishness to make her his son¡¯s mother and his wife?


    His eyes darkened as he remembered the email he received from an unknown email days ago. After reading the contents, he instantly realized from whom the email came from.


    It was a warning letter from Xiu Min, Xiu Mei¡¯s eldest brother. It seems that the military also has eyes on the underworld, and he knew very well all his actions in the underworld.


    It seems that the military family has been observing him for quite a while. Did they investigate him ever since Xiu Mei worked under him? Or was it....?

 Chapter 60 - Dilemma

    <h4>Chapter 60 - Dilemma</h4>


    Xiu Mei resumed working at the office a week after the news died down for a little bit. Even though there were still some reporters taking every opportunity everytime they see her or Lu Chen, it was still manageable whenpared to the first few days.


    "Congrattions!"


    "Ms.Xiu, we wish you a happy marriage!"


    "Congrattions and we wish you all the best!"


    Xiu Mei stared bbergasted at the sprawled out letters on her desk. In the morning, this was what the reception had handed over to her in all smiles. At first, Xiu Mei felt that the smile of the receptionist looked quite creepy and suspicious, but she still epted the bundle of tied up envelopes she gave to her.


    And she was really right. She really shouldn¡¯t have epted the letters. Because right now, she didn¡¯t know what to feel anymore. Embarrassed? Doomed? Desperation?


    Xiu Mei pped her hands onto the desk in frustration. Damn it! Did Lu Chen not even clear the issue even to the employees in the building?!


    Now what? Is she really now bound to be married to Lu Chen one way or another?!


    Looking at the letters on the desk that were filled with the goodwill of the employees, she stopped herself from throwing them onto her trashbin to burn it all to ashes.


    Shit, what the hell is she going to do now?


    Xiu Mei pulled on her hair in frustration, almost burying her face on her working station.


    While she worried about the problem of exining the truth to her coworkers, Lu Chen and Lu Shao arrived at the office.


    Hearing the sound of the elevator, Xiu Mei automatically shifted her eyes towards to elevator and saw the two men exit the elevator. Upon seeing the man in a navy blue business suit at the front, she narrowed her eyes and fiercely red at him.


    Such a maniptive emperor CEO! He told her he would court her properly, but he was not even giving her any way out! She really was too rash in epting his proposal, damn it!


    But no matter how much she wants tosh out to him right at this very moment, she still have to hold back all her anger now. At this time, she must be a professional as Mr.Lu¡¯s secretary. For now, she should draw the line of work and personal issues she have with him.


    See how she¡¯ll beat him upter.


    "Good morning, Mr.Lu." shing a smile that wasn¡¯t exactly a smile, she greeted him.


    "Good morning." Quickly ncing over at her, Lu Chen greeted her back as he nonchntly ced a small pack of milk on her table. He continued striding towards his office like he didn¡¯t notice the look that Xiu Mei was throwing at him.


    Xiu Mei stopped herself from rolling her eyes andposed herself. Let¡¯s confront him after work which is... 11 hours away from now. Workaholic, yes she is.


    Her vision shifted on the small pack of milk Lu Chen gave her and contemted for awhile.


    Is this a bribe?


    Biting her lower lip, she shrugged and grabbed it off the table. Gulping it down, she thought to herself that a simple pack of milk would not be enough for her to let him off so easily.


    Xiu Mei quickly dived herself into her work especially that she had a lot of things to catch up after missing work for more than a week. Even though she had split the work with Lu Shao and her assistant, there is still a lot of work that only she can work on. Despite doing some of the work at home, she still needed to meet with a bunch of people to finalize some of the work.


    "Tell me about the updates on the Mango Collection." Xiu Mei stated as she flipped through the pages of designs submitted to her by the famous writer and designer they recently partnered with.


    "These are the designs Ms.Mango submitted for review. We¡¯ve already reviewed most of it with the team. Ms.Mango also wanted to keep the fashion line as close to the original designs as possible."


    Xiu Mei contemted on the designs and did the calctions on her head.


    "What about the procured material for the clothes?"


    "It¡¯s already being tested. The chief designer seems optimistic about it."


    "How about the production? Is there gonna be a problem in reproducing the designs in a shorter time?"


    Her assistant ced another paper in front of her as she replied, "We won¡¯t have any problem reproducing most of the designs however, these two have a moreplicated technique hence we won¡¯t be able to produce a lot of pieces until the release date."


    After inputting all the data in her head, Xiu Mei formted the best strategy for the uing release of the clothing line.


    "Since the Mango Collection is our newest line for partnering with a famous writer, we can have these two designs as the limited edition pieces for this season. I believe these are the designs of the main characters, yes?"


    "Yes, I also confirmed it with Ms.Mango. I¡¯ll inform her about your decision for the two designs as soon as possible."


    "Another thing, arrange for a meeting with her next week. For the Project Als and Key, get me the project heads for a quick briefing with themter after lunch."


    "I¡¯ll take note of that." Her assistant jotted down the instructions on her notebook. After finishing all the briefing stuff, Xiu Mei was busypiling all the folders into one stack when her assistant almost gave her a heart attack with what she said.


    "Ms.Xiu, congrattions on your wedding by the way."


    Xiu Mei automatically froze on her seat. She looked at her assistant with disbelief as if she was trying to read her expression whether she was pretending to be aware of the truth or not.


    Did Lu Shao didn¡¯t even debriefed her assistant on the truth of the matter?


    If her assistant wasn¡¯t even aware of how untrue the news was... hah... so this must be why the employees must¡¯ve thought that everything they saw on the news was true.

 Chapter 61 - Sleeping with the boss?

    <h4>Chapter 61 - Sleeping with the boss?</h4>


    Her assistant was quitefortable with her and Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t really too strict enough to be feared by the employees thus the assistant had the guts to ask her a question.


    "So when will we be giving the red packets?" Her assistant elbowed her yfully while slightlyughing at her, trying to tease her.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei was at a loss on how she would reply to her question.


    If she answers honestly that Lu Chen and her weren¡¯t really engaged, would she really believe her? Add to the fact that Lu Chen nevermented on the news, it was almost like they were vaguely confirming their rtionship which never existed in the first ce.


    Now that she thought about it, she realized she was at fault too since she didn¡¯t really persuade Lu Chen to give a statement. It was out of her calctions that Lu Chen did not even bother to exin the truth of the matter to the employees too.


    Stupid Xiu Mei, you are to me for these consequences too! How the hell did you forget Lu Chen¡¯s personality?


    Was he the type to exin himself to others? NO.


    He would just go and push forward with his ns even without the others understanding the reasoning behind it.


    Damn it!


    She really was too careless. She should¡¯ve really addressed the PR department first before disappearing in front of the media. Now, things have escted into this.


    Xiu Mei felt the urge to pull on her hair once again. Does she really have a no way out on this?


    "Ms.Xiu?"


    "..."


    "Ms.Xiu, are you alright?"


    "Huh?" Before further wallowing herself on regret, her mind was quickly brought back to reality by her assistant¡¯s repeated calls.


    Shoot! She dozed off.


    "What did you say again?"


    Instead of replying to her, her assistant looked at her for a few more seconds before sighing. She stretched out her hand and gave her a light pat on the shoulder.


    "Ms.Xiu, I can see that you¡¯re so tired. Mr.Lu must¡¯ve been very fierce eh?" Her assistant just blurted out those words so smoothly like she didn¡¯t just directly imply that she was sleeping with Lu Chen.


    Well shit, she also implied that she looked so tired meaning she looked so haggard and unpresentable today?!


    Xiu Mei gaped in bewilderment at her assistant¡¯s assumptions. She didn¡¯t know what to feel at all.


    Should she be offended that she had automatically assumed that she has been sleeping with the big boss?


    Worried, because all the employees might have been thinking the same thing as her?


    Panic, because her reputations seem to be turning for the worse?


    "No, I¡ª"


    "I understand, Ms.Xiu. Seems like you have it hard, ah?" Taking a closer look at her assistant, she spotted the slight curve of her lips as she continued on consoling her about her nonexistent s.e.x life with the big boss.


    Was she teasing her?


    Damn it, now even her assistant is teasing her.


    Xiu Mei narrowed her eyes at her assistant before threatening her with empty malice, "Should I have the HR department note that you won¡¯t be having any vacation leave for the rest of the year?"


    In an instant, the yful and teasing expression on her assistant¡¯s face vanished and was reced with a moreposed and professional expression. "Just like you said Ms.Xiu, I¡¯ll be off now to start coordinating with the other departments."


    And just like a rabbit, Xiu Mei watched her as she ran off and left her sight as quick as a lightning.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t stop herself from chuckling at her assistant¡¯s reaction to her empty threat. Did she really believe she was that heartless to not allow her to consume her number of vacation leave for this year?


    She wasn¡¯t that heartless, ah.


    Well, otherwise if she really does something worth punishing for.


    Now, onto the real problem at hand. How should she address the supposed-to-be engagement with Lu Chen to her coworkers?

 Chapter 62 - Gunfire

    <h4>Chapter 62 - Gunfire</h4>


    "Haaaaah...." Xiu Mei sighed in defeat as she stared at the shing digital clock on her desk that read seven eighteen in the evening.


    What addressing the engagement problem? She wasn¡¯t even able to finish any of her work today at all. She really had tons of things she had to catch up on work.


    Looking at the stack of clipboards on her desk and other doc.u.ments on the table, she felt like lighting a candle sympathizing for herself. It seems like this pile won¡¯t disappear for awhile.


    As Xiu Meimented on her work for the next days, she fixed all her things on the desk and prepared to go home.


    "I¡¯ll go first." Xiu Mei stated to Lu Shao who was still looking over something on his work. Lu Shao raised his head then nced at Lu Chen¡¯s door before returning his attention to Xiu Mei.


    "Should I call for the president?"


    Understanding what he was implying, Xiu Mei quickly shook her head. "No need." Both of them are still at not that stage yet. Right now, Lu Chen¡¯s the boss and she¡¯s a secretary. Not Lu Chen and Xiu Mei themselves. She knows where she should draw the line.


    "Are you sure?" Lu Shao asked her once more. Should he inform the boss that Xiu Mei will be getting off work now?


    "Yep, bye." Xiu Mei waved goodbye at him and before Lu Shao calls on Lu Chen, she quickly strode towards the elevator.


    A few minutester, she finally arrived in the underground parking lot.


    KA-CHAK


    Upon arriving at her parking spot, Xiu Mei halted on her steps. Her eyes stopped onto the nearest pir in front of her and she slowly made her way towards it.


    As she walked towards the pir, her grip on her bag tightened as she tried to examine her surroundings through her peripheral vision but yielded no results.


    Seconds ago, even though it was very faint, she heard a familiar sound.


    It sounded so familiar that she definitely won¡¯t be wrong at her assumptions. Yet, she hoped that her gut feeling was actually wrong because that sound, she shouldn¡¯t be hearing it here in this kind of ce.


    It was the sound of someone c.o.c.king a gun.


    Since she grew up in a military family, inadvertently she was brought by her grandparents and mother in the military camps.


    There, she had witnessed a lot of soldiers in training especially in gun training. She even had the opportunity to shoot every kind of gun that the soldiers were using at that time thus, she had enough knowledge about firearms.


    And that faint sound she heard, it was the sound of someone preparing to pull the trigger.


    And now that she¡¯s hearing it here in the parking lot where it¡¯s alreadyte at night and she was supposed to be alone down here, that sounded like a warning sign.


    She has to go and hide real quick. But it¡¯s not like Xiu Mei can just run away without alerting the shooter. That would be very obvious.


    She instantly refreshed her mind on the self-defense courses that her eldest brother had pulled her into years before. Since it¡¯s a gun and she didn¡¯t know where it¡¯sing from, her priority as of the moment is to find some cover where she can shield herself from the raining bullets.


    Her main priority is to protect herself first before escaping. She¡¯s in an enclosed wide area where the shooter could be anywhere behind or in front of her.


    In her mind, Xiu Mei prayed to the gods repeatedly as her heart raced faster in nervousness. Despite her legs being slightly shaken up, she did her best to arrive at the pir.


    Just a few more steps. Xiu Mei chanted in her mind.


    Her other hand gripped on her phone as she repeatedly pressed on a button on it. Her phone may look the same as the other phone models but what most people didn¡¯t know was that her family got it customized for her.


    Her phone was designed to be used for cases of emergency, where she might need help or need to be tracked or in case something happens to her. This was a precaution that her family had specially made for her after that kidnapping incident.


    "Brother, help." She mouthed as she continued pressing on that button.


    When she was just a few steps away from the pir, she unconsciously briskly walked towards it when the first bullet barely missed her.


    BANG!


    "Shit." She cursed as she rushed towards the pir and crouched down. What followed was continues gunfire aimed at her. Crouching down behind the pir, she pulled out her phone and pressed on her emergency contacts.


    As she waited for her phone to connect on the other line, she heard another set of gunfire that was quite different from the first one. It seemed like the other one was shooting back at the first shooter.


    But Xiu Mei didn¡¯t really have the time to bother about that at the moment. All she knew was that she has to prioritize her safety.


    When she almost felt like she was just tapping on some random number on her emergency contacts, she felt a hand grab her elbow pulling her to the side causing her to slight lose bnce.


    "Miss Xiu."


    "Let go!"

 Chapter 63 - Under Attack

    <h4>Chapter 63 - Under Attack</h4>


    "Miss Xiu."


    Suddenly, a hand grabbed her by her elbow instantly startling her. Even before she could react to it, the hand immediately dragged her causing her to lose her bnce.


    "Let go!"


    With her phone in her hand, she struggled against the person holding her. She tried to pull away as she hit the arm of the stranger but it seemed like her attack was simr to a marshmallow hitting a cement.


    "Miss Xiu, we¡¯ve been sent by Master Mo Ruo to guard you."


    What?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s struggle was then put into a halt upon hearing her second brother¡¯s name.


    She narrowed her eyes as she cautiously looked in suspicion towards the man in uniform.


    She didn¡¯t instantly believe what the person was saying to her. Especially the fact that someone¡¯s aiming for her life right at the moment, she just couldn¡¯t trust the strangers approaching her so easily. She couldn¡¯t help but be cautious whether this person is actually on her side or a foe trying to take the opportunity to attack her when her guard is down.


    The man seeing that Xiu Mei was still suspicious and didn¡¯t show any signs of following him to safety contacted their leader through the earpiece informing him of the current situation. While he waited for further instructions, he kept his guard up and eye on the ¡¯package¡¯ while protecting her.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei quickly grabbed the phone she almost dropped when she was pulled by the stranger.


    She flipped over her phone facing the screen and seeing the phone cked out, she cursed. Shit, why wasn¡¯t it connecting to her brother¡¯s phone?


    She pressed the button on the side, lighting up the phone. She froze when she saw that the phone was actually connected sessfully...but it wasn¡¯t to her brother¡¯s number.


    Mr. Lu, 01:08.... It has been connected for quite awhile now.


    She must¡¯ve identally hit his number when she was panicking awhile ago and just pressing some random numbers. Stupid Xiu Mei, how did you forgot that his number is on her speed dial too?


    Her finger hovered on the end call button, hesitant to press it. Should she... ask for his help?


    Damn it, who cares about disturbing him right now anyway. That¡¯s the least of her priorities! She is close to losing her little life right now if she¡¯s too mindful of her pride.


    Quickly bringing her phone to her ear right now, she could hear the sounds of rushed footsteps on the other side.


    Nervously, she spoke. "Hello?"


    Her voice was noticeably shaking as the sounds of gunshots continued to reverberate throughout the parking lot. The man next to her was standing at her front and she wondered whether he had stood there to hide her and protect or was it to block her from running away?


    "Xiu Mei!"


    Xiu Mei almost did not recognize the voice on the other side. Different from his usualposed, calm and deep voice, Lu Chen was speaking in a higher pitch and the worry in his voice couldn¡¯t be hidden at all.


    "Are you alright? Where are you right now?" He rushed as he questioned her. Lu Chen was currently on the elevator and undeniably, the phone signal isn¡¯t really that good inside. Even though the sound would often break, he could clearly hear the gunshots on the other line.


    God knows how he almost got a heart attack the moment he heard those sounds.


    He was still patching up some papers when he received the call from Xiu Mei. He was actually quite confused at first, since he knew that Xiu Mei had already gone home without even saying goodbye to him thanks to his other secretary outside who had informed him through message.


    He was actually quite disappointed that Xiu Mei didn¡¯t say goodbye or goodnight to him, however, he understood quite well why she didn¡¯t do that.


    He still wasn¡¯t in her heart. And their rtionship still wasn¡¯t close enough so she wasn¡¯tfortable in casually talking with him yet. And he¡¯s still working on it.


    After a few rings, he picked up her call. Was she suddenly feeling guilty now?


    And contrary to his expectations, her voice wasn¡¯t what he had heard first thing when the call connected.


    "Hello?"


    "...."


    He waited for a second when he finally heard a sound.


    "BANG!....BANG!....Miss Xiu!....BANG!...Let go!....BANG!"


    Even though Xiu Mei¡¯s voice was a bit drowned out by the gunshots in the background, he could still faintly hear her voice and another person¡¯s voice. He immediately realized that Xiu Mei¡¯s life is being threatened right now with all the gunshots in the background.


    His eyes dimmed and his heart almost stopped in fear. Just at the thought of something happening to Xiu Mei, his heart and mind would probably crushed to pieces.


    He quickly stood up from his seat and almost ran to the door and called Lu Shao.


    "Quickly get me Lee In and the team here. I want every person in Xiu Mei¡¯s post mobilized."


    Lu Shao quickly picked up on what his boss was trying to imply and immediately acted on his instructions.


    Lu Chen quickly went to the elevator and pressed the down button of the elevator. His shoes tapping in impatience, he quickly turned to the other door near the elevator. It was the emergency stairs.


    However, the moment he tried turning the doorknob, the door didn¡¯t budge.


    Lu Chen¡¯s first thought was to destroy everything in anger right now. His eyes dimmed as he realized how dire the situation is right now.


    They are under attack. And the enemies nned well in blocking all the exits.


    Shit!


    Were they really targeting Xiu Mei?!

 Chapter 64 - Fight

    <h4>Chapter 64 - Fight</h4>


    "Hack their system." Was what Lu Chen ordered as he marched back to his office as he kept the phone in his ears. Approaching his table, he opened one of his drawers and inside, buttonsy in hidden. Encoding a string of numbers, the sound of something shifting gears could be heard.


    Lu Chen stopped in front of one of his slidings cabs with mirrors. Sliding it open, instead of the usual file storages inside, it became a metal lift simr to their normal elevators.


    Pushing a couple of buttons, the lift finally started to go descend.


    Lu Chen continued on listening in on the other line. He realized that Xiu Mei must¡¯ve not known the call was connected as he continued to hear the exchange of gunfires. His anxiousness grew as he didn¡¯t hear anymore of Xiu Mei¡¯s voice on the other line.


    As he grew even grimmer by the second, the voice he was anxiously worried for finally spoke up.


    "Hello?"


    "Xiu Mei!"


    On the bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot, Xiu Mei lightened up when he heard Lu Chen¡¯s voice. She didn¡¯t understand why but she knew that she could rely on Lu Chen. That Xiu Mei could really count on him.


    He was that kind of president for her.


    "Are you alright? Where are you right now?" She could feel thece of worry in his voice. But she didn¡¯t have enough time to dwell on that as she answered his questions quickly.


    "In the bas.e.m.e.nt, behind one of the pill--AH!"


    Xiu Mei almost jumped in surprise as she saw a bullet suddenly go past her. However, she was able to quickly get over her shock and turned to the strange guy who pulled her just in time to avoid the stray bullet.


    "Thanks..." She muttered to him. The guy did not respond but instead spoke in a code.


    "Miss Xiu, the moonflower that blooms in the sun."


    Completely forgetting the call she had, Xiu Mei stopped on her tracks. Realization dawned on her as she stared back at the guy in front of her, whom she had suspected as an enemy.


    And now, with just one line, he was able to make her believe that he was really working under his brother¡¯s orders.


    The moonflower that blooms in the sun....


    It was the story that her second brother loved to tell her when she was still little.


    "Xiu Mei? Xiu Mei? Are you still okay right there?" Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounding from the phone. She finally remembered that she was just talking with Lu Chen on the phone!


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine." She quickly spoke as she turned to the guard that was assigned by her brother to protect her.


    "I¡¯lle with you." She nodded, finally believing him. The guy spoke in a hushed tone again before falling into silence. A secondter, he finally gestured to her to follow him.


    Hugging her phone into her chest, she quickly followed the guy. Since there were almost no cars on the parking lot with most of the employees already went home, it was quite difficult to find some cover from the exchanging bullets.


    They crawled behind the cars, and before they could reach the next pir, a couple of men went and blocked their way.


    Shit! Xiu Mei almost cursed as she took a step back. The guy stood in front of her, distancing her from the three men in ck in front of her.


    "Miss Xiu, in a few seconds, when I give you the signal, you have to run to the other side of the parking lot." The guy whispered to her.


    She could just nod at his instructions as it didn¡¯t really seem the perfect time to ask questions.


    "Hand her over." One of the three men spoke, his voice rough and deep that it was actually kind of scary. It sounded just like the voices of the mafias she had watched in a movie before.


    "Not unless you get past me." The guy who was protecting her replied. She felt something cold on her other hand so she lowered her gaze.


    Seeing the pistol being handed to her by the guy, she shifted her gaze at the back of his head and back to the thing in her hand. After contemting on it a little more, she quickly epted the pistol. It was a Beretta 92FS and was one of the guns she had experienced shooting with.


    She tightly gripped onto the pistol as she returned her gaze at the three men threatening them at the moment.


    She is unaware of the fighting skills of this guy in front of her, but she was pretty sure that it would still be a bit difficult for him to defeat these three guys. After all, the people in front of them seemed to be really strong.


    Her self-defense skills... she should not really mention that. That might be helpful with perverts and some people, but ifpared with experts, she would undoubtedly lose in just a second.


    Putting her finger in the trigger, Xiu Mei braced herself in the iing attack.


    At least with the gun, she has a chance in fighting back.


    "Then die." The guy arrogantly replied and in just a second, the three of them spread outpletely surrounding her.


    The three guys finallyunched their attack, and Xiu Mei felt herself being pulled down by the guy beside her. She was now crouching down as she watched her guard exchanging blows with the other party as he shifted in positions everytime to prevent them from approaching her.


    "Watch out!" She anxiously warned at the guy as she saw one of the three pulling out something from his suits. She instantly knew that he was trying to pull out a gun and her hand seemed to have its own mind as it moved on its own.


    Smoothly removing the safety switch, she quickly aimed at the third man and shot.


    Everything seemed to happen so slowly as she was quickly pulled away from behind and pushed to the ground. She heard a couple more gunshots but she wasn¡¯t able to see anything as it felt like the world suddenly flipped upside down. She felt her head hitting something hard, and instantly she felt dizzy. Lying down, her vision was shifted to her phone that was now broken apart on the ground.


    Dark spots spread in her vision, and before she waspletely engulfed with darkness, she swore she had heard that one voice she was very familiar with yet, with an unfamiliar tone that she had never heard before.


    "XIU MEI!"

 Chapter 65 - Hell Hole

    <h4>Chapter 65 - Hell Hole</h4>


    Drip...Drip...


    Continuous drops of water echoed in Xiu Mei¡¯s ears. Her eyes felt heavier, and she felt cold. Her body felt like it was imprisoned in some ice cave, her limbs frozen preventing her to move about in her ce.


    Where was she? Did the bad guys got to her and was kidnapped again?


    Panic slowly dawned on her as she started struggling but to no avail. She fought off until she finally opened her eyes yet it didn¡¯t really seem like she had opened it. Her surroundings were pitch ck, and she couldn¡¯t make out anything in the dark.


    Blinking fast, she tried to see even just a shadow yet she utterly failed. She lowered her head to look at her body.


    Her eyes widened. Her breathing grew ragged as she felt her panic attack growing even more serious. Her thoughts whirled around as she thought that the oxygen in the ce must be thinning out.


    Was she gonna die? Were they trying to kill her byck of oxygen?


    Of all the ways to die, why did they have to choose the torturous route?


    She struggled in her ce as the rope in her body weirdly tightened even more as she tried escaping from being bound.


    Slowly, she felt something creeping around her feet. It was something cold yet a bit slimy. Scared, she still did her best and looked down around her feet.


    HOLY CRAP.


    If she weren¡¯t frozen and bound on her ce, she would¡¯ve instantly jumped and sped off to nowhere in fear after learning what it was on her feet.


    A snake.


    It was a fudging white snake beaming with red oval eyes. Xiu Mei weirdly felt that the snake was actually watching her, seemingly enjoying the spectacle in front of it.


    However, what the snake was thinking was the least of her worries. Gawd, she would either be eaten whole or bitten to death by its poisonous toxins!


    Fudge, did her kidnappers throw her in a den of snakes while at it?!


    She continued to struggle in her ce but she halted once again when she was hit with cold air on the right side of her face.


    Now what?


    "Mei Mei..."


    "..."


    Someone behind her softly uttered her name. It sounded like half plea, half teasing. Yet for Xiu Mei, it felt like she was hit by a brick and pped into a wall. Her chest felt like something was pressing down on it and that familiar feeling of helplessness and despair drowned her once again.


    No matter how many years had passed, Xiu Mei would never forget that voice.


    It was the voice that would cheerfully call out her name when she wants to go to the cafeteria, or when she wants to go watch a movie or stalk her ultimate idol.


    And it was also the voice that continuously called her name out and pleaded to her in despair that night before shepletely lost her voice and turned into a lifeless corpse in front of her eyes.


    "Ying Yue!"


    Xiu Mei desperately called out as she tried her best to turn her head to look at the source of Ying Yue¡¯s voice.


    She knew that it was clearly impossible, that she was probably hallucinating yet she still wanted to believe.


    That Ying Yue was still alive. That she really did not die in front of her.


    It would be understandable if Ying Yue would crawl out of her grave to find her and drag her down the earth with her. She would understand why she would bear a grudge to her.


    Because she herself despaired about it countless times after that incident.


    Why did she have to die and her alive? Why did she have to leave unscathed yet Ying Yue turned into a cold corpse? Why was she spared and was saved on time yet she was left to suffer under the hands of those dirty people?


    "I CURSE YOU!!"


    "I curse you! Why did you live? Why did I have to die? It was your fault! All of it was your fault!"


    "Xiu Mei, my daughter died because of you! If she hadn¡¯t stuck with you, she would¡¯ve been still alive and safe!"


    "Curse you, and I wish that you would live in despair in this lifetime just like how my daughter left this world."


    The voices of Ying Yue and Ying Yue¡¯s parents echoed in her ears. She wanted to turn into a ball, to hide herself and cover her ears from listening to their hurtful words yet she could not.


    She was stuck. No matter how many years had passed, she was stuck at that night. She lost herself, and she lost her friend.


    What a p of reality it was.


    "Xiu Mei, wake up." She heard another voice in the midst of those using voices.


    "Little sis,e back."


    One by one, all the previous painful words she was hearing were reced with words pleading her toe back. Slowly, the pain she was feeling was soothed and the previous heavy feeling on her chest was slowly being lightening up.


    The previous pitch-ck prison was slowly being prated by a ray of light. She instinctively covered her eyes with her hand. Her eyes widened as she realized that she wasn¡¯t bound by the rope now.


    Moving her previous frozen limbs, she was now given freedom and control of her body.


    Following the source of those voices, she ran towards them trying to escape from this hell hole.


    "She woke up!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes fluttered open ever so slowly, like a budding flower in the first day of spring.


    The sound of beeping machine was the first thing Xiu Mei heard as she slowly opened her eyes. White ceiling reflected in her orbs, and she felt the stinging needles stuck on her skin as she tried to move her arms.


    "Xiu Mei, you¡¯re finally awake." Xiu Mei felt a warm hand enclosing hers. She shifted her sight towards the soothing voice, and she quickly recognized that it was Yu Shi Huang, her mother. It was evident that she had been crying with all the streaks of tears left on her cheeks and the slightly damp handkerchief she was holding.


    Xiu Mei stared back at her with empty eyes.

 Chapter 66 - 36 hours

    <h4>Chapter 66 - 36 hours</h4>


    Xiu Mei¡¯s empty eyes reflected the white ceiling above her.


    "Mom?"


    She heard a voice, instantly waking her up from her reverie. She blinked, and the light returned into her eyes once again. Xiu Mei recognized that voice and quickly roamed her eyes inside the room.


    She saw her mom at her bedside, tightly holding onto her hand while her dad was beside her. His hands resting on her mom¡¯s shoulders as if embracing her tofort her as Xiu Mei noticed that her mom had been crying.


    On the other side of the bed was Little Qiang, holding onto her hand. He also looked like he had been crying seeing his puffy red eyes. Xiu Mei would¡¯ve wanted to stroke his head to assure him that she would be fine, but she couldn¡¯t with all the stuff that¡¯s on her arms right now.


    "Princess, you scared us." Another voice sounded from behind Little Qiang. Since she was lying down, she couldn¡¯t see the people who were standing across the room just beside the window but hearing that voice, Xiu Mei was able to instantly recognize who it was.


    "Second brother." She called out.


    Xiu Mo Ruo elegantly strode towards her bed as hebed his hair back. She noticed that her brother¡¯s usual proper look was now nowhere to be seen. His tie unusually loose on his neck and his hair was unkempt as if he had forgotten to fix it after showering. His attire unusually crumpled and his sleeves was scrunched up sloppily on his arms.


    With her second brother¡¯s upation as a politician, Xiu Mei was well aware of how Xiu Mo Ruo would never dare to show up like this in public. Since their family has always been a public figure, the three of them was used to dressing up ordingly when going out.


    That was why it was quite unusual for her to see her second brother look so sloppily in that attire. But she knew in her heart why her brother looked like that, and why was everyone in her room right now.


    Remembering thest memory she had before she cked out, she remembered hearing Lu Chen¡¯s voice. It must¡¯ve been him who pulled her out from the mess that was why she was still alive and breathing right now.


    "Call the doctor." Her Dad¡¯s voice resounded inside the room. His secretary quicklyplied with his orders and walked out of the room to call for the doctor.


    "Are you alright? Are there anywhere painful?" Her second brother questioned, as his brows furrowed in concern when he saw all the instruments stuck on her arms.


    "Mm. Just a little bit disoriented, I guess."


    "You¡¯d be, after hitting your head on the pavement like that." Mo Ruo then tapped on his own head to show as a matter-of-factly why she was feeling dizzy.


    It was only when he said it that Xiu Mei realized that something was bound on her head. It felt like something was tightened around her forehead and she quickly picked up on what her brother was saying.


    She momentarily panicked inside as she thought whether her head badly or not. After all, getting your head hit on something was dangerous and it could greatly affect her daily activities especially working.


    "Mom, is it painful?" Little Qiang worriedly asked as he innocently pointed out at the white bandage on his Mom¡¯s head. He bit his lip as he held himself back from crying, thinking that his Mom is in so much pain right now.


    "I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t cry. Mommy¡¯s fine." Xiu Mei soothed the child. She tried turning her hand to hold onto Lu Qiang¡¯s little hand but she couldn¡¯t turn her arm at all due to the pain inflicted from the incident.


    Lu Qiang was quick to pick up on what her Mom wanted to do thus, he quickly intertwined his little hand to hers. Xiu Mei shed a gentle smile to Lu Qiang, truly simr to how a mother would look at her child.


    Seeing this scene, Xiu Mei¡¯s parents didn¡¯t know how to react to it. Lu Chen had beenpletely honest with the origin of the child, and even though they didn¡¯t know why he keeps this child hidden from the public, they were still concerned for what might happen in the future.


    Once Lu Qiang¡¯s identity is publicized, the public would surely explode. This little one¡¯s identity was quite special, he¡¯d definitely be publicized as Lu Chen¡¯s son. The public wouldn¡¯t know whether he was biological or adopted, what they¡¯d suspect was the little one was born out of wedlock. The mother unknown, and his father the president of some prestigiouspany.


    Along with that, their daughter¡¯s identity as Lu Chen¡¯s partner, who¡¯ll be known by the public as the potential stepmother of Lu Qiang.


    It would be a great piece of juicy news for the media to cover with all the backgrounds of the parties involved.


    "Mom, how long was I out?" Xiu Mei asked as she pulled onto her mom¡¯s hand.


    Returning her attention to her daughter, she hesitantly answered her. "You were asleep for 36 hours this time."


    Hearing her mom¡¯s words, Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened.


    36 hours? Did she sleep for 36 hours this time around?


    Xiu Mei unconsciously bit her lip as she thought of something but her dad¡¯s words quicklyforted her.


    "You¡¯ll be fine, Princess. We won¡¯t stop looking for answers until you¡¯repletely healed okay?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s dad, Xiu Gu Ren gently gazed at his precious daughter on the bed. He understood her concerns, and he too was quite anxious at what might happen in the future but for now, what his daughter needed was assurance that everything would be fine.


    He knew his daughter very well, and he knew how much his daughter lost after that night. It was the incident that the entire family considered the worst nightmare of all, because what happened afterward greatly affected his daughter and his family.


    It was something that he would definitely prevent in happening if given the chance to go back in time, yet he could not. It was a moment of weakness that shall never happen again.


    All those enemies, he must finish off as soon as possible. Else, the consequences would be something his family wouldn¡¯t be able to bear.

 Chapter 67 - Handful Wifey

    <h4>Chapter 67 - Handful Wifey</h4>


    After speaking a few words, Xiu Mei quickly felt a pang of pain on her head. She let out a faint groan, rming her family members instantly.


    Her brother was just about to exit the room to call for the doctor again when they finally heard a knock on the door. An elegant man in a white robe and ck spectacles entered the room. Holding a tablet on his hand, he approached her bed with such elegance you¡¯d doubt his upation as a doctor if it wasn¡¯t for his white robe.


    "Ms. Xiu, how are you feeling?" He opened, as he gestured to the nurse with him to take a quick look at her current condition with the usual stuff.


    "My head¡¯s a bit painful, and my body aches quite a bit like I just finished some kind of extreme exercise and pulled some of my muscles. Aside from that, I guess everything¡¯s pretty normal." She honestly told her doctor.


    She watched him push his sses with his index finger before he typed on his tablet, recording whatever she said. Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but stare at the doctor in front of her as she felt some familiarity with this person.


    Where did she meet this person before?


    "Ah!"


    Fudge, what was that?!


    After being startled by the sudden injection the nurse had done to her, she couldn¡¯t help but re a little bit at the person however she didn¡¯t look scary at all with her pale-ish face that looked more pitiful instead of scary.


    She bit her lip as she grumbled. Would it hurt them to warn herself first that they¡¯re going to take some of her blood?


    The doctor continued a series of tests for her to do to confirm whether her head injury had caused some other consequences aside from probably losing some of her brain cells.


    A few minutester, the doctor called her parents and her brother to leave the room. Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but think that whatever the result was, it probably didn¡¯t look good. If it wasn¡¯t, why did the doctor have to discuss her current diagnosis outside her room?


    Lu Qiang being a good and matured child he was, noticed the depressed look on her mother¡¯s face. He quickly took hold of her mother¡¯s hand and beamed a smile at her, hoping to lighten up her expression.


    "Mom, I¡¯ll take care of you until you get better!" He eximed before he let go of her hands and walked towards a nearby table where a pitcher of water and some sses sat. With his small hands, he gently leaned over the pitcher shakily, with some water spilling out.


    After almost filling it up to the brim, Lu Qiang shed a smile of triumph. He praised himself in his mind for doing such a good job as he held the ss with both hands and slowly approached her mother¡¯s bed carefully not letting it spill over.


    "Thank you, dear." Xiu Mei almostughed at the innocent look of Lu Qiang, who she can read quite well right now than before. She patted his head with great difficulty before epting the ss of water Lu Qiang had worked hard to give her.


    After finishing the whole ss, she handed it back to the kid who quickly ced it back on the table.


    Xiu Mei and Lu Qiang were in their own little world that they failed to notice the other big block of ice that have been staying inside the room all along. Lu Chen watched as his son stayed at his secretary¡¯s bedside the moment he was brought to the hospital.


    The little guy never left his mom¡¯s side as he would faintly cry out her name as Xiu Mei continued to sleep.


    Who would¡¯ve thought that Xiu Mei would wake up when he and Xiu Mo Ruo was discussing the attempted kidnapping. Lu Chen was even more frustrated when he noticed that Xiu Mei looked like she hadn¡¯t seen him at all inside the room and just kept her focus at the people who were surrounding her.


    And now, Lu Chen¡¯s expression grew even grimmer as Xiu Mei continued to ignore his presence even with just the three of them left inside the room. He almost questioned whether his presence wasn¡¯t big enough that Xiu Mei kept missing his presence at the other side of the room.


    Lu Chen decisively approached Xiu Mei¡¯s bed, who was busy chatting and whispering with the little son of his. He patted Xiu Mei¡¯s head, gently cing his hand on the bandaged wound around her head.


    This action of his frightened Xiu Mei, her head turning to look at the other side. She raised her head and stared at the dark pool of eyes that was now gently peering at her.


    "Mr.Lu?"


    "Hmm."


    He... is here.


    Xiu Mei felt her heart skipping a beat as she continued to stare back at Lu Chen. Awhile ago, she was still wondering whether she had been hallucinating in desperation before she lost her consciousness. She thought she was hallucinating in hearing Lu Chen¡¯s voice desperately calling out her name for a few more times.


    She grew even slightly disappointed that she didn¡¯t saw him at all by her bed awhile ago but now, she realized that she was wrong.


    "I..." She opened her mouth to start but Lu Chen had cut first to it.


    "You¡¯re such a handful." Lu Chen suddenly blurted out surprising Xiu Mei with his words.


    "What?"


    "You¡¯re a handful, my wife."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s mouth opened and closed repeatedly as if she was trying to say something but she didn¡¯t know where and how to start her words. She was too speechless that she wasn¡¯t sure to which she was actually speechless to¡ªher being called a handful or being called ¡¯my wife¡¯.

 Chapter 68 - That Night

    <h4>Chapter 68 - That Night</h4>


    Xiu Mei heaved in annoyance as she did her best to fiercely re at Lu Chen. Contrary to her intentions, Lu Chen found her reaction cuter instead of intimidating. Still, he couldn¡¯t ignore his secretary¡¯s paler skin due to the blood loss she suffered from along with the exhaustion apparent from her face.


    Lu Chen remembered how he first saw Xiu Mei on that bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot.


    Xiu Mei was on her back, lying on the ground. Slowly, blood pooled around her head and when he saw that, he almost had a heart attack from fright. Ignoring all the gunshots behind him, his mind and body solely focused on the figure lying on the ground.


    He saw she was being surrounded by three other guys and another man who looked like he was protecting her.


    Lu Chen immediately disarmed one of the guys the moment he reached where she was. He directly grabbed the man¡¯s hand holding the gun and twisted it. Putting on enough strength to crush his phnge, the man let out a cry in a pain.


    Sensing another attack from behind him, Lu Chen pulled the man forward and cing him in front as he snatched the gun and shot at the person who was taking aim at him.


    Lu Chen shot the man on the head, instantly killing him but his eyes didn¡¯t waver at all as if he was used to it. Surrounding his arm around the man¡¯s head beside him, he twisted it instantly snapping the cervical spine which quickly robbed the man hisst breath.


    After defeating the two men down, he also saw the other one on the ground seemingly not breathing at all.


    He returned his attention towards Xiu Mei, whopletely cked out on the ground.


    "Xiu Mei!" He cried out. "Bring the car here, right now!"


    He yelled out, ordering his other men that weren¡¯t chasing down the opposite party who started the shootout.


    Lu Chen pressed his fingers on Xiu Mei¡¯s neck to check for her pulse, and the breath he was holding lightened up a bit after he felt the rhythmic pattern of the pulse under Xiu Mei¡¯s skin. Seeing the pool of blood up close, he lost hisposure in a second as he fought off the urge to carry Xiu Mei on his arms to just run to his car.


    He couldn¡¯t be rash as he didn¡¯t know how bad Xiu Mei¡¯s injury was. If anything, it might cause her more damage instead of saving her thus he had to wait for the first aid supplies stored in his car before moving Xiu Mei from the ground.


    Half an hourter, he brought Xiu Mei to the hospital and Tang Li was already waiting there fully prepared for the needed immediate treatment for Xiu Mei.


    Blood covered his upper clothes and for a neat freak like Lu Chen, he would¡¯ve normally changed out of his current clothes after getting it dirtied that much.


    But right now, Lu Chen¡¯sposure was nowhere to be seen with his mind in aplete mess. He couldn¡¯t forget Xiu Mei¡¯s face that was turning white and they didn¡¯t know how afraid he was at that moment.


    All he could think about was for Xiu Mei to be stable, while his other thoughts are to immediately chase down the culprit behind the attempted kidnapping and torture that person to give him a slow and painful death.


    Lu Chen stood stiffly outside the operating room, his gaze glued on the ring red LED light as if he shouldn¡¯t look away from it any second else, something might happen.


    He stood there like a statue, his face full of frost as he exuded a frightening aura keeping away the nurses and other people from his area. All he knew was that he chanted Xiu Mei¡¯s name on his mind for how many times that time.


    Another half an hourter, Xiu Mei¡¯s family members were rushing towards the door of the operating room before they were stopped by the nurses keeping them away from getting inside.


    He nced at them for a quick second and saw how Mr.Xiu supported Mrs.Xiu whose legs seemed to have given up as he tightly clung to her husband. He also saw Xiu Mei¡¯s second brother¡¯s hand turned into a fist as he stopped himself from punching the wall beside him.


    It must¡¯ve been her second brother who ryed the news about Xiu Mei¡¯s situation since he knew that the person protecting Xiu Mei awhile ago was one of the people assigned by her brothers to protect Xiu Mei.


    He didn¡¯t botherforting them at that moment andpletely ignored their presence.


    Lu Chen returned his gaze on the red light waiting for them to turn green.


    It was only after two hourster when his hanging heart was finally put down after Tang Li confirmed that Xiu Mei was now out of danger. However, since it was a head injury, Xiu Mei needed to be put under observation for quite a few days to see if there are any other negative effects caused by it.


    Her family quickly arranged for Xiu Mei to be moved to the VIP room after the anesthesia wore off in the ICU. He stood at her bedside, watching her sleeping figure. No one knows what he was thinking about at all or how deep he was in his thoughts at that moment.


    Surely, something dark was brewing within those eyes as his gaze rested on the bandage wrapped around Xiu Mei¡¯s head.


    A few minutester, he turned around and gave a quick gesture at Xiu Mei¡¯s parents sitting on the sofa to let them know he was temporarily leaving the room. He ignored Xiu Mei¡¯s second brother¡¯s re as he continued exiting the room.


    "I want the n done in an hour." Lu Chen coldly and strictly ordered to Lu Shao as he looked at the empty hallways. Lu Shao understood what he meant and nodded.


    "Pick up the young master and bring him here." Lu Chen added before he turned around and walked in the opposite direction. He pulled out an unfamiliar phone from his b.r.e.a.s.t pocket and locked himself in inside in one of the empty rooms to make a call.

 Chapter 69 - Protecting Mom

    <h4>Chapter 69 - Protecting Mom</h4>


    "Mr.Lu?"


    Xiu Mei attempted to raise her hand to wave it in front of Lu Chen¡¯s face but miserably failed. She puzzledly looked at Lu Chen who seemed to be dozing off, while watching her face which was actually quite ufortable on her part.


    Somehow, she grew conscious of his stare and worriedly thought whether there was something on her face or what. Her anxiety grew when a thought hit her.


    Okay, along with her head injury, did she also hurt her face?


    Oh my gawd! Not the face. Please not the face. Won¡¯t all the skincare she did before will all go to waste if her face got injured? And wounds take a long time to heal! Ugh!


    "Mr.Lu?" She called out to him once again but never got any response.


    She tilted her head a little bit towards the hand of Lu Chen to get his attention and luckily, he did wake up from his reverie.


    "Are you alright?" Her brows furrowed in concern. It¡¯s not really like Lu Chen to be so out of it.


    "Nothing, just thinking about something."


    Lu Chen responded as he realized that he shouldn¡¯t be showing anything that might worry Xiu Mei right now. She should focus solely on recovering, and just leave all her problems to him to solve it.


    "Mmm, work?"


    "Sort of."


    Xiu Mei observed the changes in Lu Chen¡¯s expression as if she was trying to figure out his true thoughts. A few secondster, she hesitantly nodded like she believed him. She didn¡¯t.


    Even though Xiu Mei clearly knew that Lu Chen wasn¡¯t being honest to her at all, she didn¡¯t push him at all for answers.


    The hospital wasn¡¯t exactly the best ce to ask about something so crucial, especially that Lu Qiang was in the room. Kidnapping, not exactly a good bedtime story for kids.


    "Dad, stop touching Mom."


    Lu Qiang, who was watching the two on the sidelines, finally reminded them of his presence. The two turned their heads towards the little kid that was now ring like a cub to his Dad. Seeing that cute expression of his, Xiu Mei and Lu Qiang chuckled while Lu Chen moved his hand away from Xiu Mei¡¯s head.


    "Take a rest first, Mom. So we can y together again." Lu Qiang expressed his thoughts, as he did his best to pull his mom¡¯s nket up to her shoulders.


    Xiu Mei gently smiled at Lu Qiang, letting him do what he wanted. She gave Lu Chen a knowing look before Lu Chen finally nodded.


    "Lu Qiang."


    Lu Chen¡¯s indifferent look returned on his face as he called his son¡¯s name.


    Little Qiang looked up in response to his Dad waiting for what his Dad was going to say.


    "It¡¯ste. You have to go home."


    "NO!"


    Lu Qiang quickly became agitated as he retorted to his Dad¡¯s statements. He grabbed onto the Xiu Mei¡¯s nkets instead of Xiu Mei¡¯s as he was scared that he would hurt her Mom identally if he wasn¡¯t careful.


    Hearing his Dad telling him to go home, he immediately went against it.


    Why did he have to go home? He didn¡¯t wanna go back when her Mom¡¯s still in the hospital!


    He quickly shook his head, showing his opposition to his Dad.


    He will stay here where Mom is.


    He¡¯ll take care of her until she¡¯s up and fine.


    Dad didn¡¯t do a good job protecting Mom so he¡¯s the one who¡¯s going to protect Mom from now on.


    If Lu Chen was able to hear Lu Qiang¡¯s thoughts, he would¡¯ve surely smacked down the little kid¡¯s head for his ridiculous thoughts. He would surely think that his wife is being snatched away by his son.


    But that¡¯s an another story for the future.


    "Lu Qiang." Lu Chen sternly spoke Lu Qiang¡¯s name as he frowned at the sudden disobedience of Lu Qiang.


    "I don¡¯t want to." The little kid held his ground as he fiercely red back at his Dad.


    Lu Chen deeply inhaled, as he held back the growing frustration in him. He patiently convinced his son to go home so that he could take ample rest but the little kid was actually talking back to him!


    The father-son duo continued to argue while Xiu Mei was still lying in between the two of them. She awkwardly stayed silent throughout the whole ordeal as she really didn¡¯t know if she should side with Lu Chen since she understood why he was telling Lu Qiang to go home.


    Or should she side with Little Qiang who seemed so pitiful like he was being bullied by his father?


    Xiu Mei was still contemting which one should she side with when the door of her room opened. She saw her Dad entering the room, when he heard him speak.


    "It¡¯s fine. He can stay here."

 Chapter 70 - Ready to be a Mom?

    <h4>Chapter 70 - Ready to be a Mom?</h4>


    With Lu Chen leaving temporarily for work, Lu Qiang was left on the care of her parents for the time being as they stayed in the hospital. Since the little guy didn¡¯t wanna go home and wanted to stay with her, her Dad voluntarily epted the job of the babysitter.


    "Arnold personally cooked this for you."


    Xiu Mei watched her mom take out all the dishes from the stacked thermal lunchbox she brought from home.


    With her still recovering, most of the dishes prepared for her were on the lighter side. Laid down before her were a serving of chicken soup, spring rolls, and congee.


    Even without lowering her head, she could the smell the hint of medicinal ingredients mixed in the food. She unconsciously smiled as she remembered how Arnold loved Chinese Medicine and how much he told her on some basic knowledge about it.


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel touched seeing the foods in front of her. It was made full of love and wishes that she recovers quickly.


    Taking a spoonful of the soup, the vor of ginger quickly spread inside her mouth. As she continued eating it, she somehow felt calm. Probably with how delicious the soup was or the medicinal stuff mixed in it.


    As she ate her lunch, the door across the room opened revealing her Dad. He had juste out from the bedroom connected in her room which was meant as the sleeping space for the guardians of the VIP patient.


    Also, on the opposite wall was the kitchen in case they wanted to cook the food right there. Basically, the VIP room in this hospital is too liveable you could actually live in here for quite awhile.


    "Is he finally asleep?" Pausing on her actions, she asked her Dad.


    Xiu Gu Ren fixed both of his cuffs as he approached her daughter¡¯s bed and sat on the empty sofa beside it.


    "He¡¯s finally asleep." Xiu Gu Ren let out a deep breath as if he just finished a difficult andborious task.


    "Thank you, Dad." Xiu Mei gratefully thanked her Dad as she smiled. Xiu Gu Ren nced at his daughter who weirdly has an expression simr to his wife, that maternal smile on her face when she thinks about their children.


    He wasn¡¯t sure how to take in that his daughter, have such a maternal-like smile expression on her face as if she already had children for so many years.


    "Qiang¡¯er is such a good kid, unlike your brothers." Her Mom, Yu Shi Huang, stated as she fixed the stuff beside her bed.


    From her mom¡¯s expression, she knew that her mom really liked Little Qiang and she was being honest about it.


    "He¡¯s really hard to put to sleep, just like our smelly sons too." Xiu Gu Ren¡¯s expression scrunched up as he remembered the old days where he had to literally bind down his sons on the bed just to stop them from ying around.


    It was like ying a game of tag every night for him and his sons.


    "But you still have the best touch with the kids, even after so many years." Her mom responded to her dad. Her dad showed a beaming smile as he realized how true her mom¡¯s words were.


    She remembered that even though her dad was busy enough as a politician, he was strict with time. If it¡¯s time for work, it¡¯s only for work. But the rest of the time, he spends it with them.


    He was very hands-on with them when growing up, and Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but admire his Dad for it.


    Honestly, her a man like her Dad would probably the best husband material for her. A husband who makes time for his family despite how busy he was is the best man in the family.


    "Well, Lu Qiang might be tough to put to sleep but the kid is honestly such a bright child." Xiu Gu Ren stated his impression on the little kid that he tucked to the bed a few minutes ago.


    "It¡¯s too bad that his parents are gone. They could¡¯ve watched him grow up to be a good intelligent man." Her Mom added as her expression turned into a sad smile remembering the story told by Lu Chen a few hours back.


    "I feel bad as well. But the little kid seems to be tough even at such a young age." Her Dad¡¯s eyes sparkled as he continued, "I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯d be the best among his peers in the future."


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but smile at the positivements that her parents have to Lu Qiang. She thought how hard it was for Lu Chen to be a parent and teach Lu Qiang to be the person he is today.


    "Right, Mr.Lu really did a good job raising him." Xiu Mei interjected as she couldn¡¯t stop herself from smiling and her voice turned really soft as she thought about the two men.


    The other two people watched their daughter¡¯s expression turn into bliss. Yu Shi Huang and Xiu Gu Ren nced at each other before returning it to their daughter¡¯s body.


    "Mei¡¯er." Her Mom sat on the side of her bed, squeezing in beside her as she ced her hand over hers that was holding the spoon.


    Xiu Mei raised her head to see her Mom.


    She felt her Mom¡¯s finger caressing hers as if she wasforting her. She also felt the other side of her bed sinking a little bit with her Dad sitting at the other side of her bed right now too.


    "Are you sure you¡¯re really ready to be a Mom?"


    The moment her Mom¡¯s wordspletely registered in her mind, her mindpletely nked out.


    What was her Mom trying to say?


    Suddenly, she had a mini heart attack as her mind interpreted her Mom¡¯s words.


    Uh.... why did it sound like they were implying she was pregnant?


    She almost reached for her belly to check if there was some little life in there but then she remembered.


    Xiu Me, you stupid. How can you be pregnant when you still haven¡¯t rolled on the sheets at least once?


    "Princess, we¡¯re not against you marrying Lu Chen and taking Lu Qiang as your son, but we didn¡¯t want you to feel the sudden pressure of bing a parent you know?"


    "At most, we wanted you to really slowly be prepared in bing a parent first instead of adapting to be a parent even before marriage." Her dad added.


    Finally, Xiu Mei was enlightened and is now on the same page as her parents.


    ¡¯Oh, so that¡¯s what they meant.¡¯ She thought. She thought she really had to take a pregnancy test to check whether she was having a baby or not.


    Understanding itpletely, Xiu Mei was now all ears to her parents¡¯ questions and advices.


    "As parents, it¡¯s not easy at all. Especially you, we understand that you have a lot of priorities at this moment."


    "To be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother, we¡¯re a bit concerned about whether you really be fine with the sudden change of priorities or not."


    The Xiu couple knew their daughter very well. After that incident, their daughter¡¯s personality took for a turn. She became too engrossed in being independent and her priorities, she was too busy to even visit home when she started working.


    And now with the little kid in the picture, Xiu Mei needed to change her priorities. Both of them wanted to teach her that among all others, Family still needs to be the priority. Especially when one has children, and that¡¯s exactly the concern the Xiu couple have been thinking about for the past few hours.

 Chapter 70 - Who wants her life?

    <h4>Chapter 70 - Who wants her life?</h4>


    Xiu Mei continued recharging her energy by hugging Lu Qiang tightly in her arms. The little kiddo, however, enjoyed the intimacy his mom was showing and did his best to hug her arm trying to return the fervor.


    As the two continued having their own little world, Lu Chen narrowed his eyes as he continued eyeing them for quite a while now. Distracted from reading his emails and other doc.u.ments, he watched the two getting sticky with each other and crossed his arms.


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t understand what he was feeling right now. He feels... irritated by the scene in front of him. He couldn¡¯t understand why but he was itching to squeeze in between the two of them to put some distance but he didn¡¯t act on his urges.


    His fists clenched and unclenched multiple times as he tried to push down the annoyance he was feeling. He cooled down himself and shifted his attention back to the screen of hisptop where rows of words shed in front of him.


    Randomly clicking one of his emails, he suddenly paused. His eyes grew cold as he quickly read the contents of the email. A minuteter, he wrapped up all his things and prepped to leave the hospital.


    "Mr.Lu, you¡¯re going back to the office?" Xiu Mei curiously asked as she saw Lu Chen packing up hisptop and other doc.u.ments in the bag. She was surprised when she saw Lu Chen suddenly stand up and shut down hisptop while in the midst of his work.


    Was it an emergency?


    "Something like that." Lu Chen shortly replied as he continued cleaning up his table.


    She even checked her phone and email just in case something really popped up but nothing came up. She was contemting whether to give her assistant a call to ask but instantly removed this idea from her mind.


    Why should she care right now? It¡¯s not like she can really do something and help with her current situation. Lying in the hospital and injured and all.


    "I¡¯ll be back in a bit." Lu Chen didn¡¯t say any more words before quickly exiting her room. Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze stayed on the door as her curiosity grew even more after what made Lu Chen leave the hospital in so much rush.


    "Mom, should I peel an orange for you?" Lu Qiang innocently blinked at her. Xiu Mei woke up from her senses and shifted her focus to the kid in her arms.


    "Sure, Mom would love that."


    Lu Qiang broke away from Xiu Mei¡¯s arms as he approached the fruit table to grab an orange.


    While Lu Qiang was kept distracted by the current chore of feeding his Mom, Xiu Mei quickly went back on herptop.


    She dozed off in front of her screen for a few seconds then quickly changed browsers. She quickly nced at Lu Qiang¡¯s direction before continuing her actions.


    She typed on her keyboard and entered a few codes. A minuteter, she was able to pull out the video from the bas.e.m.e.nt garage incident a week ago.


    She bit her lip as she quickly set the video on double speed, trying to pick up some clues on the people who tried to attack her.


    Since she was kept on tight leash and security for the past few days, Xiu Mei barely had the opportunity to dig deep about the truth behind her attempted kidnapping. With her second brother gone since the first he visited her in the hospital, she couldn¡¯t squeeze out the information from him at all.


    Her parents? Not a chance. Her mother with being a soldier, XIu Mei didn¡¯t need to exert any effort at all. Even if she tortures her mom, her mother wouldn¡¯t spill anything at all.


    Her Dad? Would you expect a politician to be loose-lipped? Heck, he¡¯s way more cunning than most businessmen she met before.


    Lu Chen? The iceblock would never spill a bean. Just his expression instantly made her shut up. She tried asking him but it was to no avail that she utterly failed. Don¡¯t you dare try to mess with a cunning President.


    And with Lu Qiang constantly around her, seemingly monitoring her if she¡¯s having enough rest or has eaten on time, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t find a good timing to dig deeper.


    Though, she does have a couple of people in mind that may have had a hand behind her attempted kidnapping.


    Being in this business ever since she was young, it couldn¡¯t be avoided that she have a lot of enemies and all. But there were only a few people who would want her life so badly that they would want to kidnap or kill her on the spot.


    And one of those is Ying Yue¡¯s parents.

 Chapter 71 - Recharge

    <h4>Chapter 71 - Recharge</h4>


    "To be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother, we¡¯re a bit concerned about whether you really be fine with the sudden change of priorities or not."


    The Xiu couple knew their daughter very well. After that incident, their daughter¡¯s personality took for a turn. She became too engrossed in being independent and her priorities, she was too busy to even visit home when she started working.


    And now with the little kid in the picture, Xiu Mei needed to change her priorities. Both of them wanted to teach her that among all others, Family still needs to be the priority. Especially when one has children, and that¡¯s exactly the concern the Xiu couple have been thinking about for the past few hours the first time they met Lu Qiang.


    Xiu Mei listened to their words very seriously as she contemted on it. Her gaze drifted to the door across the room, as if she could see the sleeping child on the other side of the wall.


    After spending some time with Lu Qiang, she actually already made up her mind to be her mother. If not, she¡¯ll just be a guardian until Lu Qiang grows up to be a fine man. She do not wish to marry Lu Chen just because of some rash decision, and she didn¡¯t want to give Lu Qiang a fake sense of family.


    She greatly wishes for him to grow up in aplete and loving family.


    Biting her lip, Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze stayed glued on the door for quite some time until she finally felt sleepiness taking over her consciousness.


    Xiu Mei had to spend some time in the hospital so she quickly asked her assistant to bring herptop to the hospital to do some of the work that can be finished right at the moment.


    She had even argued with her parents and insisted on working despite being injured, and knowing how stubborn she was, her parents raised the white g after a couple more words. Really, what is the use of having a stubborn child?


    Throughout the week, her visitors were just either her parents, siblings, Lu Qiang and Lu Chen. Lu Shao and her assistant would sometimes drop by but only for a little while since they¡¯re the ones mostly holding the fort right now in thepany. Why?


    Lu Chen.... Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t stop shaking her head while remembering it. Lu Chen, he... he insisted on staying by her side for long hours every day. He also brought hisptop with him and works in her room. He would pull a table beside her bed and work there, so that in case she needed something, she could easily call out to him.


    Xiu Mei thought that Lu Chen must¡¯ve forgotten that it was only her head that was injured and not her mouth. She could still call his name properly right? It¡¯s not like I have to do signnguage nor tap him to call his attention.


    And well, since these two workaholics are holed up together in one room, it couldn¡¯t be avoided that most of their conversations are all about work.


    Lu Qiang would oftene in the room while the two of them are in the midst of a debate about some proposal, and otherpany matters that he do not understand. Being an intelligent child, he understands that his Mom loves to work as much as his Dad does. At the first few days, he tried talking out and acting cute in front of his Mom to discourage her from working, but she was really stubborn like his Dad.


    She still pushed herself to work and now, here they are at this situation.


    The little family of three with the two a.d.u.l.ts working and the little kid doing his homework on the sofa.


    "Little Qiang, can youe here?" Xiu Mei called the little kid who was in the midst of drawing something. Lu Qiang being on alert quickly approached his Mom¡¯s bed and climbed on it after seeing his Mom tapping the bed signaling him to climb on it.


    Settling himself on the bed, he c.o.c.ked his head as if to ask his Mom what does she need from him. Xiu Mei just finished eating her lunch and she has some juice and fruits beside the table so he was sure she wouldn¡¯t ask about food. His Mom knew that the doctor is still strictly controlling all the foods she¡¯s eating.


    "Let me just recharge real quick, okay?" Xiu Mei softly said as she wrapped her arms around the little kid. She instantly warmed up with the small heat pack-like body she was currently hugging.


    Ah, so warm and so cute!


    Xiu Mei felt glee and rxed. She rubbed his hair as she tightened her hug to him, unconsciously squeezing him. She then felt the little guy¡¯s arms trying to hug her body too, as it wrapped around the sides of her waist. Since his arms are still short, he could only wrap it around until her waist.


    She chuckled as Lu Qiang drilled deeper in her arms, nuzzling his face on her chest.


    She found the action quite cute so she pulled Lu Qiang even closer to her, settling him perfectly on herp.


    While the mother-son pair was busy recharging and enjoying each other¡¯s warmth, unbeknownst to them, there is a big envious guy on the side watching them from hisputer screen¡¯s reflection and his peripheral vision.

 Chapter 71 - Reverting Back

    <h4>Chapter 71 - Reverting Back</h4>


    As Xiu Mei cautiously watched the video, she swiftly changed browsers once again when she heard the sound of her room door opening. She did it quite so naturally as if she didn¡¯t do something so sneaky behind everyone¡¯s backs.


    She rxed, as her sight darted to the nurse entering her room with some familiar stuff she uses for the daily check-ups. She closed herptop and moved it on the side table, making some space for the nurse. Lu Qiang also sat back on the sofa as he watched his Mom being treated by the nurse. The process was quick and it was finally over in just a few minutes.


    Xiu Mei rubbed the cotton stuck on her arm, a stinging pain left behind when her blood was taken out awhile ago. Her gaze stopped on the covered wound, as she rxed her clenched hands. If one didn¡¯t look closely, no one would¡¯ve noticed how hard she bit her lower lip and the crescent markings of her nails on her palm.


    Yes, Xiu Mei has Trypanophobia. She was diagnosed back then after the kidnapping. After all, such terrible people kidnapped her and she remembered being stabbed a couple of times by a needle before she was saved.


    After that, she had to be stabbed a couple more times for testing and check-ups in the hospital. She reacted so strongly against injections back then, but after growing up a couple of yearster, she was finally able to control her unstable emotions and hold back her fear even for just a little bit.


    Xiu Meiughed dryly as she thought how pitiful she had really turned out after that nightmare. She fully knows how her emotions have be so unstabletely, and the grief and pain were wallowing her being once again. She was slowly reverting back to the worst version of herself, and she was scared. So scared that she won¡¯t be able to get back up once shepletely drowns in it.


    "Mom, are you okay?" Lu Qiang worriedly looked at his Mom whose brows were furrowed. Even if he was still a kid, he can clearly feel the changes in mood of his Mom.


    Xiu Mei broke out from her reverie and cleared her throat, attempting to gather herself and hold it together in front of the little one. She pulled out a smile, as she lifted her right hand and rubbed Lu Qiang¡¯s head.


    "Mom¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry."


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t believe her as he continued to stare at her face, then moved his gaze to the wound. He blinked as if he finally realized what was wrong. He pushed his body to climb on the bed with his little arms and neared his face on the wound. A few secondster, Xiu Mei watched the little kid trying his best to blow on the wound as if it would soothe her pain.


    And honestly, somehow, he really did.


    Xiu Mei felt as if someone was lightly scratching her heart, she didn¡¯t notice that her body waspletely rxing now.


    On Lu Chen¡¯s side.


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mo Ruo sat oppositely from each other. Pictures spread out on the table, along with some papers and information that made their mood turned heavy as soon as both of them read it.


    "The Ying family are hiding something." Xiu Mo Ruo dered as he nearly crumpled the paper in his hands.


    Being involved in politics for quite a few years, he himself is well versed in being cunning as well. He learned to be extremely cautious and intelligent because everything is not what it seems on the surface.


    And that¡¯s also his thoughts on her sister¡¯s attempted kidnapping case.


    He and Lu Chen separately investigated the people who could possibly be behind the attack, but weirdly enough, both of them got the same results and information. All pieces of evidence are being pointed to the Ying Family, and if submitted to the police, it was enough evidence to arrest and convict them.


    But that¡¯s what made Xiu Mo Ruo and Lu Chen more suspicious. The Ying Family isn¡¯t just a small family in the city, though not as powerful and prestigious as the Xiu Family, they¡¯re still one of the families to be feared in the circle.


    And with the current power of the Ying Family, he was very doubtful that the Ying¡¯s would easily leave their traces if they wanted to kidnap her sister. At most, not this much amount of evidence could be traced in such a short time.


    The both of them realized. That somebody was purposefully framing the Ying family, and the true culprits are trying to make the Xiu family be the gun to wipe them out. The culprit is deliberately ying with all of them at this moment.


    Despite that, he is still suspicious with the Ying family. Were they unaware that someone is framing them or... they know it and just let them continue with the n?


    Lu Chen icily gazed at the words on the paper as he spoke, "Do you think this is rted to Xiu Mei¡¯s kidnapping in the past?"


    Lu Chen already knows a lot about Xiu Mei¡¯s previous kidnapping, but he was sure that the Xiu Family must¡¯ve known more and hid a lot of information in case someone dares to investigate about it again. He was sure that his investigation must¡¯ve missed quite a few important information so it was best to ask it to Xiu Mei¡¯s second brother.


    Xiu Mo Ruo moved his sight from the paper to look at Lu Chen. "I have doubts, but I don¡¯t think this ispletely rted to her kidnapping case. There are quite a few details I have suspicions on, and but I¡¯d have to confirm it to my family first before doing something."


    Xiu Mo Ruo picked up another paper. "To be able to get past yourpany¡¯s security, we¡¯re definitely dealing with a very intelligent person. I¡¯m very much aware of the other work you have, and I must say, I almost thought that your organization must¡¯ve been working a bit sloppilytely for this to happen?"

 Chapter 72 - Possibilities

    <h4>Chapter 72 - Possibilities</h4>


    Hearing Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s mocking, Lu Chen didn¡¯t feel offended at all because he partially med himself on this incident. With the security in his building getting quitex, intruders other than the kidnappers can actually sneak into the building. And he knows how bad it would be if spies from otherpanies can easily steal confidential pieces of information because of this mistake.


    "It won¡¯t happen again." Lu Chen stated he coldly gazed at the paper. Lu Shao already held the punishments to be done to the people involved and the security in the building has been reced by some people from his organisation.


    This time, he won¡¯t let anyone make the same mistake again. That is if they still want their lives.


    "I¡¯ll see what I can find on my side. It¡¯s better to do two separate investigations, so we can see if there are any differences or deliberate pieces of evidence that would show up next time." Lu Chen ced the piece of paper onto the folder and closed. He fixed the edges of his sleeves as he stood up from his seat.


    Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s lips were in a thin line as he icily looked over Lu Chen. "If I find out that this kidnapping case is because of something you did, our family won¡¯t spare you at all."


    He threatened Lu Chen as he thought of the other possibility for this case. Since the family knew of Lu Chen¡¯s involvement in the underworld, the possibility of this incident being rted to that was quite high.


    Another thing to consider is the enemies of their family as well, with their family both involved in military and politics, a lot of people envy the power the Xiu family holds as well. This time, the culprit behind Xiu Mei¡¯s attempted kidnapping is preparing carefully, which means that it¡¯s smarter and dangerous. Which also means that the possibility of it being rted to Lu Chen or to the Xiu family is quite high as well.


    After Lu Chen and Xiu Mo Ruo ended their meeting, Lu Chen quickly rode the car and returned to the hospital. As he pondered about the information he read awhile ago, he received a call from his secretary, Lu Shao.


    "Boss, Ming Xuan did a quick sweep on the recent activities of the Sy n but he didn¡¯t find out anything that could possibly connect the kidnapping to them." Lu Shao sounded at the other phone. He could hear the sound of papers shuffling around as well as Lu Shao continued doing his report.


    "What about from the Legion Head?"


    "The Legion head is still in progress of investigating the suspected organisations as well. He said they¡¯ll get back to you once they sniff something out."


    "Good. Anything else?"


    After dropping the call, Lu Chen¡¯s mood grew dimmer.


    The mere fact that the Legion head hasn¡¯t found out anything means that this kidnapping incident might have be more dangerous than expected if Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t put on tight security by both him and Mo Ruo¡¯s bodyguards.


    If she was taken away, it seems that finding her would be harder and difficult even for the Xiu family.


    Who is it? Who is the person behind this incident and what grudge does that person have with Xiu Mei? Enough to even take her away even if they have to shoot her and beat her up.


    His fists clenched in anger as he thought of this. It seems like... he has to find another way to keep her protected. He thought more for a few seconds before pulling out his phone again, calling another number.


    "I need you do something for me."


    Back in the hospital, Xiu Mei was kept entertained by Lu Qiang who was being such a filial son for her. Even the nurses there couldn¡¯t help but praise the little kid who was so well-behaved.


    Her good mood didn¡¯t change at all until Lu Chen arrived at her room, with folder in tow. Somehow, Xiu Mei felt ominous after seeing that folder. It almost screamed bad news for her that she almost chose to sprint away from Lu Chen¡¯s sight right at that moment.


    "Did you take a short rest today?"


    Lu Chen asked as he put down the other stuff he was holding on the sofa. He noticed the little kid curling up beside Xiu Mei on the bed, seemingly in a deep sleep. He approached the little kid and lightly ruffled the kid¡¯s hair before returning his attention back to Xiu Mei.


    Xiu Mei scrunched her face andined, "Aren¡¯t I resting too much already? I¡¯ve been here for quite a few days with a small amount of work to do with thisptop."


    She even dramatically gestured towards herptop and spread out her arms.


    "With all this rest, won¡¯t I be a bum soon? Or once I go back, I might have to return to the hospital again due to overwork because of all the work that piled up in my absence?"


    Xiu Mei held her head in defeat and acted tearfully as she continuedining, "Won¡¯t Lu Shao and my assistant kill me because of all the work I¡¯ve been making them do for these past few weeks? At this rate, won¡¯t it be better if I just quit altogether?"


    Xiu Mei felt a hand pinching her cheek lightly as it pulled her face to look up at the guy who was standing beside her bed.


    "You¡¯re overthinking." Lu Chen couldn¡¯t help but smile at Xiu Mei¡¯s dramaticins. He knew that she wasn¡¯t being all serious about it but she was just reallyining about the fact that she couldn¡¯t work too much while she¡¯s still under-recovery.


    "Can¡¯t you just give me a bit more work? Like reading thetest proposal by the Technology Team? Or even just the stats to analyze for this year?"


    She attempted to p away his hand on her face but clearly, she really is a weak patient and had no chances against the strong guy in front her.


    "No. So stay put and recover, that¡¯s your duty for now."


    "Che." She pouted once again. She looked over at Lu Chen and red but it didn¡¯t affect him at all. Rather, it looked like he enjoyed seeing her angry instead.


    Look, where has the cold emperor CEO gone now? Lu Chen looks like a ck-bellied president instead.


    "Your wish is mymand, Emperor." Xiu Mei put on a fake smile as she acted as if she was willinglyplying to Lu Chen¡¯s words.


    Lu Chen raised his eyebrow in interest after hearing how Xiu Mei called him. Emperor?


    The nickname that the employees in hispany are using behind his back? Did they think he wasn¡¯t aware of the different versions of names they had made for him?


    And now, Xiu Mei is getting so bold to even call him with this nickname now?


    Lu Chen almostughed. Well, if that¡¯s the case, won¡¯t it be rude not to join in in her y?


    "Then my Queen, I shall y with you as well." Lu Chen spoke, his voice mixed with seriousness and yful tone in it. As if he was nning something ominous for Xiu Mei.


    Xiu Mei almost choked on her spit after hearing Lu Chen¡¯s sentence.


    What the hell? Did he really just call me ¡¯My Queen¡¯?!


    Her eyes widened in fear as she looked at Lu Chen. She finally noticed the glint on his eyes, a knowing glint that Lu Chen is on to something bad.


    But that look hasn¡¯t been directed to her at all, but now.... Ah, would she die here today?


    Xiu Mei thought of all the possibilities in her head as she tried to think what kind of n is Lu Chen throwing her way now.


    Suddenly, her eyes drifted to the folder on the sofa.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes jumped, especially when Lu Chen started moving towards it to pick it up.


    Xiu Mei:.... will that be my death certificate?

 Chapter 73 - Resignation Letter

    <h4>Chapter 73 - Resignation Letter</h4>


    "Can I choose not to open it?"


    "No."


    "..."


    "..."


    "I just won¡¯t ept it then."


    "..."


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes paused for a few seconds on her face before he pushed the doc.u.ment to her hands, letting go of it. If one is looking closely, you¡¯ll even see the slight curl at the corner of his lips but Xiu Meipletely missed this, and instead, her sight was glued on the folder on her hands.


    She froze in her ce and treated the folder as if it was a bomb that would explode once she moves even just a bit.


    Whatever is in this.... Xiu Mei is definitely sure that it¡¯s not good.


    Judging by Lu Chen¡¯s tone, it¡¯s something she would dread to know... or something that was better left unknown. Xiu Mei¡¯s gut feelings are screaming to ¡¯Do not open!¡¯ this ominous folder.


    She took onest suspicious look at Lu Chen who looked so tall beside her as he looked over her as if he was a supervisor waiting for the student toply with his words.


    Should she just run away? No, she won¡¯t even get past the nurses¡¯ reception at all.


    Fling it away? I doubt Lu Chen would allow her to throw it away just like that.


    ...Curse him out?


    Xiu Mei peeked at the little kid sleeping beside her. Nah, there¡¯s a kid in here. Definitely not the best words a child could listen to.


    Or should I just resign right at this moment? So that Lu Chen won¡¯t have the right to order her to open this file?


    Xiu Mei carefully considered the idea and she found this wonderful. This may be the best option out of all the current options.


    "I resign!"


    "Resignation denied."


    "Why?!"


    "Because I said so."


    "You can¡¯t do that! That¡¯s against thew."


    "No, because you didn¡¯t email any resignation letter at all."


    "I can write one now."


    "I won¡¯t allow you to." Lu Chen then quickly grabbed herptop sitting at her sidetable just within her reach.


    Xiu Mei hissed in annoyance as she red at him. Her eyes jumped as if remembering something. She quickly pulled out her phone and spoke.


    "Actually I remember I¡¯ve prepared one before."


    "Letter not epted." Lu Chen grabbed the phone from her hands and hid it in his inner pocket. His movements stopped when he realized what Xiu Mei had said.


    "Wait, what? Why do you have a prepared resignation letter?" His eyes narrowed at the woman in front of him. Since when was she nning to leave thepany?


    "Hey, that¡¯s my phone!" Xiu Mei attempted to snatch back her phone but exceptionally failed.


    "Xiu Mei, were you nning to leave thepany?" He grabbed her wrist to stop her hands from reaching towards his inner pocket anymore.


    "What? No! Give me my phone back!" She rose from her bed and attempted to pull out her hand from Lu Chen¡¯s grasp which he held firmly.


    "Then why do you have a resignation letter prepared beforehand?"


    If she¡¯s not nning to leave, why does that piece of letter even exists at all?!


    "Just in case!"


    Damn it, Lu Chen is clearly being weird today. He¡¯s even saying a few more words outside the conference room! Did he also hit his head or something?


    Xiu Mei grunted in annoyance as her other free hand still tried to snatch back her phone from his possession.


    "What do you mean by just in case?" Lu Chen almost got speechless with Xiu Mei¡¯s answers. He walked to the other side of the bed on her side whilst keeping her other hand in his grasp.


    His eyes grew slightly colder as he questioned what kind of thoughts are actually running in Xiu Mei¡¯s everyday toe up with an idea of preparing a resignation letter beforehand?


    Did she think he¡¯ll fire her someday? Or once thepany gets bankrupt or involved in a serious scandal then she¡¯ll run away immediately?


    Really this girl! Should he teach her a lesson? Did she really think he was that kind of person?


    "Just in case is just in case!" Xiu Mei tried to reason out with Lu Chen but it seemed that he wouldn¡¯t budge unless she answers him seriously so she just threw out whatever she thought of to grab back her phone. "I was just kidding okay. Heck, I wasn¡¯t even nning to resign anytime soon you know. So please, just give me back my phone?"


    Lu Chen looked at Xiu Mei as if he didn¡¯t believe her words at all.


    "Did you think you could fool me?"


    "Before, no. But seeing your reaction right now, I think I¡¯d have to change that opinion very soon."


    "Are you really not resigning?"


    "No."


    "Really?"


    "I really won¡¯t resign, okay! It was just a joke."


    God, why is it so hard to reason out with an ice block who somehow looks like a fool right now. Xiu Meiined in her mind.


    "Then let¡¯s renew your employee contract."


    "Why?"


    "You said you won¡¯t leave so to make sure you keep your words, let¡¯s renew your contract."


    "Hey, are you saying I can¡¯t resign at all in the future?!"


    "So you are nning to resign after all?" Lu Chen narrowed his eyes again at Xiu Mei.


    "Didn¡¯t I just say I won¡¯t?"


    "Then there¡¯s no problem with renewing your contract right?"


    Lu Chen then finally freed her arm as he pulled out a pen from his pocket and tapped on the folder on herp. "Sign it."


    "Are you crazy?"


    Damn it, why is it so hard tomunicate with a person on a different wavelength! Xiu Mei felt like pulling out her hair in frustration right at this moment.


    "No. Sign." Lu Chen grabbed her hand and ced the pen on her palm. He pressed her fingers to curl over the pen, making her hold it.


    Xiu Mei was so speechless over Lu Chen¡¯s childish argument that she couldn¡¯t think of anything to argue back anymore. It felt like if she continued to fight with him because of her resignation, she still wouldn¡¯t end up winning anyway.


    Fine. If that¡¯s what he wants, then just renew it! It¡¯s not like she¡¯ll be leaving thepany anytime soon anyway.


    Xiu Mei clicked her tongue in annoyance as she finally opened the folder. She quickly signed on the signature space at the bottom of the page where her name was printed on. Putting the cap back on of the fountain pen, she threw back some words at Lu Chen.


    "Happy now?"


    She did not hide her annoyance at all as she red back at him. She paused and fell into confusion when she finally saw a smile on Lu Chen¡¯s face. She stopped for a few seconds and recognized that smile. It looked like.... A triumphant smile?


    Xiu Mei was suddenly puzzled as to why Lu Chen¡¯s mood suddenly turned 180 degrees, different from his childish self a few seconds ago. It took her a few more seconds before she realized what happened.


    Her eyes swiftly fell on the pen on her hands.... And then on the paper she had just signed a few seconds ago.


    Oh my god.


    OH.MY.GOD.


    What did she just do?!

 Chapter 74 - Rage

    <h4>Chapter 74 - Rage</h4>


    Do you remember the instance when you went to a supermarket with a list of ingredients but came out of that ce with more than what was listed on your list?


    Or when you go for window shopping and end up buying something?


    What¡¯s that word again? Ah, Impulse buying. That¡¯s it.


    You get sales talked by someone and after a couple of exchanges with them, you end with having one box of mandu that wasn¡¯t on your list.


    Or that luxury bag Xiu Mei was just simply admiring from the ss window but somehow she was suddenly holding a paper bag of that same brand?


    Xiu Mei felt that this scene seems quite familiar.


    A momentarilypse in judgment and then vo! You get to see half of your three month¡¯s sry, totally gone.


    But right now, Xiu Mei knew that it wasn¡¯t just her three month¡¯s worth of sry gone. She felt like the rest of her life are being stolen away, including her civil status as a single person.


    She almost crushed the ck fountain pen on her hand as the words ¡¯Marriage Application¡¯ fiercely red at her face.


    Her inner thoughts crashed and failed to function the moment she realized what she had just signed on.


    .....What the¡ª Did she just really¡ª oh my god.


    "Well done, my Queen."


    Lu Chen, on the other hand, didn¡¯t let Xiu Mei gather her thoughts at all. He quickly grabbed the folder with the signed paper inside and ced it farther away from Xiu Mei¡¯s reach. He knew very well how she¡¯d react once she realizes what¡¯s going on.


    This paper will be made into shreds in such a short time.


    "Lu Chen." Xiu Mei spoke Lu Chen¡¯s name without any salutation this time. Her previous mood changed into a serious expression.


    He realized the anger from Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes that red icily at him. Her eyes felt like sharp knives that would stab him anytime soon if he makes one wrong move. Even though Lu Chen has been in the receiving end of this re multiple times before, he knew that this time it was the fiercest re Xiu Mei is giving him now. And that made him panic.


    "Xiu Mei, listen to me¡ª" He opened his mouth to attempt to exin himself but Xiu Mei cuts him off.


    "Did you think my previous words were just empty words?"


    "Let me just¡ª"


    "Mr. Lu, do you love me?"


    "..."


    Lu Chen was suddenly caught off guard by the sudden question. He didn¡¯t reply but his gaze lingered on Xiu Mei then he moved it to the little kid beside her.


    Xiu Mei noticed his actions and paused at Lu Qiang¡¯s sleeping figure beside her. She understood Lu Chen¡¯s reply even without the words.


    Because it¡¯s what Lu Chen originally presented to her when he proposed to her to marry him. And it seems, it¡¯s still the same reason. Xiu Mei felt a slight pang of hurt in her heart as she thought of this.


    She shut her eyes and took a breath, counting slowly in her head as she tried to calm herself down. Her emotions are in a mess and if she hadn¡¯t stopped herself from holding back awhile ago, she would¡¯ve exploded in anger and screamed at Lu Chen.


    "Mr. Lu, can you please stop ying around and give that back to me? It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t continue your n with it." Xiu Mei calmly uttered those words as she stretched out her hand with her palm open. She looked at Lu Chen so calmly yet hidden underneath her eyes are the strong waves of rage she was trying to control.


    "Xiu Mei, listen to me first."


    "Why should I? You didn¡¯t listen to me at all too."


    "This is to protect you."


    "From what? From the women who are constantly cursing me out every time they see me with you? You just did a great job. With my new title based on that paper, they will keep away women from cursing me out but I can already imagine the number of them trying to pour dirty water to me soon."


    "..."


    "..."


    "...not them."


    "..."


    "It¡¯s to protect you from the people who attempted to kidnap you."


    "So it isn¡¯t the Ying family huh." Xiu Mei somehow deduced from his words the current situation of Lu Chen¡¯s investigation. Since she hasn¡¯t heard any news rted to the Ying family, she thought that her second brother¡¯s investigation didn¡¯t rte it to that family at all.


    "But how is marrying you rted to my protection from the true culprits?" Xiu Mei crossed her hands as she tried to listen to Lu Chen¡¯s exnation but kept her fierce re at him.


    "Because if they know you¡¯re under my protection, not many people would dare to touch you at all."


    Xiu Mei thought of Lu Chen¡¯s influence in the circle and she agrees that Lu Chen¡¯s name does make people fear when they hear it. He is a monster who worked his way from the ground and crushed a lot of his enemies to get where he is right now. Even people from her social circle respect Lu Chen too.


    "But people know I¡¯m from the Xiu family. Yet they still dared to kidnap me. No offense but how does being tied to you protect me?"

 Chapter 75 - The Xiu Mei

    <h4>Chapter 75 - The Xiu Mei</h4>


    "But people know I¡¯m from the Xiu family. Yet they still dared to kidnap me. No offense but how does being tied to you protect me?"


    Xiu Mei visibly froze for a second the moment her words escaped from her mouth. She quickly returned to her previous expression but inside, she was already feeling a bit guilty.


    She realized that those sentences she had just blurted out in anger are a bit hurtful if it was spoken to other people. And for Xiu Mei who had grown up with manners since birth, her mom would¡¯ve been surely disappointed with her.


    If those words were told by her to others, they will definitelybel her as an arrogant person just because she is the only daughter of the Xiu family.


    "Sorry, that sounded way out of the line." She immediately spoke the moment she realized how insensitive she was.


    Lu Chen watched Xiu Mei¡¯s mood change so quickly. He saw her go from being too angry to feeling guilty at him. He even observed that her hands had been clutching her nket so tightly that creases could be visibly seen. Xiu Mei looked away from him after she apologized to him and turned her head down.


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t help but feel something sting inside his heart. This woman he had been chasing for marriage had changed.


    The first time they met, he felt very suspicious as to why he applied to hispany. Eventually, he realized that he was just a person who wanted to stand up on her own. Later, both of them worked very well together and Lu Chen can confidently depend on Xiu Mei even if he wasn¡¯t present in thepany. Their rtionship was just purely professional.


    But now, Lu Chen could see the change in Xui Mei and himself.


    When did everything start to change between them? When Xiu Mei found out about Lu Qiang? Or when he started seeing her different sides?


    The Xiu Mei who always bites her lips when she¡¯s too focused on work.


    The diligent Xiu Mei who would take down notes from time to time during their meetings.


    The confident Xiu Mei who would never back down in front of other people, may it be other business partners or people from her social circle.


    The fl.u.s.tered Xiu Mei he saw the first time he went to her house.


    The foolish Xiu Mei who got trapped in his son¡¯s charms.


    The motherly look Xiu Mei would have whenever he talks with Lu Qiang.


    The angry Xiu Mei who would have eyes as sharp as a knife when she¡¯s mad.


    The sick Xiu Mei who looked so pale when sick.


    The gentle Xiu Mei who would always hug Lu Qiang no matter what.


    The sincere Xiu Mei who still ate his craft despite having eggshells in it.


    The scaredy-cat side of Xiu Mei when they went to visit Lu Qiang¡¯s pet.


    Her sincerity. Her smiles. Her tears.


    When... did he start to look at her so closely and notice all these sides of her?


    And now, he¡¯s seeing a different side of Xiu Mei again.


    The guilty Xiu Mei who is very worried that her careless words might have hurt him.


    Lu Chen felt like he was being fed by honey as he thought of these. Then something clicked inside his head as he put everything together.


    He finally moved forward and stretched out his arms, circling around Xiu Mei¡¯s shoulders. He buried her head in his chest as he hugged her gently, careful not to hurt her wound on her head.


    Her sweet honey scent filled his nose. Ah, so he must¡¯ve been really fed with honey huh?


    "Lu Chen?" She heard him utter. Confusion could be sensed from her tone and he quickly stopped himself from chuckling.


    Somehow, his body moved on his own as he pressed his lips on Xiu Mei¡¯s hair, lightly cing a kissing on it.


    Lu Chen could feel how the woman in his arms froze after he did that. He smiled as he lowered his head near Xiu Mei¡¯s ears.


    "Xiu Mei." He gently whispered with a coaxing tone on his voice.


    Xiu Mei instinctively moved away from Lu Chen but with her trapped in his arms, she couldn¡¯t even budge at all. With all the things Lu Chen are doing to her right now, her mind went intoplete haywire and even coherent speaking might be impossible for her.


    She might be imagining things when she kept hearing how loud her heartbeat in her ears.


    ...Or maybe it was Lu Chen¡¯s?


    "Give me a chance."


    Lu Chen moved back a little bit to look at Xiu Mei¡¯s now-blushing face. He was very tempted to tease her right now but he stopped himself as he had to what needs to be done.


    He caressed her cheeks as he gazed at her eyes.


    "I... I¡¯m still not too sure if what I feel for you right now is love. But this is what I¡¯m sure of right now." Lu Chen grabbed one of Xiu Mei¡¯s hands and made her hand cup his cheek. He covered her hand on his cheeks with his own as his other hand continued to caress hers.


    "All I know is that I couldn¡¯t bear to see you hurt. A future where you¡¯re not there... I think I can¡¯t imagine that at all. Xiu Mei, I.... I can¡¯t lose you. I can¡¯t afford to lose you at all."


    He pressed his forehead onto hers as he shut his eyes and spoke, "I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m very scared of that happening."


    His voice almost sounded like he was begging. Begging Xiu Mei to ept him, to listen to him.


    And Xiu Mei felt like all her walls are slowly crumbling.


    All her reservations with marriage are slowly being thrown away and reced with the overwhelming feelings she was feeling right now.


    Lu Chen¡¯s pleading, it all went through Xiu Mei. His sincerity and his heart. It all reached her heart.


    "1 year. A year is what I beg of you. Let me show you that I can be the best husband you could ever wish for, a man that would love you with all his heart. A man whose desire is to protect you and shelter you from all the pain you have right now."

 Chapter 76 - 1 Year

    <h4>Chapter 76 - 1 Year</h4>


    "1 year. A year is what I beg of you. Let me show you that I can be the best husband you could ever wish for, a man that would love you with all his heart. A man whose desire is to protect you and shelter you from all the pain you have right now."


    Silence filled the room after Lu Chen uttered those words. The little kid slept deeply beside the two people without a care in the world. Only the small sound of the humidifier filled the room.


    Xiu Mei fell into a trance as she gazed at Lu Chen¡¯s eyes. Those pair of eyes that kept pulling her into him as if she was hypnotized. Her heart pounded so loud that she suspected Lu Chen could hear it with him being so close to her. Her eyes trembled as she felt Lu Chen¡¯s hand tighten on her own.


    She could read it in his eyes. His anxiousness at this moment. He could almost hear his thoughts, almost begging her to open her mouth and give him a response.


    This person, the proudest person she¡¯d ever known was now right here in front of her, humbly asking for her to marry him. This rich and cold person didn¡¯t even present her a ring or flowers yet, she couldn¡¯t find it in her heart to turn him down. Because deep down she knew, she knew that this person only became like this because of her.


    He humbled himself even if he didn¡¯t need to, just to make her feel his sincerity. That he was trying his best despite being lousy at it. All his efforts and thoughts were conveyed and received by Xiu Mei.


    Slowly, fear crawled in her heart. At this very moment, all her thoughts wanted to scream ¡¯Yes!¡¯ but her heart only felt fear. She was marrying someone who hasn¡¯t fallen in love with her yet, and she was stepping into marriage despite not being in love with that person.


    "Marry me, hm?" Lu Chen asked once again, as he tried to soften his voice, coaxing the woman in front of him to ept him.


    And that was thest straw. All the walls that Xiu Mei surrounder her heart with crumbled with Lu Chen¡¯s words, as she finally gave him her reply.


    "...okay."


    Surprise and happiness bloomed in Lu Chen¡¯s face. He felt like his heart was floating in the air as he quickly pulled the woman back into his arms and buried his face on her hair.


    "No more take backs, okay?"


    "Hmm."


    "Good girl."


    The two of them stayed like that for a few minutes before they finally pulled away from each other.


    Weirdly, Xiu Mei suddenly felt serene despite being scared awhile ago. She watched Lu Chen talking with someone on his phone but his eyes never strayed away from hers. Slowly, her suspended heart felt lighter and free.


    Later, someone knocked on the door and Lu Chen quickly handed over the folder in his hands. After doing so, he returned to her side and sat on the little bit of free space beside her. He held her hands and yed with it with a smile adorned on his face.


    Xiu Mei continuously watched Lu Chen¡¯s set of actions, then finally, she spoke once again.


    "1 year." She stated. Lu Chen raised his head to look at her. Her wide eyes stared at him like a deer in the headlights.


    "1 year, to fulfill my promise that I will love you, and pamper you."


    "Okay."


    "And after that, it¡¯s going to be our forever." He fixed the dangling hair on her said and put it behind her ear. His fingers lightly caressing her face.


    Forever, such a hopeful word yet the scariest of them all. No one knows who they¡¯d be with forever and yet this person is wholeheartedly promising this to her.


    "Then let¡¯s make a contract."


    "..."


    "That I, Xiu Mei, will willing marry you, Lu Chen, and be your wife for one year. And if one of us feels that they are not happy and the feelings are still not mutual, then we will divorce willingly with a light heart."


    "Xiu Mei..."


    "Just heed me this request. You didn¡¯t even finish the courting stage when you suddenly self-promoted yourself as my husband. And you know I¡¯ll still hold a grudge with how you fooled me into signing the marriage application. You¡¯ll probably die in the hands of my father and brothers if they know the truth, and you still can¡¯t heed my request?"


    "..."


    Well, Lu Chen really can¡¯t argue with that.


    He knows that his sincerity won¡¯t be enough to cover up how he had led her on to signing the paper and just doing these things on his own despite Xiu Mei¡¯s protests.


    Fine, if that¡¯s what the wife wants, the husband shallply.


    "If that¡¯s what you want." Lu Chen promised. Xiu Mei finally let out the breath she was holding for a while ago. She pulled away from Lu Chen¡¯s grasp and beamed a cunning smile at him.


    "Then Mr.Lu, you shall go your way for now as Lu Qiang and I take a rest, okay."


    Lu Chen froze and suddenly felt at a loss after Xiu Mei called him ¡¯Mr. Lu¡¯ again. And seeing that not-really-a smile on Xiu Mei¡¯s face, he was thrown into confusion why did Xiu Mei suddenly turn cold.


    Uh... did he suddenly make a mistake that quick? In that short amount of time?


    He wasn¡¯t even given a chance to ask Xiu Mei when the door of her room opened again. It was her doctor and a couple of nurses behind him.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyesnded on the clock.


    Oh, it¡¯s already thatte.


    The doctor greeted both of them as the nurse pulled out a wheelchair from behind her. She was going for another test again.


    "Stay here and watch Lu Qiang for me." Xiu Mei told Lu Chen after she pushed the nket away from her body.


    "Oh." Lu Chen quickly assisted her as he held her shoulders to support her. She climbed down the bed with no difficulty andfortably sat on the wheelchair prepared for her.


    "See youter." She shed a quick smile at him before the nurse pushed and turned the wheelchair towards the opposite direction.


    Lu Chen watched Xiu Mei¡¯s figure disappear from the room until the door closed. His eyes stayed on the door for quite a while before he finally removed his gaze from it. His lips curled into a smile as everything that happened finally sunk in.


    He proposed again to Xiu Mei. This time, she agreed.


    A chuckle escaped from his mouth.


    Xiu Mei was finally willing to marry him!


    He couldn¡¯t stop himself from smiling. His hand flew to his mouth in an attempt to control his emotions but it seems he couldn¡¯t hide his delight this time.


    Ah, Lu Chen. Look at how much you¡¯ve changed. You don¡¯t even deserve to be called the Cold Emperor anymore.


    He kept chuckling on his own that he didn¡¯t realize that the little bun woke up from the noise he was making.


    "Dad, you look stupid." Lu Qiang heartlessly smashed his father when he saw himughing and looking stupid on his own.

 Chapter 77 - Long time no see

    <h4>Chapter 77 - Long time no see</h4>


    "Miss Xiu, I¡¯ll push you back to your room now." The nurse stated as soon as Xiu Mei¡¯s tests and consultations were finally done. Sitting in the wheelchair, the two of them exited the physical therapy room.


    Xiu Mei examined her surroundings along the way. With her parents and Lu Qiang taking turns to watch over her, she wasn¡¯t able to step out of her room ever since the kidnapping incident urred. So right now, she watched in fascination the wide and clean surroundings of the hospital.


    She got excited seeing the children and other people running around the hallways and the doctors and nurses running around here and there. Everyone seems to be busy with their own stuff as they went on their own way. She looked left and right, etching the scenery in her mind.


    Hmm... should she strategize a n of temporary escapeter?


    It¡¯s gotten so boring being cooped up in her room and now she¡¯s able toe outside, all she wanted to do now is stay outside.


    She really didn¡¯t want to go back that quickly at all. Since Lu Chen is watching over Lu Qiang, won¡¯t it be fine if she stays for a few minutes longer outside?


    "Can we go stroll around the garden first?" Xiu Mei suggested as she turned to look at the nurse pushing her. Her hand pointing at the window where one could see the wide green park on the first floor.


    The nurse wanted to reject her idea at first but after seeing the pleading look on her patient, added with the fact that this patient is also a VIP in their hospital, she surrendered.


    "Only for ten minutes." She strictly ordered, as she took a turn and pushed the wheelchair towards the elevator.


    "That¡¯s already enough. Thank you!" Beaming with joy and filled with excitement, Xiu Mei really wanted to stand up and run downstairs already but that would be impossible. The nurse might even take back her promise to bring her there if she dares to move recklessly.


    With her head injury still in the process of healing, it would be bad for her to do excessive actions like running and walking for a long time.


    The nurse stopped pushing her when they reached the tall tree located at the center of the park. Xiu Mei already felt contented with just watching the scenery from there so she just stayed there and watched everything unfold in front of her.


    She saw some kids running around the park, also some patients with other people who are strolling the ce. She even saw some of them eating some packed lunch boxes there. Even if she couldn¡¯t see clearly what exactly they were eating, she felt envious about the fact that they could freely eat some food.


    All the food she¡¯s been eating these past days are soup and vegetables. She could even smell the scent of Chinese medicine mixed in the soup. Xiu Mei had been eating too much of those that she was really craving for greasy foods riht now. She would probably cry from happiness if someone gives her a piece of chicken leg right now you know.


    "Waaaaaah!" A piercing loud cry echoed in the park making most of the people turn their heads towards the source including Xiu Mei. She caught sight of a kid lying on the ground with her knees bleeding. She probably fell from ying too hard since her clothes have gotten dirty too.


    The a.d.u.l.ts around the kid quickly approached the injured kid attempting to calm her down but the kid just continued to cry harder. Seeing that even the a.d.u.l.ts around her wasn¡¯t of help, Xiu Mei decided to step in.


    "Can you take a look at her?" Xiu Mei turned towards the nurse who was apanying her.


    "I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that Miss Xiu. I can¡¯t leave you here alone."


    "I¡¯ll be fine. I promise I¡¯ll stay put right here while you take good care of the kid right there. It¡¯ll be bad if she won¡¯t stop crying right? Besides, it¡¯s not like I can really go anywhere with my current situation."


    "But..."


    "It¡¯ll be fine. I promise. You can go."


    The nurse hesitantly looked at her and at the kid, before finally making up the decision to help the kid and calm her down. The nurse finally moved forward and ran towards the direction of the kid.


    Xiu Mei watched the nurse kneel down on the kid¡¯s eye level as she tried to coax her into calming down. She shed a smile as she returned her sight on the clear blue sky and flowers just across from her.


    Her eyes stayed there for a few minutes and enjoyed the view when she felt someone tapping her arm. She looked at her left and saw a little kid smiling at her so she instantly beamed a smile at this little angel.


    "Hi, how may I help you?" Xiu Mei gently asked.


    The kid blinked innocently at her before she spoke up. "Sister, you¡¯re so pretty!"


    Xiu Mei chuckled at the child¡¯s simple remarks. "You¡¯re so sweet. But you look prettier than sister you know?"


    "Really?"


    "Uhuh. You will definitely be more beautiful than me when you grow up too!"


    "Wow! Will I really be prettier if I grow up? The brother before also said I¡¯ll look better if I grow up too!"


    Xiu Mei just nodded and pinched her cheeks. "You will definitely be, I promise."


    The little girl¡¯s eyes sparkled innocently as an innocent and childish smile grew on her face. Then her expression changed as she remembered something.


    "Ah! I almost forgot. Sister, here you go." The little child reached out her arm and ced a crumpled paper on Xiu Mei¡¯s palm.


    Puzzled, Xiu Mei slowly unfolded the paper as she asked the little girl what it was.


    "The brother told me to give this to you after giving me candy. He said that he¡¯s your friend too!"


    Friend...?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s furrowed in confusion as she thought of her male friends. A lot of them have visited her in the hospital these past few weeks but she was pretty sure no one would be visiting her today except Lu Chen and her parents.


    Then who was it? What¡¯s even weirder is that the person didn¡¯t even approach her to say hi and even asked a little kid to deliver a piece of paper. Xiu Mei thought hard but she really couldn¡¯t think of anyone who¡¯d have to be sneaky just to send her some paper.


    Xiu Mei returned her attention to the uncrumpled paper. She looked at it for a few more seconds before turning the paper over, revealing its contents.


    Reading the printed sentence on the paper, Xiu Mei froze on the spot. Suddenly, she felt like the surroundings got colder and scarier. The paper got crumpled again in her hands, stopping herself from throwing it away.


    "Can you tell me where¡¯s the brother who gave this to you?" Xiu Mie asked, her voice trembling a little bit after being shaken up after reading the paper.


    "He already left!"


    "Left?"


    "Yep, he said he just wanted to say hello to sister. Oh, my mom is already calling me. I have to go now pretty sister, bye bye!!" The little kid innocently answered her question before she turned back and ran further away from her ce.


    The kid didn¡¯t even notice that Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t even paying attention anymore as her eyes froze on the door entrance of the hospital. Even if it was far, she was able to catch the silhouette of a tall man who was looking at her direction. What was even weirder is that before he left, he raised his hand and waved at her when Xiu Mei noticed his presence.


    After that, he quickly turned and disappeared from the door.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know who it was. Her hands turned cold in nervousness as she read the contents of the paper once again.


    "Long time no see. It¡¯s been a long 10 years isn¡¯t it, Miss Xiu?"

 Chapter 78 - Her fault

    <h4>Chapter 78 - Her fault</h4>


    Even though that person had already long disappeared from her sight, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t look away from the ss door entrance. The paper almost tore apart by clenching her fist too much. She felt a cold chill behind her back as if someone was still watching over her despite that person being long gone now.


    ¡¯Long time no see. It¡¯s been a long 10 years isn¡¯t it Miss Xiu?¡¯


    Clearly, the person who wrote the note was implying about her and Ying Yue¡¯s kidnapping 10 years ago. And from the note alone, it seems that person was somehow involved in that incident.


    Was he the mastermind behind the kidnapping?


    10 years ago, the Xiu family exerted all their forces into finding out the mastermind behind their kidnapping. Despite having such powerful connections and people, they weren¡¯t able to catch the true mastermind behind all of it.


    The kidnappers that were caught on the scene had been murdered an hour after they were caught. They were killed before being questioned so the chance of finding out who paid them to kidnap her was instantly cut off.


    Xui Mei grew cold as the fear she felt from that night returned all at once again. She unconsciously hugged herself, curling up her body which is a sign that Xiu Mei is trying to lock away her emotions again. It¡¯s an unconscious action done by traumatized victims when they¡¯re feeling anxiety and fear.


    If that person really is the mastermind of their kidnapping... why was that personing back again now?


    Does that mean that she was the goal all along? Did it mean that Ying Yue wasn¡¯t supposed to be included in the kidnapping 10 years ago?


    "...was it really my fault?"


    Tears pooled in Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes as fear continues to eat her away. She¡¯s gotten too absorbed with herself that she didn¡¯t notice that the nurse has already returned. She didn¡¯t even hear her trying to call her name.


    Xiu Mei... haspletely lost it. Everything in front her turned ck, as she fell into nothingness.


    Lu Chen was having an argument with his son in Xiu Mei¡¯s room when he was suddenly called out by the head nurse. He instantly noticed that there was something wrong with the head nurse¡¯s tone. He instantly knew that something must have gone wrong with Xiu Mei so he instantly rushed out of the room and followed her to where Xui Mei was.


    Every second that ticked by that he wasn¡¯t beside Xiu Mei right now felt years. He felt anxious as he thought of every worst possibility that may have gone. Lu Chen med himself.


    Why didn¡¯t he apany her for the tests ah!?


    Nothing would have happened if he went with her!


    "Damn it." Lu Chen cursed himself as he watched the beaming numbers change quickly until it stopped on ¡¯1¡¯ indicating that they have reached the ground floor.


    A minuteter, he finally reached the park where he quickly spotted Xiu Mei sitting under the tree. He almost stopped in shock when he saw her current situation.


    The woman that was still happily exchanging words with him a while ago now looked like she¡¯s having a breakdown.


    His steps quickened and it only stopped when he finally reached her. He kneeled in front of her, the woman who was bending her body down almost burying herself on herp as if she was trying to hide.


    He could even hear her soft sobs as she repeatedly uttered the words "I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s body was trembling so hard, and it was the first time ever Lu Chen saw her looking this helpless and afraid.


    Lu Chen¡¯s heart broke, and it felt like someone was squeezing his heart as he saw Xiu Mei¡¯s terrible state. He held out his hands, nning to hug her but stopped midway when he saw Xiu Mei¡¯s body falling to the side.


    His eyes grew wide as he easily caught her in his arms.


    "Xiu Mei?" His voice trembled as he called out her name. Yet, the woman in his arms did not respond.


    He quickly brushed away the hair on her face and saw her eyes shut. He lightly shook her body as he called out her name once again.


    "Xiu Mei? Wife?"


    Still no response. Lu Chen¡¯s eyes dimmed as he quickly hugged her up, dashing towards the door. He was bringing her now to the emergency room.


    Heid her down on an empty bed and reluctantly moved away when the nurses and doctors told him to do so. He watched the doctors getting her vitals as they tried to figure out why she suddenly lost consciousness. He didn¡¯t even notice how everyone around him stood farther away because his anger could be felt by anyone near him, keeping away people from approaching him.


    "Dad?"


    Lu Chen only broke out from his reverie when he heard Lu Qiang¡¯s voice. He looked behind him and saw the little kid approaching him. Lu Chen immediately calmed himself down as he gestured Lu Qiang toe to him. He hugged the little guy up in his arms.


    "Where¡¯s Mom? Is she okay?" Lu Qiang knew that something had gone wrong with Mom.


    It was even confirmed when he saw his Dad rushed out of the room and now seeing him so angry as he sat on the receiving room in the emergency room.


    "She¡¯ll be fine." Lu Chen assured the little kid as heforted him.


    His son is very intelligent so he knows that Lu Qiang understood that the situation had turned bad so he had to assure him. Especially with how special Xiu Mei is in his heart, Lu Qiang would be surely heartbroken if he sees Xiu Mei¡¯s current situation.


    He quickly pulled out his phone and messaged Xiu Mei¡¯s family about the situation. After that, the two of them waited for the doctor¡¯s diagnosis outside.


    Fifteen minutester, one doctor stepped away from Xiu Mei¡¯s area and approached him.


    "How is she?"


    "We¡¯re still not sure yet why she fainted but we can assure you that nothing¡¯s wrong with her body. Her head injury didn¡¯t seem to be the cause of her fainting spells so it might take a while for us to figure out why this happened. Ah! And also, this was being held tightly by the patient so I think you should hold it for her first."


    The doctor handed a crumpled paper to him. It looked like that Xiu Mei was holding into it so tightly that the edges of the paper were already slightly torn.


    Lu Chen turned over the paper and his gaze grew colder as he read the contents.


    A few secondster, he heard Mo Ruo¡¯s voice calling him.


    "Mr. Lu, where¡¯s my sister?"


    He was in the middle of a conference when he received Lu Chen¡¯s message so he immediately left the room and rushed here.


    "Inside." Lu Chen threw the paper to Xiu Mo Ruo and the guy reflexively caught the paper that was thrown at him. He looked questioningly at Lu Chen.


    "What is it?"


    "A rat sneaked in." Lu Chen simply stated. Xiu Mo Ruo quickly understood his words and uncrumpled the paper. After reading it, he understood that things have escted too quickly than expected.


    "We have to move her." Lu Chen remarked.


    "I know."

 Chapter 79 - Little Red Book

    <h4>Chapter 79 - Little Red Book</h4>


    The sun shone brightly in the sky that day. The sky was clear and anyone could read that they¡¯ll have really good weather for today. The leaves swayed lightly when the cool wind passed, dragging along the piece of small grass that was caught up with it. One or two birds would stop by on the windowsill from time to time, knocking the ss window with their pointy beaks before they flew away.


    The weather was so good that day but the person inside that room was just sleeping through it. The sunlight slipped inside the room through the window, filling the quiet room with warmth and indescribable calmness. In the middle of the roomy a woman in afortablevender cotton dress.


    Most of her body was covered by the duvet and her hair spread out on the pillows. The woman slept so beautifully that one would be afraid to make a sound else they wake her up.


    Everything was still peaceful and fine until the sound of the door opening broke the silence. A man d in a white shirt appeared and walked towards the ss door opposite him. Inside was a wide walk-in closet filled with various clothes, half of it are for men¡¯s and half are for women.


    Lu Chen grabbed his ck Brioni suit, chose a navy blue Gi tie to pair with it, and a Patek Philippe watch. He was fully dressed more than usual for today since he was attending a high-profile event full of various CEOs, politicians, and superstars. The event startster after lunch, but he still had to go through some doc.u.ments before he leaves for the event so he starts his day early.


    As he busied fixing himself in the closet, he failed to notice that the woman who was asleep on the bed had awoken from her slumber.


    As soon as Xiu Mei opened her eyes, she was weed by an unfamiliar ceiling. Her body felt a bit heavy, and she felt a pang of pain hit her. She raised her hand to lightly massage her temples, a futile attempt to ease her headache.


    She slowly rose from the bed, the duvet slipping off her body. Her eyes automatically examining the room she was in. Xiu Mei knew that she¡¯s never been here before but somehow, the room feels familiar. She didn¡¯t feel nervous at all despite not knowing where she is at the moment.


    The interior of the room was minimalistic. The room was full of monotone colors¡ªck television, white sofa, white bedside table, etc. Basically, everything was in ck, white, and gray.


    She, who was invender color stood out like a sore thumb inside the room. Xiu Mei was still examining the room when the ss door opened again. Her eyes darted towards the door, and she froze when it finally dawned to her where she was.


    "Lu Chen?"


    Xiu Mei got surprised as soon as she spoke. Her throat felt dry as her voice sounded very scratchy and almost gone. She brought her hand to her throat as she lightly massaged it. Why was she suddenly losing her voice?


    While she was still wondering, Lu Chen, who got startled at first quickly approached her. He grabbed a ss and filled it with water, then he slowly handed it over to her.


    "Drink first."


    "Thank you."


    Xiu Mei dly epted the ss and drank it slowly. Finally, her throat felt refreshed and the dry feeling went away. She handed the empty ss to Lu Chen, who was now sitting beside her on the bed.


    Lu Chen ced the ss on the table as he shifted back his attention to the woman. The two of them looked at each other eye to eye for a while without speaking. A few secondster, Xiu Mei broke the silence between them.


    "How long did I fall asleep this time?"


    When she asked him this, she sounded a bit anxious at the same time, her question sounded like she was just asking something normal.


    Lu Chen tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as he answered her question, "3 days."


    Hearing his answer, Xiu Mei¡¯s mood declined. She slept quite long this time. If this continues, she¡¯s afraid she won¡¯t wake up from slumber anymore.


    As she got depressed over her thoughts, a warm palm cupped her face instantly filling her withfort and peace. She raised her head and saw Lu Chen¡¯s gentle gaze on her.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll always be here. I¡¯ll help you." Lu Chen grabbed one of her hands and pressed his lips over her fingers. He kissed it so gently as if he was kissing a fragile ss that would instantly break if not properly handled.


    Lu Chen quietly assured Xiu Mei when he finally remembered something. He pulled out a little red book from his inner b.r.e.a.s.t pocket and ced it on her palm.


    With just the color alone, Xiu Mei already knew what he was giving to her. Her eyes traveled first to Lu Chen¡¯s face, as she reluctantly turned it over.


    The familiar gold logo appeared in front of her and as she flipped the book open, she saw both of their names and a picture of the two of them. The picture was taken from the end-of-the-yearpany eventst year, both of them in white. Lu Chen in a white suit and Xiu Mei in a white long dress.


    As she finished checking out their marriage book, she finally realized something wrong. Did this marriage book... just came out of Lu Chen¡¯s inner pocket?


    Xiu Mei looked at Lu Chen who was gently staring at her.


    ...was he this kind of person? A person who brings their marriage book everywhere?


    Lu Chen¡¯s image.... is very different to what she had known him for in the past 4 years. The more she knows about him, the more mysterious, childish and weird he¡¯s bing in her eyes.


    "What about our one-year contract?"


    "It¡¯s been already prepared. I¡¯ll let you sign once you¡¯re all better."


    "Hmm."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Did you have a hard time registering this?" She was talking about registering their marriage at the Bureau of Civil Affairs. Surely, her family¡¯s people who¡¯ve been ced there would immediately alert her family about the sudden registration of her marriage.


    And it seems that Lu Chen has his own people inside too since their marriage application was sessfully registered. It would have been very difficult for him to push this through once the Xiu family interferes with it.


    "I got people so it was done smoothly."


    Lu Chen chuckled, as he thought back three days before when he received a death threat call from Xiu Mei¡¯s brothers. He had already taken the initiative to visit her parents the moment he received the two red books so they weren¡¯t really surprised at all. However, they clearly held doubts against him, especially with the sudden marriage the two of them have gone.


    "My brothers must¡¯ve tried to meet and kill you for more than once now?"


    "They tried, but I never backed down to those kinds of fights. Most especially if they¡¯re demanding me to divorce you, which would be very impossible. After all, they didn¡¯t know what I¡¯ve gone through just to let me marry you."


    Lu Chen smilingly whispered to her, as he ran his fingers on her soft and silky hair. His face a few inches closer to hers.


    "Well, they¡¯d have to wait for the final verdict after a year." Xiu Mei remarked as her lips curled up as well as she imagined her brothers¡¯ reactions.


    The two of them fell into another period of silence. Lu Chen just kept caressing her hair and Xiu Mei just shut her eyes and enjoyed the service Lu Chen was doing for her.


    Later, she finally asked the question that she was very hesitant to ask at all. Because she knew that the answer would be something she would be scared to hear out.


    "Why was I moved here?"


    Lu Chen¡¯s action paused for a second before he resumed weaving his fingers in her hair. Xiu Mei looked straight at Lu Chen, whose face had gone cold for a few seconds before he finally opened his mouth.


    "Someone came to visit you."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s breath hitched.


    "And that person could be rted to your ident 10 years ago."


    The man waving at her before he disappeared shed in front of Xiu Mei¡¯s as her heart started to pound so hard in nervousness. Cold sweat ran her back, as she felt her hands started to get a bit mmy.


    "You saw the paper?"


    "Hmm."


    "My family too?"


    "They did."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s depressing mood returned as she realized that she brought another problem to her family again. Ever since that ident, her family grew increasingly worried over her. Since she didn¡¯t want them to worry too much about her in the future, she decided to be independent.


    She wanted to show them that she could survive in her own two feet, and she was not as weak as they thought her to be.


    And right now, she knew how foolish she was. They were right. She was weak. To faint over something that happened 10 years ago, she was really mentally weak. Ah, how foolish she really was.


    "Xiu Mei."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s train of depressing thoughts stopped the moment she heard Lu Chen calling her name. The next thing she knew, she was now buried in his arms. Warmth slowly filled her cold body.


    "You¡¯re not alone."


    We¡¯ll fight it together, was what Lu Chen left unsaid.

 Chapter 80 - Mrs.Lu

    <h4>Chapter 80 - Mrs.Lu</h4>


    No matter how much Lu Chen wanted to stay by Xiu Mei¡¯s side as of now, he still had some important events to attend to which requires his presence. Otherwise, Lu Shao is the one attending in his ce. Before it was Xiu Mei¡¯s responsibility to appear in that kind of events but with her being injured, she has to pass the baton to Lu Shao as of the moment.


    Now that Xiu Mei has been moved to Lu Chen¡¯s house for recovery and security, Lu Qiang can now easily apany her and attend his lessons at the same time. She already called her family and friends awhile ago, telling them not to visit for now since she wasn¡¯t reallyfortable with talking so much right now. But she assured them that she¡¯s fine and well under the watch of Lu Chen.


    Xiu Mei is can also move on her own now without needing much of other people¡¯s help. She might still be a little weaker than normal but walking down the stairs and strolling along the backyard should pose as a problem.


    ???Madam, here¡¯s your tea."


    "Mm, thanks."


    She happily epted the cup of tea given by the maid and took a quick sip from the cup. The taste of slight bitterness instantly refreshed her tastebuds that had been drinking so much Chinese medicine for weeks.


    cing the cup back on the saucer, she nced at Lu Qiang who was sitting a few meters from her. He was sitting on a cushion and was doing his homework on the center table. She could see faintly read the words Lu Qiang was typing in hisptop, and from time to time, she would hear him speak in English.


    She quietly observed the focused form of the little kid. Lu Qiang is in his second year of primary, but since he was being homeschooled coupled with the amazing genius genes of the Lu family, his studies are way more advanced than the ones taught in school.


    Xiu Mei enjoyed watching the little kid learn, but at the same time, she slightly pitied him. After all, Lu Qiang is still a kid. It would be infinitely better if he could interact with kids his age unlike right now, all the people around him are mostly a.d.u.l.ts and elders.


    She already noticed for quite a while but the little kid would only show his childishness in front of her but when he interacts with others, he may be better than his dad but he¡¯s still a lot more mature than the normal children.


    Xiu Mei wondered if she should talk with Lu Chen about Lu Qiang¡¯s education? She really did not want him to grow so aloof and cold like his Dad, and to prevent that from happening, the little kid should learn how tomunicate with kids like him.


    She remembered her first meeting with Lu Qiang on the yground and his soulless eyes at that time. Now that she¡¯s by Lu Qiang¡¯s side as his stepmother, she did not want to see Lu Qiang being like that anymore.


    Ah, speaking of. It still felt unreal when she woke up this morning, but she is really Mrs.Lu now huh. At least, temporarily.


    Xiu Mei deeply sighed. To think that a few weeks ago, she was still arguing with Lu Chen about marrying him for Lu Qiang¡¯s sake and now, she¡¯s Mrs.Lu. If she had known she would end up as Mrs.Lu either way, she wouldn¡¯t have argued with Lu Chen anymore and wasted so much energy being angry at him.


    "Mom,"


    Her trail of thoughts paused when she heard Lu Qiang calling her name.


    "Yes, darling?"


    "Can you help me with this part?" Lu Qiang showed an open page of his workbook and pointed to one of the problems he was trying to figure out.


    Xiu Mei scooted closer to him, taking a look at the workbook he was doing. She skimmed through the problem and tried to remember which topic was this. Hmm... these are functions. This is a bit easier.


    As soon as she grabbed a pen for her to write something, her actions paused when she realized something. Wait... wasn¡¯t functions a topic she learned when she was in thest year of primary school? Or was it in middle school?


    She stared agape at Lu Qiang with the realization that Lu Qiang was really learning too advanced from the norm. Why is a seven-year-old kid already studying this topic?!


    Damn, was the kid too much of a genius or was she really just that stupid?


    "Mom?"


    "Oh? Ah! Yes, so this is how you do it..." And she quickly went on with teaching Lu Qiang on how to solve that problem. She also helped in teaching some of his logic lessons and English. With Lu Qiang being a quick learner, he was able to learn a lot of information in such a short amount of time.


    Nighttime quickly came and Xiu Mei is now in Lu Qiang¡¯s room. The kid originally wanted her to take a rest first at her room but she insisted on putting him to sleep first before resting. Besides, her room...is in the master¡¯s bedroom.


    Meaning, since the time she had moved in, Lu Chen and her had been sharing the same bed!


    With Lu Chen¡¯s EQ, Xiu Mei is very confident that Lu Chen didn¡¯t imply any meaning behind these actions. He would probably just say, "Which husband and wife sleeps separately?"


    Anyways, all she had to do now is tell Lu Chen to give her her own room first once he gets back. Technically, Lu Chen is still at the courting stage of this rtionship despite having the little red book in their hands.


    Since Lu Qiang didn¡¯t want to tire her mother out, he just convinced her to lie down beside him first as he sleeps. Xiu Mei was very happy to fulfill his wish and quickly squeezed in on his bed. Fixing his covers, Xiu Mei ced her arm over Lu Qiang¡¯s body and pulled him near her. Both of them warmed up each other as they cuddled through the night.


    Despite having such long days of slumber, Xiu Mei eventually fell asleep on the bed. She was too deep in sleep that she didn¡¯t even realize that someone had entered the room.


    Lu Chen, who had juste home from the tiring event was weed by the Butler. Since it was already quitete, he already expected the two to be asleep already but as he was checking out his son¡¯s room, he was surprised to see the two people cuddling with each other as they slept so sweetly. He really didn¡¯t know whether tough or drink vinegar.


    The two of them looked so perfect together as if they were really blood-rted. Lu Chen watched them for a little longer before deciding to finally return to the master¡¯s bedroom. He gave Lu Qiang a peck on his forehead, something that he would sometimes do when he¡¯s checking on Lu Qiang. He pulled the duvet that had slipped off from his body and tucked him properly.


    His gaze moved on to the woman on the other side of the bed. Lu Chen chuckled as he walked around the bed and bent down his body. Slipping his arms behind her neck and knees, he easily princess-carried Xiu Mei.


    Xiu Mei did not wake up at all but instead, she pressed her body closer to the source of warmth that was hugging her. She unconsciously grabbed onto Lu Chen¡¯s and reluctantly let go once heid her down on the king-sized bed. Lu Chen tucked Xiu Mei in under the covers properly before he started washing up to prep himself to bed.


    Lu Chen took a quick shower before finally going to bed. He calmly walked at the other side of the bed that was spacious and slipped inside it. He nced at Xiu Mei quickly before finally turning off the bedsidemp.


    Lu Chen calmly did those things as if he had been doing it for years. Even when Xiu Mei had been recently moved to his home, he didn¡¯t have any problem adapting with the changes of having someone sleeping beside him on his bed. He was able to survive sleeping peacefully in the past 3 days, unaware that starting the day Xiu Mei had woken up from long slumber, his patience and control would be vehemently challenged.


    Just like tonight. Lu Chen already closed his eyes and had almost gone to sleep when he felt the bed move a little until he strongly felt the warmth of someone on his left side. He opened his eyes to check on Xiu Mei but the moment he turned his head on his left, he froze.


    Inches away from his face were Xiu Mei¡¯s, her eyes squeezed shut and her mouth were left slightly open. In the dark, he couldn¡¯t entirely see her face but the moonlight slipping in from his windows was enough to highlight Xiu Mei¡¯s features.


    Etherial. Seductive. Captivating.

 Chapter 81 - A Pervert

    <h4>Chapter 81 - A Pervert</h4>


    Inches away from Lu Chen¡¯s face were Xiu Mei¡¯s, her eyes squeezed shut and her mouth was left slightly open. In the dark, he couldn¡¯t entirely see her face but the moonlight slipping in from his windows was enough to highlight Xiu Mei¡¯s features.


    Etherial. Seductive. Captivating.


    Xiu Mei unconsciously hugged the source of warmth that was beside her. Looping her arms on the ¡¯warm¡¯ object, she buried herself even more towards the warmth and settled herselffortably unbeknownst to the danger she was currently in.


    When Lu Chen felt Xiu Mei¡¯s arms dr.a.p.e over his stomach and as she drilled her head on his arm, he almost began chanting prayers on his head. Despite the low temperature of the room, all he could feel was the sweat behind his back and the one rolling on his forehead right now. For Lu Chen, the room felt zing hot.


    His gaze turned darker with l.u.s.t as he felt hotter. He was continuously taking deep breaths, trying to control himself. Damn, he can¡¯t be a beast to Xiu Mei. Their rtionship isn¡¯t at that stage yet, he can¡¯t force her to do something like this.


    They may be married and he has the right to do that to her now, but his respect towards her still won over than his l.u.s.t.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t move a single muscle at that time as he distracted himself by thinking about work. If thinking about the papers didn¡¯t do the trick, let¡¯s just think about how to win over Xiu Mei¡¯s brothers. Good, let¡¯s just focus on that, is what he thought.


    And that¡¯s how the cold and aloof Lu Chen got through that night. An interesting night of torture indeed.


    The moment sunlight filled the room, Xiu Mei slowly woke up and shuffled on her ce. Without opening her eyes, she hugged the warmth beside her even tighter, thinking that it was Lu Qiang. But as she tried to hug the boy even tighter, she finally realized that there was something wrong she was holding.


    ...Was Lu Qiang¡¯s arm this thick?


    Xiu Mei lightly brushed her arms upward. Hmm...that¡¯s weird. Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t that tall. I can¡¯t feel his shoulders.


    Xiu Mei continued to blindly crawl her hand on the person¡¯s body beside her. She only stopped when she concluded that there was really something wrong.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s hands caressed some toned muscles.... Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes immediately flew open as her hand paused in that area.


    What the¡ªh....hell?


    As soon as Xiu Mei opened her eyes, the first thing she was the ck silk pajamas she had been hugging throughout the night. She blinked in confusion becausest night, she chose Lu Qiang¡¯s pajamas and it was a sky blue color. Not...ck.


    Deep in her mind, she already had a hunch of her current situation but despite that possibility, she wished, she hoped, she prayed that it wasn¡¯t true at all.


    She slowly raised her head and lo and behold, it was Lu Chen¡¯s face that appeared before her. She felt like she was suddenly struck by lightning when she saw his face. Her gaze then stopped at where she left her hand on his body.


    Oh gawd.... She was.... She was touching.... His eight pack abs. Because Lu Chen¡¯s pajamas got crumpled and were slightly pulled up, Xiu Mei could see the perfect V-line that trails down to his lower torso.


    Xiu Mei who is too dumbstruck at the image she was seeing:......


    A secondter, she quickly took away her hand from the area she was touching but her gaze stayed glued on them. She unconsciously swallowed her saliva and slowly turned her head away from the sinful image before her.


    Ah... why did she suddenly feel like she was a pervert?


    No that¡¯s not it! How did she even get on Lu Chen¡¯s bed again? Did she sleepwalk? Because if she did, then she must¡¯ve been really a pervert! Did she unconsciously desire to touch Lu Chen when she was asleep?


    Xiu Mei crazily pulled her hair as her she tried to remember what happenedst night and how she got herself inside Lu Chen¡¯s bedroom.


    Since Xiu Mei was too busy with her current train of thought, she was unaware that the person beside her was already wide awake the moment she woke up. He tried peeking at the woman who was now grumbling by herself and pulling her hair and Lu Chen quickly held back the chuckle attempting to escape from his mouth.


    Even though he really had a difficult time and felt torturedst night, seeing Xiu Mei¡¯s interesting reaction, Lu Chen felt that everything he had gone through was worth it. Hmm... should he tease her even more?


    "This is crazy." Xiu Mei muttered as she continued pulling her hair. No matter how hard she tries, she really can¡¯t remember anythingst night. Thest thing she remembered was cuddling with the little kid to sleep. Since she was still recovering, she felt a bit drowsy and identally fell asleep right then and there.


    But seriously, how did she get in here!?


    Ugh. Maybe her mind¡¯s still not fully awake? Should she wash her face? Maybe she¡¯d remember something?


    Xiu Mei quickly rose from the bed and made a move to climb off the bed when a hand suddenly caught her wrist, pulling her to the direction of Lu Chen. Before her body falls towards his body, she instantly stopped the momentum with her left hand.


    Her eyes widened as she gasped in surprise seeing Lu Chen¡¯s eyes wide awake and on his face, a grin could be seen.


    "Goodmorning, wife." Lu Chen greeted her with a gentle tone on his voice. Xiu Mei, who is still not on her right state of mind, unconsciously responded.


    "G...Goodmorni¡ªuwah!"


    She was still not done with her sentence when the world before her suddenly spun around. The next thing she knew, she was being pressed on the bed with Lu Chen on top of her. It happened so fast that she didn¡¯t even have time to stop him at all. It was already toote because Lu Chen¡¯s arms acted like prison bars that trapped her in between so she couldn¡¯t escape.


    She even noticed the burning stare that Lu Chen was giving her and grew ufortable.


    As an a.d.u.l.t woman who knows the ways of the world, this position was too embarrassing for her. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest and the burning gaze that she was receiving was bringing butterflies on her stomach. If anything, Lu Chen¡¯s gaze was simr to a predator staring on his prey, as if he was waiting for the perfect moment to jump on it and eat it.


    And that prey... felt like it was her.


    Before Xiu Mei could throw a sentence, Lu Chen raised his hand and slowly unbuttoned the pajama top he was wearing bringing Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes wide. Flushed with embarrassment, Xiu Mei quickly moved her gaze away.


    "What the heck are you doing?!"


    "Changing." Lu Chen said this so nonchntly as if he was doing something normal.


    "Then go change in the bathroom!"


    "Right here is good."


    Hearing those words, Xiu Mei red at Lu Chen. He was clearly teasing her just now!!!!


    "Stop ying around and¡ª" Xiu Mei quickly held her breath in shock when Lu Chen¡¯s face suddenly lowered and stopped a few centimeters away from her face.


    Their faces were so close that she could feel Lu Chen¡¯s breath hitting her face. An unimportant matter popped out in her head. Does her mouth smell bad in the morning?


    Wait, what the hell is she even thinking at this time!


    "Wife," Lu Chen¡¯s voice turned deeper and sounded a bit hoarse as he called out to her. "Did you like it?"


    "Huh?"


    What was he talking about?


    "This." Lu Chen grabbed the fisted hand and stretched out her fingers, uncurling it. Then he guided it back to his chest and tone muscles.


    When Lu Chen did that, fireworks exploded in Xiu Mei¡¯s head as her face flushed red like a tomato in embarrassment. Inside her mind, Xiu Mei¡¯s mind function was crashing.


    WHAT THE HELL WAS LU CHEN TRYING TO DO!?


    Oh gawd, wait, why was Lu Chen even moving her hand upwards and downwards?! Is he insane? Oh god, he¡¯s pulling it downwards. Oh god, no.


    Seeing Xiu Mei turning red even more, Lu Chen finally decided to end his teasing. If he teased the wife more than this, Xiu Mei would surely hit him and ignore him for days. And that¡¯s not a good thing for him.


    He quickly pressed a kiss on her forehead before freeing her hand and pulling himself away from her. He rose from the bed and got off.


    "I¡¯ll shower first." Lu Chen shed a smile to Xiu Mei¡¯s direction before he marched towards the bathroom.


    Xiu Mei whose soul almost left her:....what the heck just happened?

 Chapter 82 - Sign it!

    <h4>Chapter 82 - Sign it!</h4>


    Xiu Mei, who was left dumbstruck alone on the bed, stared agape at the bathroom door where Lu Chen disappeared into. Ever since he left her in a mess after that... that... ultimate temptation awhile ago, Xiu Mei suddenly had this impulse run away from Lu Chen.


    Patting her chest, she tried to calm down her crazily beating heart. It was beating so fast as if she had just finished running a 1 km run.


    Damn it! Just even remembering that abs and muscles... Xiu Mei blushed even harder as she remembered Lu Chen dragging her hand and brushed it over on his muscles. His hand was hot, but his skin was even warmer. And that look he gave her, it looked he was going to eat her alive.


    Aaaaaaah! She should stop thinking about it! Stop thinking about his abs!!


    Xiu Mei once again tortured her hair by pulling on it again as she groaned in frustration after thinking such perverted thoughts. Wait, could that even be considered perverted thoughts?


    Though it was her who first(identally!) did it, it was Lu Chen who did the initiative afterward. She was the one that got pushed on the bed, and it was her hand that was forced to take advantage of Lu Chen¡¯s body. It was Lu Chen¡¯s own volition so... then isn¡¯t she the victim?


    But after what happened, why did she suddenly feel like she was the perverted one?


    Xiu Mei bit her lip while thinking. Her gaze stopped on the door as she red daggers to it as if she was ring at the actual person behind that door.


    Weird. There¡¯s something wrong! She feels like she had just walked into a trap and discovered the truth toote. From when she impulsively signed the contract, then getting her to submit to Lu Chen, and now being yed by him. Weirdly, she noticed that she was reacting impulsively.


    If it was before, she wouldn¡¯t even budge seeing eight-pack abs at all but now... her rationality was slowly slipping away.


    Xiu Mei held her head in distress. God, what was happening to her? This won¡¯t do. She have to do something before she gets carried away with Lu Chen¡¯s antics.


    She was now having a full realization of Lu Chen¡¯s cunningness. He was being sneaky!


    So that¡¯s why she was feeling weird. She was dancing at Lu Chen¡¯s palm all this time!! Damn it!!


    Fifteen minutester, Lu Chen got out of the bathroom door just in white robes. He was expecting to see Xiu Mei somewhere inside the room but to his surprise, she was nowhere to be seen.


    "Wife?" He called out.


    Where did Xiu Mei go?


    His answer was quickly answered when the door of his room opened and Xiu Mei walked in. His expression instantly softened but his gaze stops on the paper and pen Xiu Mei was holding. Best to add to that is Xiu Mei¡¯s current smug expression. She was now looking at him as if she was going to report something worth millions and that she would definitely be praised because of it.


    Before he could open his mouth to ask what it was, Xiu Mei smugly smiled as she walked passed by him and went straight back to the bed. After sitting on the side of the bed, with her pointy finger, she pointed it to Lu Chen and curled it towards her. She was gesturing to Lu Chen toe to her, and whilst confused, Lu Chen still followed the wife¡¯s orders and stood in front of her.


    With the other person on the bed looking up at him and the other one looking down at her, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t feel overwhelmed at all. Somehow, the dignified and majestic aura Lu Chen usually has in the office, she couldn¡¯t find a trace of it at all right now.


    All she could see right now is Lu Chen, and just him alone. Not the CEO, not her boss, and most definitely not Lu Qiang¡¯s father.


    "In addition to the 1-year limit, I still want to add some terms on the contract." Xiu Mei held out the paper in front of her and raised it high enough for Lu Chen to read the contents.


    Lu Chen quickly skimmed over the added terms and as he read the written contents on each number, his face grew darker.


    1. No intimate skinship unless permitted.


    2. Separate bedrooms to keep each other¡¯s privacy.


    3. Be honest with each other.


    4. Do not control each other¡¯s freedom.


    He can understand the number 3 and 4, but he is very much against with number 1 and 2!! How can he seduce his wife if no skinship is allowed, and with Xiu Mei¡¯s current attitude, if he tries to ask permission, won¡¯t he get hit first before Xiu Mei runs away?


    His wife is too intelligent for her own good and it was very difficult for him to convince her to marry him right? If he doesn¡¯t put all his efforts into seducing her, then won¡¯t Xiu Mei really runaway from him after a year?


    Lu Chen frowned as heined to his wife that he was still chasing.


    "Denied."


    "Oh, then let¡¯s divorce."


    "Denied."


    "I¡¯m pretty sure just a call and my brothers would be very happy to do it for me." Xiu Mei beamed a smile at him, her expression telling him that unless he adheres to her added terms, this marriage would cease to exist.


    "..."


    "...Sign it."


    "We don¡¯t need to that."


    "Sign it,... or I can just call my brothers."


    Funny, their situation have be reversed. Now it is Xiu Mei who¡¯s forcing Lu Chen to sign something.


    "..."


    "...I still have your phone."


    "...."


    Xiu Mei: Damn it, he¡¯s right!


    "...I¡¯ll figure out a way to get my hands on a phone."


    "You dare?"


    "I very much do, Mr. Lu."


    Lu Chen sighed in frustration as he looked at the paper in front of him again and then back to Xiu Mei¡¯s face. Even though he is very capable of not signing this doc.u.ment, seeing Xiu Mei¡¯s determined eyes, he was very sure that it would be a bloody battle before she gives up.


    She was very stubborn, proven with how many times she rejected his proposal. And right now, it felt like time was repeating itself. Once Xiu Mei decides on something, it would be very difficult for him to change it. Just like how she¡¯s very determined to make him sign this paper now.


    He sighed in defeat. Finally making his decision, Lu Chen pulled out the drawer and grabbed the pen inside. Uncapping it, he epted the paper in Xiu Mei¡¯s hands and ced it on the bedside table.


    His hand hovered over the paper, but his movements quickly stopped before he could put his signature. Lu Chen blinked as he read the contents once again and an idea popped in his mind.


    Xiu Mei, who was excitedly waiting for Lu Chen to sign the doc.u.ment, tilted her head in confusion when she noticed Lu Chen¡¯s movements stopped a second before he could sign on the paper.


    Was he going toin about the terms again?


    She was just about to open her mouth to ask him, when a handnded on her shoulder and she was suddenly pushed back on the bed.


    Before she could even react, Lu Chen¡¯s face lowered once again and stopped near her face. She could smell the scent of mint from him, which must be because of the shampoo he was using.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s breath hitched and she fell speechless as she almost got hypnotized to Lu Chen¡¯s pair of eyes again. Those two dark pools of eyes seemingly bing a trap that was pulling her into him.


    Lu Chen lowered his head even more and stopped just beside her ear.


    "Wife." He called out to her but this time, his voice was so beguiling almost trapping her in a spell.


    She was getting lured by him again, and she barely stopped herself frompletely falling into the honey trap he had set up.


    "Lu Chen, what are you doing?!" She did her best to sound annoyed and frustrated but inevitably failed. Her words sounded more like a kitten whimpering, as it tried to resist its owner¡¯s charms.


    "Wife." He repeated.


    Her body was trembling nervously again as Lu Chen slowly pressed his head onto her.


    She was still gathering her energy to try to push him away when she felt something soft pressing behind her ears. It was Lu Chen¡¯s lips.


    Instantly, Xiu Mei turned stiff on her ce as Lu Chen finally pulled away after doing his final move before signing the paper.


    Lu Chen stood back up and nced at the frozen Xiu Mei who was now dozing off looking at the ceiling. She looked like her soul was just taken away and wasn¡¯t moving.


    He chuckled. Ah, too cute. Too tempting. He is very much enjoying teasing her like this.


    But he should really stop now.


    Lu Chen returned his attention on the paper and lifted the pen once again.


    A few secondster, Lu Chen¡¯s name and signature were finally on the paper.

 Chapter 83 - Live in the moment

    <h4>Chapter 83 - Live in the moment</h4>


    "Y-You just vited one of the terms!!" Xiu Mei cried out as soon as she got a hold of herself. She looked in disbelief at Lu Chen who was now the on grinning so smugly at her.


    "I did not."


    "You did! Look, no intimate skinship unless permitted! When did I allow you to p-push me down and d-do that!" Xiu Mei was too embarrassed to verbalize what he did so she just pointed at her ear to express what she wanted to say.


    "I concur with you on that." Lu Chen stated as he continued, "But clearly, I just signed the contract after I did.... THAT. So the things I did before I signed on the paper don¡¯t count at all."


    When Lu Chen was asserting those words, he tried to make his voice sound serious as if he was stating something as-a-matter-of-fact and what he did wasn¡¯t done deliberately.


    Ah, lies.


    "You! This cunning businessman!!!"


    Xiu Mei was exasperated because she knew she couldn¡¯t argue with that. Lu Chen was right in all ces, he has yet to sign the paper so what he did to her was still not counted. Clearly, she was being yed by this sly businessman!


    Really, Lu Chen was being sly against her now?!


    "I¡¯ll see you downstairs, wife." Lu Chen beamed before finally turning towards the ss door to change into his working attire.


    Xui Mei watched him disappear in front of her again, as she was left tongue-tied in the room. She studied the paper on her hand and groaned in frustration.


    How the hell can she outwit the sly wolf she was living with!?


    Well, that¡¯s a story for another time.


    Xiu Mei did get to have her own room that day. Of course, Lu Chen was the one who decided where her room will be. Thus, she was transferred to the room just across from his room. She wanted to argue again with Lu Chen so he finally offered her two choices: To either move to the room across his or to just forget moving out of his room.


    Since the master of the house has spoken, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t have the guts to fight back anymore else Lu Chen changes his mind and won¡¯t allow her to move out of his room anymore.


    It¡¯s still infinitely better to have 2 walls between them that just having the pillows and duvet as the things separating them.


    After a hearty and healthy breakfast, Lu Chen left again for work. After she copsed, Lu Chen temporarily stopped her from doing any work until she¡¯s recovered enough to do those.


    Since she had nothing to do, Xiu Mei mostly stuck with Lu Qiang and apanied him in his studies for the next two weeks. Lu Chen still denied everyone from visiting her, except her family who visited her during the weekends.


    "Eldest Brother, it¡¯s been a while. You look scarier right now that thest time we met." Xiu Mei hugged Xiu Min as soon as she saw him.


    Her eldest brother mostly stayed in the army camp all year round, and he would spend a few days with his family before going back on a mission again.


    "I know, and you¡¯ve be naughtier than thest time we met as well." Xiu Min quickly pinched her cheeks, as if to punish her.


    "You married Lu Chen." Xiu Min heavily emphasized the word ¡¯married¡¯ when he said that to her. She immediately understood what her eldest brother was trying to say.


    "It¡¯s a mutual agreement."


    "You¡¯re being hasty."


    "I thought about it carefully."


    If Xiu Min knew how Xiu Mei quickly gave in to Lu Chen¡¯s words back at the hospital, she was pretty sure that her brothers would end Lu Chen. So no matter what happens, their contract marriage of 1 year should not reach their ears or even her will also be roasted alive by these twin monsters.


    "Was it because of the child?" Xiu Min nced at Lu Qiang who was now sitting beside his parents.


    Xiu Mei also followed to where his brother was looking at and her gaze lingered on the little ball that she was now mothering for thest two weeks.


    "It¡¯d be a lie if he wasn¡¯t but, it¡¯s not just because of him." Xiu Mei returned her gaze back to her brother and continued, "It just so happened that Lu Chen and I got past our boss-employee rtionship then things happened. He actually already proposed to me several times but it was just me who kept rejecting it because I wasn¡¯t ready before."


    "So you¡¯re telling me that you epted his proposal this time because you¡¯re ready formitment?"


    "Yeah, and amongst all the men I¡¯ve met, he¡¯s clearly different."


    Xiu Mei then shifted her gaze at Lu Chen who was now talking to her second brother. It seemed like they were talking about something serious because the atmosphere around them was a bit stiff.


    "Do you love him?" This was really the main worry of Xiu Min when he first heard that their family¡¯s princess got married. And it just so happened that their marriage was registered that day she copsed in the hospital.


    At first, Xiu Min thought she was being forced to get married to the man but seeing that she was living peacefully and recovering smoothly since she moved here, he put down those thoughts. He understood very well that Xiu Mei thought this matter well.


    "I don¡¯t know."


    Xiu Min¡¯s eyebrows jumped as he eyed Xiu Mei. So what now, her sister married this guy even is she doesn¡¯t know if she loves him?!


    "What do you mean you don¡¯t know?"


    "I don¡¯t know if what I feel is love right now. But one thing I¡¯m sure of is that I feel safe when I¡¯m with him. And it¡¯s the different kind of security I feel when I¡¯m with you and when I¡¯m with him."


    At this point, Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t really sure if what she was spouting were lies or the truth. Because in her mind, she was already too confused to know what her current feelings really are. For now, all she needs to is to cate her family¡¯s worries regarding her marriage and after that, maybe that¡¯s when she¡¯ll really start thinking about her future with Lu Chen.


    After one year, she¡¯ll decide whether she would really spend the rest of her life with Lu Chen and Lu Qiang as his wife and stepmother, or if marriage won¡¯t work for the both of them.


    Xiu Min saw the look on her sister¡¯s face right now as she looked at the guy who is currently her husband and his brother-inw right now. Her sister looked more at ease and rxed right now whenpared to her usual self before.


    Because of the incident ten years ago, he watched her sister change from being the spoiled princess to an independent and strong woman. She quickly matured and chose to take the difficult path, and as the years passed by, her dependence on them lessened.


    She was growing beautifully yet somehow, they felt she was also slipping away from them. They don¡¯t fully understand what¡¯s going on in her mind, but if what Xiu Mei said is true, that Lu Chen can give her the peace that her sistercked, then he has no choice but to surrender and let her do what she wants.


    If it would make her sister better, he can forgive anything and anyone.


    Xiu Min sighed in defeat. "I got it. I won¡¯t talk about this to you anymore."


    Finally raising his white g, Xiu Mei smiled at her brother as she happily responded.


    "Thanks, eldest brother. You can trust me on this."


    After their private conversation, the two of them approached to where their parents are with Lu Qiang. Xiu Mei sat beside Lu Qiang who was happily listening to her father who was telling him stories about his younger years.


    After getting upgraded to being grandparents, her parents would often get something delivered for Lu Qiang in the house. They would also spend time with the little kid most of the time when they visit her, to the point that Xiu Mei would forget that she was actually the patient they were originally visiting.


    Oh well, as long as her son is happy, then nothing else matters.


    Xiu Mei quietly brushed Lu Qiang¡¯s hair. She raised her head once again to look at the people across her and caught Lu Chen who was also looking at her right now. As soon as their eyes met, a small smile automatically appeared on their faces.


    Yes, as long as the three of them continue to be like this, Xiu Mei thinks that everything would be fine.


    She has one year, enough time to think about anything. For now, she should live at the moment and enjoy it. After all, it is something that she learned the hard and most painful way. And it was also her greatest regret back then.

 Chapter 84 - Underwraps

    <h4>Chapter 84 - Underwraps</h4>


    "I¡¯vepiled the market performance of ZhiQi Industrials for the past five years. Here¡¯s the projected data for the product coboration once weunch this. Most factors have been considered including the demand and the pricing preference of the niche."


    Xiu Mei handed over another clipboard as she continued with her summary performance reports.


    "For the fashion line partnership with Chanel, our team is already in contact with the design team in France and they presented the suggested raw material we could use for this year¡¯s line. For the Mango Collection, the designs have been approved and the production is now ongoing. We¡¯ll be able to introduce the Mango Collection line to the public in 3 months¡¯ time."


    After two weeks of sessfully recuperating in the Lu home, she finally got the doctor¡¯s go signal to resume working again. Oh! And she finally knew why her doctor seemed very familiar, Dr.Tang was also the one who treated her when she had a fever and was brought here too. And from what she understood with Lu Chen and Tang Li¡¯s interactions, it seems like they have a boss-subordinate rtionship instead of friends.


    Xiu Mei was a bit puzzled at that point. Since Lu Corporation wasn¡¯t involved in anything rted to medicine as of the moment, she wondered how Dr.Tang became Lu Chen¡¯s subordinate. Is he really just simply a family doctor?


    Anyways, that¡¯s not the important thing today. The most important news is that she can finally work!


    Hurray for her workaholic body that¡¯s already screaming for work. Haaa, Xiu Mei, you¡¯ve really gotten simr to your boss. You¡¯re bing too much of a workaholic now.


    "Very well. I need constant updates on the Product Coboration with ZhiQi Industrials. I leave the fashion line on your hands." Lu Chen remarked as his eyes skimmed over the paper before he decisively closed it. He ced it on the stockpile of clipboards while he returned the other two clipboards back to Xiu Mei.


    "Understood." Xiu Mei took the clipboards and nodded slightly before walking towards the door.


    "Wife," Lu Chen called out.


    Instantly, Xiu Mei¡¯s head spun around and stared daggers at Lu Chen. She was eyeing him dangerously as if to warn him to not continue his words anymore.


    She angrily marched back and stood in front of Lu Chen¡¯s table and crossed her arms.


    "What part of the ¡¯Don¡¯t call me wife at work.¡¯ did you not understand?!" She scowled at him while lowering her voice.


    Didn¡¯t they have an agreement this morning? Didn¡¯t he promise her not to call her ¡¯Wife¡¯ in public?!


    "I did understand." Lu Chen nonchntly said.


    "So what was that ¡¯Wife¡¯ just now?"


    "I just said ¡¯Oh¡¯."


    "Huh?" A look of puzzlement crossed her face when she tried to think about what Lu Chen meant with his previous statement.


    What was Lu Chen suddenly talking about? What ¡¯Oh¡¯ was he saying?


    "This morning, I just said ¡¯Oh¡¯."


    "..."


    Wait, was he talking about their agreement this morning?


    Damn it!


    Xiu Mei facepalmed in exasperation. She wondered why sometimes, Lu Chen would be so difficult to understand, and the other times, he using confusing lines.


    Is she going to have to use most of her brain cells when talking with Lu Chen for the next twelve months?


    "So are you saying that didn¡¯t agree?"


    Putting her brain into the max function, she pieced together Lu Chen¡¯s sentences and reached to a conclusion while considering Lu Chen¡¯s normal way of thinking.


    He just said ¡¯Oh¡¯. Meaning he didn¡¯t say yes.


    Lu Chen nodded as he shed a smile at her, resting his chin on his hands. He genuinely looked like he was enjoying talking with her at the moment.


    "You can call me a different one, just don¡¯t call me wife."


    After all, since this is her workce, it¡¯d be inappropriate if she doesn¡¯t differentiate her position the moment she steps in the building.


    Also because Xiu Mei decided to keep their marriage under wraps because first, she didn¡¯t want the drama and surge of reporters at thepany every morning.


    Second, their marriage is just a contract marriage. Who knows if they do divorce after one year so it¡¯s just going to be a pain if they publicize their marriage and they divorce a yearter. She¡¯s just creating another juicy story for the reporters to feast on.


    Third, she did not want the other employees to treat her differently. Since she already became the emperor CEO¡¯s wife, technically, she¡¯s also the boss of thepany now. But once the employees discover her change of marital status, they might get intimidated and start distancing themselves to her.


    It doesn¡¯t look like it but she does have a decent circle of friends within thepany that she would sometimes talk to and hang out with from time to time. Since they¡¯re all from different departments and some are now working in different branches, they could only spend a few hours of their day hanging out with them.


    "Then Mrs.Lu."


    "..."


    Dang it, the big boss is hard to defeat!!


    Why is Lu Chen so shameless??? Is he deliberately provoking her right now? Was he really enjoying teasing her right now? When all she wanted to do was to flip his table in frustration??


    "Can¡¯t you just be serious?"


    "I am serious."


    "I don¡¯t see how you¡¯re being serious right now."


    "Oh, that¡¯s too bad. Because I¡¯m seriously flirting with you right now."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    So he was really just teasing her?


    Fine. If that¡¯s the game he wants to do, then fine! It doesn¡¯t mean that she should y along in his games.


    Xiu Mei instantly reverted back to her professional mode and shed a business smile at him.


    "Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have enough time to y along with you right now, Mr. Lu. Because I still have countless reports to read and work to do." Xiu Mei walked back to the door and reached for the door handle but before she turned it open, she looked back to Lu Chen again who was following her figure with his eyes.


    "Oh! And Mr.Lu?" Xiu Mei shed her business smile again as she continued, "I suddenly had the urge to go out with my brother for dinner tonight. Do please enjoy your dinner with Lu Qiang tonight, okay?"


    And with that, she furiously mmed the door making the sound echo so loudly outside.


    The two people in their stations, Lu Shao and her assistant, raised their heads and looked at her in confusion.


    She just directly ignored their curious gazes and apologetically smiled.


    "Sorry about that, my hand slipped." Making up a lousy excuse, she walked back to her working terminal and buried herself into her piled-up work again.


    The other two, understanding what Xiu Mei was trying to say just returned back to what they were working on again.


    On the other side of the door, Lu Chen was left dumbfounded in his seat as he deciphered Xiu Mei¡¯s remarks before she...angrily mmed his office door.


    ....Did he tease her too much?


    Didn¡¯t Tang Li say that women like men who can flirt with them? He¡¯s doing it right yet Xiu Mei¡¯s reaction waspletely the opposite of what he wanted.


    Should he just fire Tang Li for being useless?


    Instead of growing their rtionship, it¡¯s more like he¡¯s digging a pit to fall in every time he follows his advice!


    Lu Chen tapped a few on his phone once again and quickly put it on silent. He ced it beside his desktop as he continued working. A few secondster, he could see that someone was calling him but he acted like he didn¡¯t see it and just directly ignored his calls.


    He spent another hour working and reading reports before he finally noticed the time. It was almost 5 pm and Xiu Mei should be clocking out anytime now. Since she¡¯s still notpletely recovered, he still forbade her from doing overtime and working long hours than needed.


    He fixed his table and got ready to go home with her. The only way to stop her from working is if he also stops working so it¡¯s better if he clocks out with her.


    He took onest look of the time on his desktop but paused when he read the date underneath it.


    Lu Chen counted in his head and silently cursed.


    Damn it, he got too busy again that he almost forgot. He should quickly inform Lu Shao to start preparing and book tickets for three people.


    Last year, he only got to invest a couple of hours to bring Lu Qiang there before immediately leaving the ce. But now, he¡¯s bringing Xiu Mei. That would be the best time to introduce her to them since she took the most important role in Lu Qiang¡¯s life right now.


    He took onest look at the date before shutting down his desktop. After sending a short message to Lu Shao¡¯s phone since the mattering up is very important.


    After all, June 20th is approaching. It was the death anniversary of when Lu Qiang¡¯s biological parents passed away.

 Chapter 85 - Family Time

    <h4>Chapter 85 - Family Time</h4>


    "Oh, I¡¯m going out with my brothers for dinner today." Xiu Mei mockingly uttered the moment Lu Chen stopped in front of her table. She was still doing some quick preparations before she clocks out for the day because she was strictly reminded by Lu Chen yesterday regarding her work habits.


    Contrary to how she acted hours ago, Xiu Mei has already calmed down. She didn¡¯t actually have any ns with her brothers for dinner, she was just lying now to provoke Lu Chen in return for how he teased her before.


    Disappointingly, Lu Chen didn¡¯t show any reaction on his face and just stared hard at her before eyeing the bag beside her desktop.


    "Oh." Was the only he said before snatching her bag from where she ced it and marched towards the elevator. Xiu Mei watched in disbelief at his silly actions.


    So that was his n? Grab her bag to keep her from going out?


    Xiu Mei eyed her left side drawer where she kept her secret stash of money and thought for a bit. Should she continue acting as if she was still going since she still has enough money to go and have dinner with her brothers?


    She gave a quick nce at Lu Chen¡¯s back as he stood in front of the elevator.


    "Forget it." Xiu Mei sighed and surrendered. She gave a quick nod at Lu Shao and to her assistant before reaching Lu Chen¡¯s side.


    It¡¯s better to cooperate with the boss for now since this is just her first day. She¡¯d be doomed if he pulls out the ¡¯Do not work¡¯ card again and stop her froming to work for the next days.


    Upon reaching the ground floor, she received the confusing and teasing gaze from her colleagues. She decisively ignored them and continued walking beside Lu Chen.


    The car was already waiting for them outside the building. Lu Chen, being the gentleman husband, opened the passenger door for her. Xiu Mei climbed inside the car, she opened her arms waiting for Lu Chen to hand her bag to her but he just calmly closed the car door on her side and walked over to the other side.


    He opened the car door at the back and ced the two bags on the seat before finally climbing in on the driver¡¯s seat.


    Xiu Mei nced at her bag that was obviously being kept away from her and then she nced at Lu Chen who looked like he didn¡¯t do anything.


    ...really childish, ah.


    Xiu Mei just sat quietly on the car, watching by the window every time they turned to a corner or stopped at the intersection since she couldn¡¯t y with her phone that she put inside her bag. The silence was broken when Lu Chen finally spoke to her.


    "Empty your schedule on Thursday and Friday this week."


    Xiu Mei looked at him questioningly with her eyes.


    "It¡¯s the death anniversary of Lu Qiang¡¯s biological parents. It would be the best time for you to introduce yourself to them and also help in lightening up Lu Qiang¡¯s mood on that day."


    "Oh, yeah. Sure, uh, I¡¯ll make time." She awkwardly replied.


    Xiu Mei was startled with the sudden announcement. She thought they were just going to some family trip somewhere but to be informed that they¡¯ll be visiting the grave of her son¡¯s biological parents, she felt her heart ache.


    Remembering how Lu Qiang grew up without having the chance to meet his parents, that was the most unfortunate that could happen to a child.


    Fortunately, he grew up with Lu Chen¡¯s guidance and love. And now, she¡¯ll be taking over the role of being her mother. Meeting his parents is definitely needed so that his parents watching over him wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about Lu Qiang.


    The moment she got home, a bullet-like child attacked her with a hug. Since she was still on the weaker side, she almost fell backwards due to the unstable bnce but Lu Chen was quick to catch her as he supported her back, preventing her from falling.


    She gratefully nodded at him before turning her attention to the child. She squatted to be on the same level as him and cupped his face to pepper him with kisses.


    "I¡¯m home, love." She lovingly said.


    "Wee home, mom." Lu Qiang replied. He just nced quickly at his dad and nodded before hugging her mom again.


    The only person he¡¯s everfortable with being intimate like this is with his Mom. His Dad?....he wouldn¡¯t dare at all. His Dad was the type to dislike intimate skinship like this.


    After the two of them changed into a more casual wear, Xiu Mei sat in the living room with Lu Qiang as she carefully listened as he reported what he did throughout the day.


    Lu Chen was still in his study finalizing some doc.u.ments and finished in an hour. Since it was almost dinnertime, the three people all made their way towards the kitchen.


    Ever sincest week, she already had enough energy to cook. Because she was too bored at home, the thing she mostly enjoyed doing was cooking. At first, it was just Lu Qiang who was her assistant in the kitchen.


    She noticed his interest in cooking so she enjoyed sharing her skills and recipes with him most of the time. He would follow her around like a little duck and obediently listen to her instructions like washing this, slicing that, and stuff. The kid being the genius that he is all did it perfectly.


    She was already confident that Lu Qiang can at least slice some stuff without cutting his finger.


    It was after the fourth night when Lu Chen noticed this family time of the two. Because he would often finish his work at home, the dinner would always be ready the time he finishes his work. He thought it was the nanny doing the cooking, but he was surprised to see the mother and son having some bonding time in the kitchen. They both looked like they were enjoying it.


    At first, he warmly gazed at them as he enjoyed the scene but a little bitter, he grew slightly annoyed when he saw how Xiu Mei would always hug and kiss the kid after praising him.


    Why is his wife so intimate with that smelly kid?!


    He didn¡¯t notice that a pouting expression could be seen in his face as heined to Xiu Mei in his heart.


    The wife is so heartless ah.


    What¡¯s the point of marrying her if she doesn¡¯t look his way?


    He did his best in spending time with her for the past weeks. Since he couldn¡¯t hug, nor touch, or even sneakily attack her, he was having the most difficult time of his life in conquering the wife¡¯s heart.


    It¡¯s a very long road ah.


    Looking at the scene before him, he finally made up his mind. He followed them in the kitchen and forcefully joined the two of them. Ever since that day, the three of them would often cook their own dinner and spend time together.


    Xiu Mei also saw this as an opportunity for the father and son to bond together. Since she knew that Lu Chen and Lu Qiang do not actually spend so much time together, even just cooking a simple dinner and eating together would be a great bonding time for them.


    Today¡¯s dinner is pasta. Xiu Mei divided their work, with Lu Chen and Lu Qiang handling the ingredients and her the main cooking. From time to time, she would also give some pointers to Lu Chen in cooking. He has a fair talent in cooking but remembering the French toast with eggshells, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to teach him a little bit more.


    "Wife."


    Xiu Mei turned around as soon as she heard it. At first, she wasn¡¯t used to Lu Chen calling her wife but after two weeks, she slowly got used to this endearment. It was just a bit awkward though since ¡¯Wife¡¯ is a very intimate endearment and Lu Chen was calling her that even if the two of them aren¡¯t really that much in love. Perhaps people with just a spark, that¡¯s all.


    "Is it like this?" Lu Chen pointed at the seafood he was cutting.


    Xiu Mei examined their work and nodded. "Perfect, just cut the rest of them and we can basically start doing the sauce now."


    She was about to turn around and focus on cooking again but her eyes noticed Lu Chen¡¯s sleeve that got a bit wet with handling the ingredients.


    "Wait, show me your arm." She said as she walked to Lu Chen¡¯s side.


    The husband obediently followed and stretched out his arm. She then starts rolling his sleeve upwards to keep it from touching the counter. After finishing one arm, she quickly did the same to the other one.


    She was too focused in folding the sleeves that she didn¡¯t notice how close she was touching Lu Chen. This time, she unconsciously lessened their distance and was veryfortable with touching him.


    It was only when she finished rolling both sleeves that she looked up to talk with Lu Chen. She was just about to open her mouth when she got startled seeing Lu Chen¡¯s chin almost a few inches away from her.


    "What are you doing?" She suspiciously asked, thinking that Lu Chen was taking advantage of her again. "The contract!!" she added but in a lighter voice.


    "Nothing." He was really innocent this time ah! He was behaving okay since the wife is scary when mad.


    "Then what¡¯s this?"


    "Mrs.Lu, it is of your own volition to stick this close to me." Lu Chen smiled, tempted to lower his arms to hug her, and pull her to him.

 Chapter 86 - Aggrieved

    <h4>Chapter 86 - Aggrieved</h4>


    Seeing that teasing look of Lu Chen, Xiu Mei suddenly felt the urge to wipe it off his face.


    She snorted before finally giving up on that thought. Forget it, she had her fun awhile ago. Let him have his fun right now. She¡¯s very hungry.


    Xiu Mei took a step back and resumed cooking the cheese she was doing handmade. The three of them resumed doing their own chores. An hourter, dinner is now ready to serve.


    Xiu Mei garnished each of their tes beautifully before serving them on the dining table.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t have that many employees working in their home, andtely, most of them have been turning earlier for the night since Xiu Mei prefers to do her own cooking and cleaning at night and the other two people don¡¯t really demand anything that much by that time.


    "How is it?" Xiu Mei asked Lu Qiang.


    The little kid nodded and boastfully said, "We¡¯re so good, Mom!"


    He was very happy to eat all the food he made with his Mom.


    Xiu Mei patted his head as she enjoyed watching him enjoy his food. She turned to the big one and observed his expression as he ate. Lu Chen immediately noticed her stare.


    "It¡¯s good."


    "d you like it."


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei smiled at each other. The harmonious atmosphere didn¡¯t subside even until after dinner.


    Since Xiu Mei did most of the cooking, the chore of cleaning the dishes fell on Lu Chen.


    "Here¡¯s everything." Xiu Mei assisted Lu Chen in moving all the used tes to the sink. She was about to leave when she noticed that the apron he was wearing got untangled. Thinking that Lu Chen¡¯s clothes might get dirty if it wasn¡¯t fixed, her body reflexively moved forward and reached out to properly tie his apron.


    Lu Chen was surprised by the sudden movement as he paused to look at his left. With his height, he could see the top of Xiu Mue¡¯s head as he watched her tying his apron so seriously.


    His lips curled up as he felt warm inside. From when they were cooking, while eating and now, Lu Chen couldn¡¯t help but smile on the motherly gestures Xiu Mei was doing. She seemed to be doing it unconsciously ever since she started taking care of Lu Qiang.


    Even though he hadn¡¯t caught this woman, just thinking that Xiu Mei is still willing to stay right here and showing concern for him, he was more than willing to persevere and work hard in chasing her.


    Then maybe one day, he can finally realize his true feelings as well.


    "What are you smiling about?"


    Xiu Mei just finished fixing his apron but when she looked up, she noticed Lu Chen smiling at her with such a warming smile. She froze for a second as her heart did a quick flip.


    Damn it, this man¡¯s visuals are more deadly when he smiles.


    From being startled, she then grew suspicious as to why he was looking at her like that again. Is he nning something bad again?


    Even after realizing that he was staring at Xiu Mei too much, Lu Chen didn¡¯t look away but instead, shamelessly smiled at her as he responded.


    "Admiring my wife."


    Xiu Mei blushed at thement as she lightly pped Lu Chen¡¯s cheek to make him look away from her.


    "Shameless."


    "Only to you."


    "..."


    God, was Lu Chen drunk or something? It felt like he was getting weirder and weirder in each passing day.


    She was just about to walk away when he tugged her clothes, halting her movements.


    "What?"


    Does he still need something?


    When she turned to Lu Chen again, she met his aggrieved expression. He looked at her as if Xiu Mei had wronged him in some way.


    She stared with disbelief with Lu Chen¡¯s ability to quickly change expressions in just a split second. And what¡¯s with that look? If someone would see it, they would immediately think that she bullied him!


    What¡¯s with this ice block? Why was he showing so many expressions these past few days!?


    "Wife, you¡¯re mean." Lu Chen cried out.


    Xiu Mei held back her urge to hit her ¡¯husband¡¯ on the head. What the hell is he using her with now?!


    "Oh."


    "You won¡¯t let me hug you."


    "Oh."


    "You won¡¯t let me hold your hands."


    "Oh."


    "You won¡¯t let me push you down."


    "...Oh."


    She almost fell speechless when his previous words. If she didn¡¯t have the contract, was he nning to push her down every now and then?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s colorful imagination quickly got to work as they created the image in her mind. Remembering that embarrassing scene, she quickly shook it off and removed it from her mind.


    My god, what the hell was she remembering now?!


    "Wife, how can I chase you like this?" Lu Chenined at Xiu Mei¡¯s sternness with this kind of thing. At this rate he¡¯s going, he won¡¯t have a wife to hug after one year.


    Xiu Mei finally understood why the guy wasining right now. So did he felt wrong that he couldn¡¯t have some skinship with her thus he was having difficulty chasing her?


    She crossed her arms as she stood in front of him. She eyed him as she remarked, "Isn¡¯t that your problem?"


    "Wife...." The more Xiu Mei declined Lu Chen, the more he looked more aggrieved and upset. He was tugging her clothes like a child that was begging his parents to buy him candy because they won¡¯t let him buy any.


    Xiu Mei:....


    Looking at him looking so poor right now made her slightly felt guilty. Looking at Lu Chen who was originally so cold and untouchable in the office nowining like a child because of her, she almost thought she was a bad person bullying him.


    ...was she really being too strict?


    She originally set those terms to prevent Lu Chen in turning into a beast who¡¯d suddenly attack her at night but looking at him being too pitiful right now, maybe she was actually thinking too much?


    Xiu Mei fell into contemtion as the wolf in puppy clothing acted pitiful in front of the wife.


    Since the flirting tactics didn¡¯t work, he tried acting pitiful for her to see. He wasn¡¯t really confident that Xiu Mei would fall for this but surprisingly, Xiu Mei seemed to be getting affected now.


    Right, he remembered. Xiu Mei at work and Xiu Mei at home are two different people. Xiu Mei at work was strict and professional though sometimes that persona would also fall from time to time.


    Then the Xiu Mei that he was living with at home was very different. She¡¯s very soft and very intimate with Lu Qiang. She would also often disagree with him in contrast to her usual obedient self at the office.


    Maybe he should start taking advantage of her soft personality first? Then that¡¯s when he¡¯ll slowly sneak his way in and catch her?


    Hmmm. Lu Chen contemted as well. That sounded like a good n.


    "Wife?" He tugged her clothes again.


    "Fine. Holding hands and hugs are the only contacts allowed." Xiu Meipromised, trying to give Lu Chen a chance to pursue her.


    "Wife!!!" Lu Chen was so delighted as that she could almost imagine flowers blooming in the background with how much lighter his expression changed into.


    Before Lu Chen could attack her with a hug, she put her hand in front of her stopping him from approaching her any more.


    "Finish washing the dishes first, then we¡¯ll talk."


    "Then wife, you can¡¯t take that back okay?"


    "I won¡¯t."


    Xiu Mei pped Lu Chen¡¯s chest lightly before turning and walking away.


    Lu Chen watched Xiu Mei disappear from the kitchen as his smile slowly turned into a grin with cunningness behind it. A minuteter, he turned to the sink and started cleaning.


    An hourter, Xiu Mei who just finished taking a shower was summoned to the Emperor??s study by message. She was still rubbing the towel in her hair as she read the message on her phone.


    Emperor Lu: Come to the study.


    She blinked curiously at the message. She quickly rubbed her hair for a few seconds before leaving the room.


    She was quite used to receiving this kind of message from Lu Chen. When he calls for her thiste at night, it means that he needed something about work again.


    She knocked on the door the moment she arrived at the study.


    "Come in."


    She finally opened the door and saw Lu Chen sitting on the office chair wearing gold-rimmed sses. He was sitting in front of hisptop, typing something in it.


    "What is it?" She asked.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t turn to her but instead gestured for her toe near him. Xiu Mei obedientlyplied and stopped beside him. The moment she reached his side, Lu Chen paused on whatever he was working on and stood up.


    Startled by the sudden movement, Xiu Mei almost took a step back but she was caught by Lu Chen¡¯s arm that quickly sn.a.k.e.d her waist, pulling her to Lu Chen¡¯s embrace.


    Xiu Mei:....?????

 Chapter 87 - Lioness

    <h4>Chapter 87 - Lioness</h4>


    Xiu Mei:....?????


    Xiu Mei turned stiff with the sudden contact. Before she could even react, Lu Chen tightened his embrace even more that she thought he was trying to carry her. She stood tiptoed as Lu Chen buried his face in her hair and neck.


    "Lu Chen, what are you doing?" She pursed her lips as she struggled to stay still in his embrace.


    Yes, she allowed him to hug her but she didn¡¯t mean that he can take advantage of her like this!!


    "Recharging." Lu Chen¡¯s body rxed as he continued to cling onto her body. Despite the height difference, he was veryfortable with slightly bending his body and lifting her body up just to hug her.


    He could still smell the scent of shampoo she was using and that made him even more rxed. Her scent was slowly bing his own sedative that calms him down making him more addicted.


    The first night he brought her home from the hospital to continue recuperating, he found out that he gets more rxed whenever he¡¯s close with her. At first, he was just contented with holding her hand as she slumbered, unaware of her surroundings.


    But on the second night, like a sneaky pervert, he pulled her into his embrace and contentedly inhaled herforting scent. His worries werepletely blown away as soon as their skin touch touched. Maybe it¡¯s because of her warmth that he slowly put his hanging heart down that calmed him. Because she¡¯s there, alive and well, despite what she¡¯d gotten through.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei, who had been treated as a charger didn¡¯t know if she should be angry or ttered. She was unbelievably amazed by Lu Chen¡¯s tactics in courting. He is the most shameless amongst all the guys who dared to court her knowing her strong background. Damn, he even surpasses the yboy Han Min in being shameless!


    Since she¡¯s not strong enough to push him away, her hand that was on his waist pinched him a bit hard.


    "Behave."


    Lu Chen whispered as he coaxed the woman in his arms to not beat him up. With a military background, her beatings would still hurt him a little.


    "Then you stop hugging me!"


    "Just let me hug you for awhile. I¡¯m very exhausted these days."


    With all the work he had to catch up and taking care of the two ancestors in his house, he wasn¡¯t really sure where he could still have the energy to wake up every day. Despite what people say, he¡¯s still a human who gets tired from time to time. It¡¯s just, his body is more sturdy than most people.


    "..."


    Fine, she¡¯s feeling guilty now.


    She had skipped so much work and Lu Chen found time to take care of her before so she was partly responsible for why he¡¯s getting overworked these past weeks.


    Forget it. Let him take advantage ah.


    As long as he¡¯s not eating her meat then she can allow him to do as he pleases. Though it¡¯s better if he doesn¡¯t know that.


    Xiu Mei finally stopped trying to push him back and didn¡¯t move anymore. She just ced her hand in his waist, lightly tapping him.


    The two of them stayed like that for another minute before Lu Chen decided to pull away but he still didn¡¯t let her free from his arms.


    "Oh, I almost forgot. What do you think about enrolling Lu Qiang to a primary school?"


    Xiu Mei finally remembered this matter. In the past two weeks was apanying the child, she got to see how lonely his back looked like everytime he was alone.


    Since the two of them have jobs, they couldn¡¯t spend the entire day with him most of the time. Thinking of this, Xiu Mei decided to ask Lu Chen about his opinion in enrolling him to school to improve his character and social ability.


    Lu Chen slightly frowned at the suggestion. If it were the others, he would¡¯ve straightly said no and declined it but this was his wife, Lu Qiang¡¯s stepmother. His wellbeing is what this woman in front of him mostly worries about and the matter she was bringing up is surely for that same matter.


    "I didn¡¯t let him enroll because he¡¯d be in danger outside."


    Xiu Mei could sense that there¡¯s a secret behind that reason but she didn¡¯t dwell on it and focused more on convincing him to say yes.


    "But he¡¯d grow up sheltered, with no ability to protect himself when he grows up."


    "I can just train him when he grows up until no one can defeat him anymore."


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei felt slightly distressed with Lu Chen¡¯s way of educating the little kid. Feeling slightly infuriated, she punched his chest a little bit harder earning a groan from Lu Chen.


    "What you¡¯re doing is just trying to control him. Do you really want to see him friendless and alone for the rest of his life?"


    If this guy dares to say yes then she will beat him up. Even if she isn¡¯t Lu Qiang¡¯s stepmother, any parent that would think like that is definitely not a good parent.


    "Wife, you¡¯re hurting your husband."


    "Oh, you can still feel pain?"


    "..."


    Sensing the menacing tone from Xiu Mei quickly cleared his head. Judging from Xiu Mei¡¯s personality, the two of them will go into another cold war if he doesn¡¯t speak well.


    "It¡¯s just safe if he¡¯s here under my watch." He justified his decisions.


    It¡¯s not like he wanted to cage his son but he¡¯s a precious person for him that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t want him to get hurt. And that¡¯s the same for Xiu Mei.


    Though the ultimate reason he married her was to be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother figure, it was also to know her a little better and protect her from wind and rain.


    "But he¡¯d never grow up. If he doesn¡¯t know at an early age how to differentiate good people from bad people, I highly doubt he¡¯ll survive in this circle for a long time."


    Once this point was gged, Lu Chen finally caught on to this problem.


    Hmm... why did he miss that possibility?


    If he only let Lu Qiang around with people he trusted, he¡¯d never know how cunning other people are.


    Since he¡¯s nning to leave his power andpany in his hands, the little guy should learn how to stand up by himself when he grows older. At that time, it¡¯ll be more difficult to know who to trust and not to trust.


    "Hmm, I think you have a point."


    "See? Think about it, it¡¯s not only physical dangers that Lu Qiang should be careful of. The most terrible thing of all is the darkness lurking inside a person¡¯s heart. What if one day Lu Qiang falls into that trap and gets into an ident? Or worse, killed?"


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t really wanna talk about these works possible scenarios but if she do not bring this up now, then Lu Qiang¡¯s future will be doomed.


    She almost walked on that path and she got injured at an early stage but that event led to a shadow in her heart. Knowing that she couldn¡¯t let Lu Qiang go through that same pain in the future.


    It¡¯s better if the two of them steel their hearts a little bit more than to see him in pain.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll think about it more tonight and see if I could n something." Lu Chen rubbed her slightly wet hair. "Thank you for the suggestion, wife."


    "Hmph, you almost didn¡¯t listen to me isn¡¯t it?"


    "I always listen to you and will still do in the future."


    Even though Xiu Mei was spot on with her hunch, Lu Chen would never admit it. Her wife is too sharp and inept, it took a lot of his efforts to chase this rabbit¡ªah no, more like a lioness. A great protector and nurturer.


    "Oh." Xiu Mei sarcastically responded.


    As if she was going to believe him.


    With his character plus her character, it¡¯s definitely going to be an eventful future ahead.


    With both strong-headed characters as a couple, they would inevitably sh in the future. Lu Chen is the type to attack and Xiu Mei is the type to be stubborn. At this rate they¡¯re going, arguments wouldn¡¯t really be that surprising.


    "Well, if that¡¯s all I¡¯d rather go back to my room and rest early. I still a lot of work to piled up for tomorrow." She yawned as drowsiness slowly invaded her body.


    Because she hadn¡¯t fully recovered, working full 8 hours today maybe took a toll in her body. Tomorrow, she should start nning first and schedule her stuff. This way, she won¡¯t be tired as much as today.


    "Okay, I won¡¯t hold you back anymore. Goodnight, wife."


    "Goodnight."


    She tapped his shoulder for thest time before turning back to leave the room. As soon as sheid down on her bed, she instantly fell asleep.

 Chapter 88 - Routine

    <h4>Chapter 88 - Routine</h4>


    As soon as the sun rose in the sky, the three members of the Lu family woke up and started their routine for the day. The big and mini ice blocks were the fastest to wake up. Lu Qiang is a very disciplined child with a strict body clock.


    He sleeps at 9:30 pm and wakes up at 6:30 in the morning. He¡¯s capable enough to bathe himself so he showers as soon as he wakes up and dresses himself wearing the attire Xiu Mei had chose the night before.


    Lu Chen who slept at midnight also woke up without the use of any rm. Even with less than 8 hours of sleep, he got up early to start the day.


    Thedy of the house, Xiu Mei, was already wide awake up but she was the type to drag some time for a little bit on the bed before officially starting her morning routine. She doze off staring at nowhere facing the window where streams of sunlight were filling the room.


    After a full 5 minutes, she finally regained her senses and stood up from the bed. She showered and spent almost half an hour putting on makeup.


    At around 8:30, the three were already sitting together on the dining table with freshly cooked food that was cooked by the chef.


    An hourter, the president and the secretary are now ready to go to work. Reminding Lu Qiang a couple of things, Xiu Mei went to the office with a light heart.


    Xiu Mei went straight to the pantry room to prepare Lu Chen¡¯s tea. Waiting for the leaves to steep enough in the warm water, she carried the tray inside his office.


    "Here¡¯s your morning tea." She stated, as she lightly served the warm tea on his table. She was just about to go back to her station when Lu Chen immediately stopped her from going.


    "Wait."


    She looked back at him puzzled. Is he going to add some tasks in her workload today?


    "Last night, I¡¯ve thought about it."


    Xiu Mei gave a confused stare at Lu Chen for a few seconds before remembering what she had saidst night. Since it was already sote, somehow, the conversationst night didn¡¯t register in her mind that much.


    She approached Lu Chen¡¯s table and leaned on it as she excitedly questioned.


    "So what¡¯s your final answer?"


    Please say yes! Say yes! Or else she¡¯s going to seriously mess up his the sleek hairstyle he worked hard fixing at this very moment.


    "Let¡¯s try it out first. If it doesn¡¯t go well, it¡¯s very easy to just pull him back." Lu Chen smiled as he watched his wife¡¯s reaction. He thought about the matter of enrolling Lu Qiang at a primary school the whole night and finally gave the idea a shot.


    After being enlightened up by Xiu Mei in some things about Lu Qiang, he realized that the only way to really protect him if the little kid could really hold on his own once he grows up. It was something he had overlooked before because all he knew was that he already failed to protect his cousin and cousin-inw, he couldn¡¯t fail in protecting his now-son from all the people who killed his parents.


    Besides, the little kid is being very sticky with his wife to the point that he gets less time to spend together with Xiu Mei. If making him busier would give him more time to spend with the wife then spending a few more RMB won¡¯t be a losing game at all.


    "Great! I¡¯ll start looking for good schools then!" Xiu Mei pped and eximed.


    Finally! The schools she looked up online won¡¯t go in vain. She can now really find a good school for Lu Qiang!! At least, she¡¯s very hopeful that the little kid would finally have some people to talk with and friends to hang out with.


    "Okay, then we¡¯ll look at it together after and choose the best option."


    "Hmm!"


    "You can spend a little more on his education." He advised, as he rified that Xiu Mei didn¡¯t need to worry on the fee. Even if he was a bit miser on himself and to the people around him, investing in his son¡¯s education isn¡¯t an expense at all.


    Also, if he didn¡¯t spend money on these two ancestors, won¡¯t he get bashed for being stingy?


    Forget it, he can just be a miser on his own. He¡¯ll just give up on the customised suit he was nning to order at Dormeuil. He still has quite a few more expensive pieces at home, he¡¯ll just change themter.


    Since Lu Chen is still a public figure, he still had to invest a little bit more on his formal suits. He would often order an expensive suit a few times a year, but since he¡¯s nning to spend a lot on the little kids¡¯ education, he can just tighten his annual spending a little bit.


    "I know."Xiu Mei kept his reminder in her mind.


    She bounced out happily out of the room, spring in her steps. She looked very fresh and excited and Xiu Mei¡¯s smiled from ear-to-ear as she continued to her workstation.


    Her assistant looked puzzled at her while Lu Shao just ignore her and continued on his work. Yesterday, the two of them were arguing to the point that Xiu Mei mmed the door in anger so loudly. Then today, Xiu Mei walked out of the room looking happier than she ever did when she arrived. The assistant nced at the closed office door where the president is and on Xiu Mei¡¯s face.


    Before, it was always Mr.Lu that she had to always stay away from and be careful with when the president is being moody. He¡¯s a weird handsome guy that¡¯s just rich. Overall, this type of guy was surely not his type.


    Then back to her boss that she had been working on with for almost a year. Ms.Xiu was the best model for being a secretary. She¡¯s intelligent, responsible and has good leadership that almost everyone calls her the second boss. The first boss is the president, second boss is Xiu Mei while Lu Xia was the dutiful bodyguard by his side.


    Lately, this boss of hers seems to be changing a little bit more and it seems that the change is because of the president. After being rumored to be together, at first she thought this was a hoax but she finally noticed the small interactions that¡¯s been happening between Mr.Lu and Ms.Xiu.


    She gave Xiu Mei a final nce before resuming the file she was reading before. Concentrate!


    The morning passed by without a hitch.


    Since getting married, Xiu Mei and Lu Chen finally spent time together. Even though Xiu Mei still had a clear distinction of her work as a secretary and as her wife, she would still spend at least her lunch with Lu Chen in his office.


    Today, the cook packed them a sumptuous seafood lunch for consuming.


    While Xui Mei waited for Lu Chen to finish peeling the shrimp and deboning the fish, she tasted a little bit of everything of the side dishes.


    "Here¡¯s your shrimp." Lu Chen pushed the little mountain of shrimp towards her. She gratefully epted it and started eating.


    "What do you think about enrolling him somewhere near here?" She voiced out.


    "At least we can easily drop off and pick him up to and from school. I didn¡¯t want to have the driver drop him off alone everytime and since we¡¯re enrolling him at school, for sure there¡¯ll be lots of people who¡¯ll know that he¡¯s our son very soon once we start attending some school events. Keeping him close will be easier and safer once that happens, isn¡¯t it?"


    Xiu Mei discussed as she pointed out the possible scenarios that may unfold in the future once Lu Qiang¡¯s name and background get discovered by the public.


    Because his background is a little bit special, the public will only know Lu Chen as the father of Lu Qiang in the papers. Since they¡¯re still starting to process the adoption papers for her to adopt Lu Chen as the mother, her name still won¡¯t show up on those papers.


    With Lu Qiang being his father and since the two of them were just rumored together, people would surely doubt about the little kid¡¯s origin.


    Though it may or may not happen at all because the two of them will still be careful when spending time with Lu Qiang, it¡¯s still better if they already have everything nned out once these possibilities be a reality.


    "That is a reasonable idea. I¡¯ll still have Lu Shao oversee his security though so that he could alert us once someone starts snooping about the kid and his rtion with us."


    Lu Chen was taking a dangerous bet. Since he chose to have Lu Qiang try to live a bit more normal life, he¡¯d have to tighten up his security when he¡¯s outside. The people who killed his cousin is still out there, and they¡¯ll surely be after the little kid¡¯s life once they discover his identity.

 Chapter 89 - Meal

    <h4>Chapter 89 - Meal</h4>


    "Hmm." Xiu Mei hummed in agreement. She was just about to pick up another piece of the shrimp when she noticed how Lu Chen was deboning the fish in front of her.


    She watched him looking so nonchnt as he clumsily separated the small fishbones from the meat as if he wasn¡¯t having difficulty doing it. Her eyes shifted to his expression and on the fish.


    ...At this rate, would she still have any fish meat to eat?


    It looked like he was throwing away the meat instead of just the fishbone.


    Is he... going to be okay?


    The two of them fell into silence the moment her attention was shifted to what they are both doing.


    Lu Chen who was concentrating on removing the fish bones.


    Xiu Mei who worriedly watched what he was doing opposite him.


    She watched him put arge chunk of the meat on the fishbone te slowly. A few minutester, the fish meat-filled lunchbox cover was ced in front of her. Her eyes glued on the small hill of meat and the one on Lu Chen¡¯s side mixed with fish meat.


    Xiu Mei frowned a little bit as she tried reading Lu Chen¡¯s expression.


    Maybe it was on purpose and what he really wanted was to have more fish for himself?


    Since Xiu Mei didn¡¯t make a move on picking up the fish he just served, Lu Chen puzzledly looked at her direction noticing that she was staring at the small te he set aside that was full of fish bones.


    He got even more confused as he guessed why she was looking at it.


    Does his wife prefer eating the fish bones part instead of the meat? Is Xiu Mei¡¯s taste like that?


    Or maybe he wasn¡¯t aware that fish bones could actually be eaten or is tastier than the meat part?


    "Wife?"


    Xiu Mei returned to her senses as soon as she heard him. Her eyes darted back to his face and as soon as their eyes met, she got fl.u.s.tered. She instantly looked away and she tried to act normal by picking up some fish meat with her chopsticks.


    ??Ah, oh?"


    Dang it! She almost got caught by the boss drooling over the fishbone pile.


    "Is it good?" Lu Chen asked.


    She nodded her head almost forcefully.


    Forget it, it¡¯s just food. It would look dumb to fight with Lu Chen over a fish.


    Think about it, won¡¯t it be embarrassing if people discover that a president and his secretary argue over a piece of fish?


    Throughout that meal, Lu Chen kept clipping a lot of food to her bowl so she had to focus on eating her food.


    "I¡¯m already full." She saw the Lu Chen wasn¡¯t going to stop clipping her food so with her chopsticks, she halted his actions by blocking his chopsticks that were about to approach her.


    "Then finish what¡¯s left on your bowl at least."


    "Oh."


    Lu Chen finally stopped feeding her and finally ate his own meal. He was quick to finish his lunch whenpared to Xiu Mei¡¯s eating speed. Despite that, he still looked elegant and prim when he ate whenpared to Xiu Mei whose cheeks almost bulged from stuffing so much food.


    Really, her manners are all somehow gone at that time.


    Xiu Mei volunteered to clean the table and lunchbox after that. After fixing them all into one side, she was now getting ready to return to her working station when Lu Chen walked up to her side of the couch and stood in front of her. He looked so tall looming over her.


    "Can I recharge?" Lu Chen asked with a nk expression.


    "Huh?"


    Recharge?


    She blinked for a couple more times. Does he want to borrow my phone charger? But he charges his phone wirelessly though?


    It took her a full five seconds more for the words topletely register in her mind and understand what he was trying to say.


    "Ah, you mean you want a hug?"


    When she said that, it somehow sounded as if she was talking with a kid trying to guess if what he wanted was a candy or a toy.


    Lu Chen just nodded without opening his mouth.


    Xiu Mei scratched the back of her head as she contemted whether she should allow him to hug her at this time. After all, they¡¯re currently in the office and it would be really inappropriate to do that kind of stuff here. Even if it¡¯s the president¡¯s own office.


    Also, what if someone suddenly walks in? Then won¡¯t their secret be revealed instantly? That would be a disaster!


    She fell into silence and hesitated. Seeing this, Lu Chen sighed. His wife is too conscious of her position at work and even though he didn¡¯t want her to draw a line like this, he still has to respect her decisions.


    After all, their rtionship is still in the progress of developing to a better stage and even though she already gave permission that he can hug her, at work, he still needs to maintain some appropriate distance ording to her requests.


    Getting to spend lunch with her is already enough for him now. Then once their rtionship turned for the better, he can slowly trick her and lessen their distance at work.


    For now, what he did is he ruffled her hair before she left his office.


    "I¡¯ll see youter then." Is what he said before turning back and walking back to his table.


    Xiu Mei pursed her lips as she watched the sulking Lu Chen go back to his table.


    Since they¡¯re at work, if she didn¡¯t maintain distance at all, their rtionship as a boss and secretary rtionship would just get messed up. She was just being stubborn when she said she wanted to keep her personal and professional life separated.


    This time, she really couldn¡¯t allow Lu Chen to do something more than having lunch with her.


    She finally left his office and resumed working. After finishing almost half of her stockpile on the table, she looked at the folders that were slowly piling up on her other side.


    It was the papers she needed to pass to Lu Chen for signature and since they¡¯re pretty much not that urgent, she originally decided to give t to him tomorrow. But thinking back at Lu Chen¡¯s mood during lunch, she thought that if instead of hugging her she could just constantly show her face to Lu Chen, would his mood get better?


    ...My god Xiu Mei, that sounded very narcissistic.


    She almost pped herself by thinking like that as she got more embarrassed.


    ...But what if showing her face would really make him feel better?


    "...."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s stared for a couple more minutes on the folder before finally reaching a decision.


    Fine, as an apology since she denied him his request awhile ago. It¡¯s the least that she could do.


    Xiu Mei stood up and marched back to the president¡¯s office with folders in her hands. Knocking twice, she opened the door and walked inside. There, she saw Lu Chen massaging his temples while he looked at the spread-out doc.u.ments in front of him.


    Just by seeing that, and remembering hisintst night, she felt guiltier.


    Because she missed a lot of work for the past few weeks, it was her assistant, Lu Shao and Lu Chen who are having the most difficult time.


    They are already originally busy at this time of the year and to miss work for weeks, that would mean a lot of work needed to be pushed back and dyed at ater time.


    As she continued her train of thoughts, the more she felt bad.


    She slowly approached Lu Chen and sensing her presence, the president CEO looked at her with a smile.


    "Are you okay?"


    She asked, genuinely worried of his health and mood.


    "I¡¯m fine." Lu Chen assured his wife seeing her concern in her eyes.


    Despite that, Xiu Mei still walked past the table and stood behind Lu Chen¡¯s chair. Puzzled, Lu Chen was just about to turn around when Xiu Mei firmly held the chair to stop it from turning around.


    "Close your eyes."


    "..."


    Lu Chen was tempted to ask what was she trying to do but since he was aiming to be a good and pampering husband, he listened to Mrs.Lu and shut his eyes. A secondter, he felt warm fingers touching his head and pressing them harder to massage it.


    Realizing her attentions, Lu Chen leaned back rxedly on his chair as he let her continue what she was doing. It¡¯s a rare opportunity for the wife to take initiative in getting close to him so why would he push her away right?


    No one declines a meal that serves herself to him.


    If only Xiu Mei could hear his bold thoughts, she would surely get scared and run away from him. After all, a predator whose goal is catching the prey by making her slowly fall into his trap is a scary person, isn¡¯t it?

 Chapter 90 - Lost

    <h4>Chapter 90 - Lost</h4>


    Seeing his furrowed brows finally straightening out as she continued to massage his head, Xiu Mei felt relieved.


    If a simple massage like this can soothe his exhaustion even for a little bit then it¡¯s fine.


    Before, when their rtionship was still strictly an employee-boss rtionship, she would usually serve him a calming tea and try to lessen the workload that had to go through him. As a reliable subordinate, that¡¯s the only way she could think of to help the president.


    But now that she¡¯s his wife, she can now at least help him like this.


    She continued massaging his temple for a few minutes more while Lu Chen thoroughly enjoyed the treatment.


    "That¡¯s all for now." She uttered as she finally stopped pressing his temples.


    But before she could pull away, Lu Chen quickly grabbed her right hand that was still on his head. He grasped it firmly without even opening his eyes.


    Slowly, he pulled it downwards his face and made her hand cup his cheeks. Watching his actions, Xiu Mei felt her cheeks slightly getting hot when she felt Lu Chen leaning his head on her hand even more, making it look like as if she was cradling him.


    She felt her hand slightly tremble.


    What was he trying to do?


    Somehow, she felt that this action was more intimate than when he hugged herst night. Even though the two of them aren¡¯t touching each other too much, this action seemed to make her heart pound harder than yesterday.


    Her mind nked out and all she could feel was Lu Chen¡¯s warmth as she leaned like a baby towards her hand. He seemed to be enjoying himself even more as they stayed in that position.


    The only thing she¡¯s thankful right now is that his eyes are shut so he can¡¯t see how fl.u.s.tered she is at the moment.


    Lu Chen rubbed his cheeks in her palms for a little bit before finally opening his eyes to see Xiu Mei¡¯s expression. His eyes widened at first but eventually turned into gentle crescents as he warmly smiled at her.


    Seeing that fl.u.s.tered expression on her face, only one thought ran in his mind.


    Cute.


    Damn it, he¡¯s wife was tempting him without her being aware of it. What to do?


    He finally loosened his hold to Xiu Mei¡¯s hands as he quickly turned his chair and stood up. He was finallypletely standing in front of her while showing such a gentle yet heart-pounding expression that no one this building would¡¯ve expected to see in his face.


    But right at this moment, with her reflected in his eyes, he gazed at her with such gentleness as if she¡¯s the only person he could see in his eyes.


    And she¡¯s right.


    Like a ma being pulled closer together, Lu Chen closed their distance while Xiu Mei felt like she was being hypnotized by his eyes.


    She didn¡¯t even notice how close they are right now because all she knew right at this moment was that her heart was pounding like crazy than ever. It almost felt like it was echoing in her ears like a drum.


    Lu Chen, just like a moth attracted to a me, approached Xiu Mei. His eyes never strayed away from the woman in front of him.


    He raised his hands and caressed her cheeks, feeling the soft skin underneath him. This action just made him crazier and tempted him to do bad things.


    And that, he did.


    His thumb ran over her lips when he noticed how Xiu Mei¡¯s body trembled underneath his touch.


    His eyes trailed over her doe-like eyes, her nose, and her small and plump lips. And that¡¯s where his eyes paused.


    A few secondster, he returned his gaze to her eyes while leaving his thumb over her lips.


    Xiu Mei who felt like she was under a spell saw how Lu Chen slowly lowered his head towards her.


    She stood frozen stiff in her ce, cautiousness all thrown in the wind, and her guard all broken down.


    She watched Lu Chen¡¯s eyes slowly close as he inched closer, and Xiu Mei eventually mirrored his actions. She felt drunk in his warm touch on her lips, finally feeling some pressure pressed on it.


    With her eyes closed, all her senses werepletely heightened. Her sense of touch, hearing and smell.


    The room fell intoplete silence, and she could slightly hear the ruffling of papers outside the door. Lu Chen¡¯s hands that rested on her waist felt like a burning touch even if their skin wasn¡¯t touching at all and her hand clinging to the arm that was caressing her face before.


    She felt Lu Chen slightly bending her neck that made her stand in tiptoes, making themselves closer to each other than it already was.


    She got intoxicated in the minty scent that was exuding from his body, slowly making her desperate to cling into him. From his arm, she clung to her shoulders as she wrapped her arm around it.


    Despite their lips not touching at all, with a thumb separating the two of them, both of them couldn¡¯t care less at all.


    In that situation, this action was enough to wake up whatever was sleeping inside them. It was like akin to a switch, thatter on, they will fully realize the consequences of what they had done.


    Lost in their world, the couple thumb-kissed for a little bit longer before finally deciding to pull away.


    As soon as they opened their eyes, they could see the intoxicated expression in each other¡¯s faces. Still lost in their own world, they continued to stare at each other¡¯s eyes just like that. It was only when they heard a knock on the door that the two of them returned to their senses.


    Realizing that someone was going to enter the room, Xiu Mei unconsciously pushed Lu Chen away and quickly escaped from his arms.


    "Boss, I¡ª" Lu Shao immediately stopped in his tracks after taking his first step in entering the room.


    Looking at the two figures behind the table, with Lu Chen¡¯s back facing him and Xiu Mei that was looking in a different direction, he was able to piece everything together and realized that he had disturbed the two of them.


    He blushed at the thought, and since he wasn¡¯t quite used to that scene yet, he awkwardly looked at their direction as he slightly bent his body as an apology.


    "My mistake, I¡¯ll returnter." And with that, Lu Shao, the intelligent secretary that quickly read the atmosphere of the room, left in rush to exit the room. He was determined not to disturb the couple¡¯s time anymore.


    "..."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei fell in a state of turmoil as the things they did a few seconds before finally sank in.


    Shit, what the hell did they do?!


    Her hand flew to her mouth as she tried to cover her cheeks that were reddening in embarrassment. Her mind is in aplete mess as she resolutely avoided looking at Lu Chen¡¯s direction.


    All she wanted to do now was to flee from the room and escape from his sight but she somehow felt rooted in that spot.


    Lu Chen, who almost lost his mind and control awhile ago, saw her reaction. He himself was also surprised at what he did since he wasn¡¯t originally nning to do that at all. At first, all he wanted to do was to hug her but as soon as he saw her fl.u.s.tered expression, it seemed like something snapped within him.


    But he still thanked himself that he didn¡¯tpletely lose his reason and was still able to clearly respect her space. At thest moment, he kept his thumb in ce meaning he hadn¡¯t crossed the line of kissing her yet.


    He returned his attention to his wife who was trying to avoid him at the moment and slightly panicked.


    Uh...did he identally scare her now?


    Then wouldn¡¯t that be bad? What if she avoids him again like what she did before?


    Lu Chen quickly caged her by holding her shoulders, making her look at him. Seeing her startled expression and her blushing cheeks, he desperately held down the urge to attack her again.


    Damn it, why was he acting like a teenage boy blind in love when he¡¯s in front of her? Where¡¯s his dignity as a mature a.d.u.l.t? Where? All gone?


    He felt like hitting himself but that¡¯s not the problem he should focus at the moment. He should stop his wife from reacting too strongly after what he did. Or else, everything will be back to zero again!


    "Wife, I, uh,.." Should he say he¡¯s sorry?


    But he wasn¡¯t really feeling sorry for what he did though? Also, wouldn¡¯t it sound as if he was regretting what he did to her?


    Damn it, why is it so confusing?!


    ...should he do what he read on the inte? That when the husband does something wrong, they will kneel on the washboard?


    Would Xiu Mei forgive him if he does that?


    Lu Chen, the once cold and aloof president, seriously considered that idea at this very moment just to appease his wife.

 Chapter 91 - Simple Date

    <h4>Chapter 91 - Simple Date</h4>


    "Wife, I..."


    Before Lu Chen could continue his words, Xiu Mei quickly stopped him from speaking any further with her index finger. She quickly shook her head, as if telling him not to speak anymore.


    She didn¡¯t want to listen to what he was gonna say at all, else, she might get tricked again.


    In her mind, she really wanted to scream and p his head. Added to that, she also wants to p herself awake as well.


    Xiu Mei, ah. Xiu Mei, ah.


    You¡¯re getting too caught up, ah. Why do you keep forgetting that the person in front of you is a sly wolf acting like a puppy in front of you?


    You¡¯ve known him for four years so isn¡¯t she most familiar to his cunning ways?


    Like a rabbit, she was unconsciously surrendering herself to be the wolf¡¯s meal. Where¡¯s her determination to not fall in love too easily gone to?


    "I¡¯ll see youter." Is what she said as shepletely pulled away from his grasp. With blushing cheeks and red ears, she hastily left the roompletely fl.u.s.tered.


    Watching her actions to avoid him, Lu Chen had a slight worry.


    He found each of her reactions very cute but it seems that his wife would probably be very embarrassed to face himter?


    He fell in contemtion as he made a n in his mind on how to appease his wife. He sighed, thinking that chasing is a very rocky path.


    On the other side of the room, Xiu Mei decisively ignored Lu Shao¡¯s nces to her side.


    Nope, never looking ah.


    Just thinking how Lu Shao found them a while ago in the room, she really wants to dig a hole and bury herself in it. That is so embarrassing!


    Now she knew she wasn¡¯t the type to do a public disy of affection, she can at least warn Lu Chen to do less and less of this kind of stuff when they¡¯re in public ces like their workce.


    Few hours passed by like a sh and it was finally time for her to go home now. And going home means Lu Chen would be getting off work very soon and go home with her.


    Xiu Mei nervously sat in her area as she waited for Lu Chen toe out of the room. She could almost feel how fast her pulse is at this very moment. She stupidly wondered whether it was just her being too nervous or was she actually having a heart attack?


    ...She¡¯s thinking too much.


    Lu Chen finally stepped out of the room and walked towards her. She immediately stood up and grabbed her bag, then walked beside him. She continuously walked beside him but temporarily stopped when she felt a warm hand wrapping around hers.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but look down to her hand, and then she saw therge hand that enveloped herspletely. Her heart pounded.


    She raised her head and met Lu Chen¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t say anything and his face still looked nk which he normally looked like whenever he¡¯s outside the room but since she already spent so much time with him, she didn¡¯t miss the slight curl at the corner of his lips.


    With their hands held together, Lu Chen walked towards the elevator with a light heart. Seeing that he was enjoying it, Xiu Me didn¡¯t have the heart to pull away her hand from him.


    She scolded herself in heart.


    Damn it, was she really this weak in front of good-looking men?! First, it was Brother Lee, and now she was giving so much leeway to Lu Chen.


    Ugh, damn it. Beautiful people really cause the downfall of a city ah. Look at her, where¡¯s the stubborn self who said they¡¯ll never fall with just looks.


    Ah.... forget it. She¡¯s already a hopeless case.


    In the elevator, she noticed that Lu Chen didn¡¯t seem to have any ns on letting her hand go soon. She remembered how many employees are now going home at this hour and if they see them walking hand in hand like this downstairs, the rumor that had died down will definitely spark to life again.


    She peeked at Lu Chen who looked straight in front of him. Many people get intimidated everytime he looks like this. Serious, nk expression and silent.


    She nced at him for a little while longer before sighing.


    She didn¡¯t have ns to reveal their marriage but if it¡¯s just a dating rtionship.... She thinks that it would be fine.


    At least, she could still give a face to Lu Chen who was giving his full efforts in chasing her. She failed to realize that she might¡¯ve slightly hurt him when she suggested keeping their rtionship under wraps. If that¡¯s the case, she can at least let the public know that they¡¯re dating right?


    The moment they stepped out of the elevator, Xiu Mei could hear the gasps and whispers of the people around them. She could faintly hear the sound of a camera shutter at the back but she didn¡¯t bother turning back to check out who dared to take a photo of them.


    Since they¡¯re going public, she might as well get used to this kind of thing.


    When Lu Chen finally drove the car, Xiu Mei got confused when he made a different turn whenpared to their usual route. She gave him a puzzled look as she asked.


    "Are we not going home?"


    "We¡¯ll go hometer."


    ....are there any business appointments that she wasn¡¯t aware of?


    Xiu Mei checked her phone to check Lu Chen¡¯s schedule and she was pretty sure that there weren¡¯t any business-rted appointments after work time today. Was this taken as a special favor?


    But Lu Chen never epted any special favors though. Rather, he strictly set standards for each position he opens.


    So... where are they going right now?"


    Lu Chen nced for a second at the woman beside him and seeing her confused expression, he chuckled. His free hand grabbed her hand and grasped it firmly as he drove rxedly.


    "We¡¯re going on a date."


    "...a date?"


    So suddenly? Right now?


    Xiu Mei looked at her attire. In her working clothes?


    Aren¡¯t she supposed to dress a little bit more special if they go on dates? But here, Lu Chen is just dragging her around in their working attires?


    "Yes, let¡¯s change our clothes first then we can go roam around."


    Oh. Thank goodness.


    Even though Xiu Mei already expected it, she really didn¡¯t think that Lu Chen would really bring her to a small store that sells new and cheap clothes. Ever since he said that they¡¯ll leave the car at a parking lot, she already had a faint hunch in her heart.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t follow the usual development of extravagant dates of CEOs but rather, it seemed like he was going to take her into a simple but lowkey date.


    Xiu Mei looked at Lu Chen who was checking out the clothes and smiled. The extravagant date sounded good but a simple date like this was actually of her cup of tea.


    Since she grew up in a high-profile family ever since she was born, she learned to appreciate doing things like this in a lowkey manner.


    "That denim would look good on you." Xiu Mie pointed at the button down denim top hanging just beside the clothes he was looking at.


    Hearing his wife¡¯s advice, Lu Chen seriously considered her suggestion and looked at it. Grabbing the denim, he epted the simple t-shirt that Xiu Mei handed him.


    He was just nning to go and see the jeans on the other rack when Xiu Mei handed him another hanger.


    "I think this will look good on you, Darling." Xiu Mei sweetly smiled at Lu Chen as she handed over the clothes she wanted him to wear.


    Dazzled by the wife¡¯s smile and her endearment to him, Lu Chen foolishly epted the clothes without even looking at it and walked towards the dressing room.


    Behind him, Lu Chen failed to noticed the glint that shed in Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes as she held back herugh. Since she¡¯s always to the one to get tricked, she should start ying his games and trick him back right?


    Inside, he hung the shirt and the denim top on one side.


    He was just about to hang the jeans when he stopped midway, finally taking a good look at the jeans given by Xiu Mei.


    Lu Chen was startled as his eyes jumped at the piece of clothing in front of him.


    He gulped and felt thorned. His wife... is truly a witch ah.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry after finally realizing that he had fallen to his wife¡¯s schemes this time. So that¡¯s why Xiu Mei had called him ¡¯Darling¡¯ ah.


    ...Wearing ripped jeans at this age, was his wife nning to y a teenager-like date with him?

 Chapter 92 - Arcade

    <h4>Chapter 92 - Arcade</h4>


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei contemted what kind of clothes should she wear. Dress? Skirt? Shorts?


    Her eyes examined the options in front of her. Despite it being a small store, they have a good eye in choosing which clothes to sell.


    After finally making a decision, she a denim jumper shorts and a yellow t-shirt to go over underneath it. She didn¡¯t change immediately though as she stood behind the cubicle where Lu Chen was changing.


    Xiu Mei looked very anticipated on how the clothes will look like on Lu Chen.


    The door clicked open, and Lu Chen exited the cubicle. His appearance caught the attention of every person in the room.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s mouth fell open as soon as he saw him.


    Oh fudge, who is this heartthrob in front of her?


    She already expected that he would still look good wearing a style meant for younger people but she wasn¡¯t expecting that he would look...this hot.


    He was wearing a in white t-shirt underneath the denim jacket which fitted him so perfectly in all angles. Somehow, it entuated his broad shoulders and didn¡¯t look tight at all. The ripped jeans which are in a slightly darker color of the denim jacket he was wearingpleted his look.


    With his slender thighs, the ripped jeans didn¡¯t look too loose when he wore it but rather, it made him look even younger.


    Xiu Mei already pictured Lu Chen wearing matching essories from head to toe and she almost couldn¡¯t stop herself from buying the essories toplete his look.


    Damn, if he didn¡¯t be the president and CEO of Lu Corporation, he can still make money off of his looks as a model!


    "Wife, are you satisfied with this look?" Lu Chen yfully teased her after seeing her reaction.


    It looks like the visual attack works on Xiu Mei as well huh?


    Xiu Mei nodded almost instantly with his question. She really couldn¡¯t deny the ring fact in front of her. She couldn¡¯t even tease him that he looked funny!


    Look, the saleswoman and the cashier are almost drooling at him right now. They would¡¯ve probably pounced on him the moment he came out of the dressing room if she weren¡¯t there at all.


    "Can I fix your hair?" Xiu Mei red at his hair that looked so neat but out of ce with his look.


    Since they¡¯re going for a rugged look, won¡¯t having messier hair look better on him?


    And since his looks would be really problematic when they go aroundter on, should she make him wear the gold-rimmed spectacles that he usually wore? Or would that backfire instead?


    Lu Chen nodded as he bent his body a bit lower so Xiu Mei could fix his hair. She happily destroyed Lu Chen¡¯s neat look and brushed his hair with her hands.


    After seeing her artwork, she gave him a toothy grin and a thumbs up, finally happy with his current look.


    Lu Chen chuckled at her cute antics.


    "Then it¡¯s my turn now." Xiu Mei excitedly went into the dressing room to change. It took her a little longer than usual to change since she changed her current hairstyle as well to match her look.


    She put her hair in a casual messy ponytail, trying to make herself look more of a teenager. Happy with her final look, she walked out of the cubicle to show it to Lu Chen who was also waiting for her outside of the cubicle. He looked funny holding a paper bag full of his clothes, and her bag.


    "How do I look?" She asked while twirling in front of him to show him her full look.


    "You look like Mrs.Lu." Lu Chen teased as he approached her.


    Xiu Mei pouted, annoyed at his answer. This man really...


    "I¡¯m asking you seriously. How do I look?"


    Lu Chen gently smiled at her as he tucked some hair behind her ears. He caressed her hair straightening out some of the strands that stuck out.


    "You look amazing, my wife." He honestly spoke out his feelings and praised her.


    Xiu Mei was delighted to hear thepliment. While Lu Chen paid for the clothes, Xiu Mei grabbed the clothes she was previously wearing and stuffed it inside the paper bag. The two of them returned to the car to leave the unwanted stuff and just kept their wallets and mobile phones with them.


    "So where are we going?"


    Xiu Mei asked as she happily skipped while walking. She enjoyed the view in front of her. She can see a lot of street vendors and people stopping to buy some stuff. There were even stores that a lot of people go to.


    "We¡¯re going on an after-school date."


    After-school date?


    Xiu Mei saw therge number of students passing by the area and so, she concluded that they might be somewhere near some high school right now. But she really didn¡¯t expect that Lu Chen would pull her for an after-school date.


    That sounded so cringey that she didn¡¯t expect that it woulde out of Lu Chen¡¯s mouth.


    "Originally, I nned to have us wear school uniforms but..." Lu Chen trailed his eyes over Xiu Mei¡¯s body and smiled. He didn¡¯t finish his sentence at all but based on what he said and how he looked at her alone, she already understood the message he was trying to say.


    She took a step back and put her arms around her chest as if trying to cover something.


    This.... Don¡¯t tell me he has a weird fetish, does he?


    Lu Chen ignored the weird look she was throwing at him and nonchntly grabbed her hand. He intertwined their fingers together as if they¡¯ve been doing it for so long when in fact, the two of them just started this rtionship less than 3 weeks ago.


    "Let¡¯s go to the arcade."


    The two of them walked for a little bit more and stopped in front of a medium-sized arcade. Inside, it was full of various games being yed by students and other kids.


    Xiu Mei felt nostalgic as soon as she saw this familiar scene. Before, Ying Yue and that jerk of a boyfriend of hers would pull her to this kind of ce back then. They would spend most of their allowances ying here and then she gets an earful of scolding from her mother after knowing that she already ran out of money.


    She was immature and a wastrel at that age thinking that as long as her parents were with her, she can go do whatever she wanted and have no problems at all. And man, she sure was proven wrong.


    Before she could wallow in her deppression, she quickly returned to her senses the moment Lu Chen pulled her to the basketball machine. He handed her a basketball ball and asked, "Do you know how to y this one?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯spetitive spirit lit up to life as she challenged Lu Chen by epting the ball.


    "Of course. The person who loses has to pay for dinnerter."


    Since she grew up with two brothers, they would sometimes pull her to y basketball when she was younger so she can averagely y basketball. And Ying Yue would also y with her like this back then so she¡¯s very experienced in ying this game in the arcade.


    The two of them yed for almost half an hour with Xiu Mei suffering a crushing defeat. With a score of 8 to 2, Lu Chen gloriously won 8 games in a row.


    Xiu Mei red at him as Lu Chen grinned at her. This guy... he purposely lost the first 2 games just so he could stimte her into ying more huh.


    "Fine, I¡¯ll pay for dinner!" She annoyingly threw the ball back to the machine and stomped away.


    Does he think she¡¯s just going to let him win like that? This date won¡¯t be over unless she defeats him!


    And so, the two of them spent almost two hours ying their hearts out in the arcade. All the pent up stress from work and other stuff released by ying multiple games.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t give up and pulled Lu Chen to ying the other game machines. Forgetting the time, they yed until darknesspletely nketed the sky. Xiu Mei waspletely focused in defeating Lu Chen so she did not realize how much time had already passed.


    The couple was having the time of their life ying in an arcade that theypletely forgot the existence of the little bun waiting for them at home.


    Lu Qiang obediently sat on the couch watching some videos on the television while his eyes would nce from time to time on the wall clock above it. His eyes would sometimes turn towards the door as if waiting for someone to open it. He sat ufortably on the couch as he continued to wait for his parents toe home.


    Lu Qiang who was left alone by his parents:...Where¡¯s Mom and Dad? Aren¡¯t they gonnae home?

 Chapter 93 - Nostalgic

    <h4>Chapter 93 - Nostalgic</h4>


    Game over.


    That was what the machine shed before Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes as the gun she was holding hung loosely from her hands.


    "..."


    "..."


    God help her or she¡¯ll really beat Lu Chen up right now.


    Damn it! What kind of date was this? Was he really trying to date her or annoy her? He hadn¡¯t even let her win a single game for thest 2 hours!


    She frustratedly stuffed the gun back in its ce after finishing the shooting game. She red at Lu Chen for onest time before finally giving up on trying to gain a win from him. Seeing the triumphant smile on his face, she thought that Lu Chen now looked more like a teenager than his age.


    "Happy?" She sarcastically asked him.


    Sensing the tone of her voice, Lu Chen quickly wiped off the smile on his face and shook his head.


    "No."


    "You¡¯ve won so many games, and you¡¯re still not happy? So are you saying you still want to continue ying?"


    "...Sorry."


    Lu Chen finally returned to his senses. He bowed his head and apologized to her. Inside his mind, he scolded himself.


    What a great date, Lu Chen ah. Making your wife angry at your date you nned to appease her. At this rate, he¡¯s getting the opposite of the results he wanted.


    Why was he also sopetitive ah?


    "Wife, let¡¯s just go for dinner okay?" He held her hand and asked.


    "Oh, can¡¯t wait for me to pay for your meal?"


    "..."


    Damn it, the more he speaks the more he¡¯s digging a pit for himself.


    Seeing Lu Chen looking lost like he wasn¡¯t sure what to do anymore, she chuckled. She wasn¡¯t really that angry for consecutively losing games but making Lu Chen lose hisposure like this is a rare chance for her to tease him.


    "Let¡¯s go." Feeling a bit hungry, she finally dragged him out of the arcade. He obediently followed after her.


    She was looking around the area and spotted a Kebab streetfood stand. Smelling the scent of meat from afar, she finally chose kebab as their dinner for tonight.


    "6 pieces of Kebab and one te of dumplings please." She uttered as soon as they reach the food stand.


    Before Xiu Mei could grab her wallet to get some cash, Lu Chen immediately handed over the vendordy some cash as payment. She raised her eyebrows and sent a questioning look at him.


    "I¡¯m the one who pulled you out for a date so of course, I¡¯ll pay for the food." He¡¯s not that stingy that he has to let his wife really pay for their food. And he¡¯s the one who pulled her out for the date so of course, he should be the one to pay.


    "Oh? Are you feeling guilty?"


    He shook his head and spoke. "How I can let my wife pay for my food?"


    "But I didn¡¯t see you treating me as a wife when you heartlessly defeated me while ying games awhile ago though?"


    "..."


    He really can¡¯t say anything about that.


    Lu Chen chose to shut his mouth instead of saying anything anymore. He realized that he¡¯s just ying a losing game if he tries to argue with Xiu Mei especially when she¡¯s angry.


    After receiving their orders, the two of them looked for a bench to sit on and settled there. cing the kebabs on their side, the two of them started eating their dinner.


    "It feels like I¡¯m back in college." Xiu Mei blurted out as she ate a piece of vegetable.


    "Back then, there would be a lot of stuff to eat outside of my university and I would often go there to grab some snacks or meal."


    Her mind flew back to the times when she was still in college. Since she already lived independently back then, she worked part-time jobs to earn some money to pay for her tuition and allowance.


    She didn¡¯t dare to try applying for a schrship at all since she thought that there would be someone who¡¯ll need it more than her. She thought that schrship is for people who genuinely want to study but are having financial difficulties. Since she hails from a wealthy family, it would be terrible for her topete with those students who aren¡¯t financially stable and would greatly benefit if they have the schrship right? Instead of getting a schrship, won¡¯t it be better if she just asks for money from her parents instead?


    She lived in the dormitory and shared a room with other 3 people. She would sometimes go hang out with them when she has free time or spend the day studying with them since they were taking the same business course.


    While reminiscing her college days, a piece of dumpling appeared in front of her. ncing at Lu Chen who was holding up the dumpling with a stick, she finally opened her mouth and let him feed her.


    "So how did you do in college?" She covered her mouth as she continued chewing on the food inside her mouth.


    While looking at Lu Chen, she just realized that she didn¡¯t really know much about him at all. She only knew him as the president of Lu Corporation and the father of Lu Qiang. But she didn¡¯t know who ¡¯Lu Chen¡¯ really is and was.


    "Hmmm... back then I didn¡¯t have much money to spend so most of my time in the university isposed of working and studying." Lu Chen answered.


    "Since I was lucky enough to get a schrship, I didn¡¯t need to work too much to earn some money. I just worked enough to get by every day and send some money to my cousin and his family."


    Telling his story, he couldn¡¯t help but feel nostalgic. He remembered the days where he¡¯ll stay up all night studying just to finish his homework and prepare for exams. During his free time, he¡¯ll either go to work or spend the day in the library to do some advanced studying.


    Then he¡¯ll find some time on his schedule to visit the old man¡¯s house at least once a week for physical training. He would return to the universityte at night with bruises and all that the professors would sometimes call him to the office to question him if he was hanging out with some bad thugs in the city.


    Back then, he lived a little bit happier despite not having much at all. And it was the past that not a lot of people know about him. They just see him as a genius as a businessman, but what they didn¡¯t see was the hard work he had put in all those years. That his path to sess wasn¡¯t easy at all.


    Xiu Mei who was observing Lu Chen saw the faint changes in his expression. His expression softened a little bit while he was telling his story. She couldn¡¯t help but smile because of that.


    She couldn¡¯t help but pat his head while praising him.


    "You did well for reaching this far." She remarked while Lu Chen stiffened for a second hearing those words.


    He felt something scratching his heart as he took a look at the woman beside him. Somehow, Xiu Mei knew which words would affect him the most.


    You did well.


    It was something that hest heard before he graduated in the university and up to now, it was only Xiu Mei who praised him like this. So hearing those, he felt a bit emotional.


    He ced the food he was holding on the seat and pulled the woman into his arms.


    Xiu Mei got a bit startled with the action but eventually rxed as she patted his back. She wasn¡¯t exactly sure why Lu Chen suddenly hugged her like this but she didn¡¯t push him away.


    The two of them stayed in that position for almost a minute before pulling away.


    "I think the sauce identally dripped on your shirt." She said before pulling away. She took a peek at his back and saw a drop of the sauce on the denim jacket he was wearing.


    "That¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll be going home anyway so there¡¯s no need for me to change." He responded as he picked up the unfinished kebab and resumed eating again.


    "Hmm. Okay." She hummed in agreement.


    The two of them resumed eating when Xiu Mei suddenly stopped her movements again.


    "What? Is something wrong with the food?"


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t answer her but just blinked twice at Lu Chen. She lowered her sight and stared at the watch he was wearing.


    Lu Chen followed where she was looking at and bowed down to look at his watch. It read that it was already past 8 pm. But he couldn¡¯t understand why Xiu Mei was staring hard at it.


    "Wife?"


    "...It¡¯s already past 8."


    "It is."


    "...so we¡¯re having dinner."


    Lu Chen nodded in confusion. "Yeah, we are."


    "..."


    "..."


    "...what about Lu Qiang?"


    "..."


    "..."


    "...huh?"

 Chapter 94 - Coax

    <h4>Chapter 94 - Coax</h4>


    The husband and wife immediately rushed home as soon as they realized that they¡¯ve forgotten to inform Lu Qiang that they¡¯ll be homete. Xiu Mei even brought some food and desserts to coax the child if he¡¯s angry.


    The ride took almost an hour and as soon as they opened the door, they saw that one of the lights in the living room is still on. The nanny, who was standing in the hallway, nodded at them before turning around to return to her room. It seems like she was still watching over Lu Qiang since they weren¡¯t home yet.


    Xiu Mei nodded back and hastily removed her shoes. She briskly walked towards the living room and there, she saw Lu Qiang curled up on the sofa. He fell asleep while waiting for them to get home.


    The two of them paused as soon as they saw this scene. They thought that they¡¯ll be wee by a fuming Lu Qiang but instead, they were weed by such a cute scene.


    Xiu Mei found Lu Qiang adorable at the moment as she lightly caressed his hair.


    Was this day too tiring for him? Did he study so much and finished a lot of homework that¡¯s why he¡¯s tired?


    "I¡¯ll carry him upstairs." Lu Chen uttered as he walked around the sofa and bent down to carry the little kid.


    Carrying his slippers, Xiu Mei followed behind Lu Chen to Lu Qiang¡¯s room. But before they could even reach his room, Lu Qiang slowly woke up while in his father¡¯s arms.


    Feeling that someone was carrying him, the little kid opened his eyes and was weed by the sight of his father¡¯s chest. Lu Chen¡¯s steps paused as soon as he saw the little kid woke up from slumber.


    "Awake?" He asked.


    Lu Qiang unconsciously nodded, still a bit drowsy. But after a few seconds, he finally remembered.


    THEY DIDN¡¯T COME HOME TO EAT DINNER WITH HIM!!!


    As soon as he remembered that his parents didn¡¯t call him at all that they¡¯ll be homete, he kicked a fuss in Lu Chen¡¯s arms. He tried kicking and punching Lu Chen as he tried to get away from his arms.


    Xiu Mei, seeing him throwing tantrums quickly stepped in and tried to get him from Lu Chen¡¯s arms. However, the kid didn¡¯t stop throwing his arms around and identally pped away Xiu Mei¡¯s hands that were trying to reach out to him.


    Seeing this, Lu Chen quickly held him properly preventing him from moving around anymore.


    "Lu Qiang!" He unconsciously raised his voice as he tried to stop the kid from his tantrums. Lu Qiang immediately stopped as soon as he noticed that his father was already getting angry.


    He looked at his parents as if he was being wronged as soon as his father yelled at him. Xiu Mei immediately felt guilty when she saw this so she threw a re at Lu Chen as if she was saying that he was being too much.


    Lu Chen who was red at by the wife:...but you were the one I was angry for.


    Damn it, he got angry for his wife and the wife gets angry at him in return. Seriously, why are girls so hard to understand ah?


    "Lu Qiang~" Xiu Mei tried coaxing him but the little guy, for the first time, turned his head and ignored her.


    "..."


    Fine, he can¡¯t be coaxed that easily ah.


    Lu Chen quickly brought him to his room andid him on the bed, making Lu Qiang sit up. He immediately turned his back to his parents and sulked.


    Bad Mommy. Bad Daddy. How can they forget him ah?


    Did they think he was eas to coax ah? Don¡¯t they dare try to lie to him. He can smell the scent of meat from their clothes!!


    The two ate out without him!!


    The more he thought of it, the more Lu Qiang didn¡¯t wanna talk to them.


    The pair turned speechless as they watched their kid turned his back on them.


    Xiu Mei quickly sent a look at Lu Chen who was also looking at her right now. Theymunicated with their eyes as if they could understand each other. Seeing that Lu Chen wasn¡¯t nning to coax the child at all, Xiu Mei immediately hit him in his arm, annoyed that he didn¡¯t seem too concerned to apologize to the kid that¡¯s all.


    Seriously, why is he being like this?! God help her or she¡¯ll really beat him up.


    She clicked her tongue at him while fiercely ring at him before finally sitting on the bed, just beside Lu Qiang¡¯s as she hugged him by his shoulders.


    "Little Qiang, Mommy is sorry okay~" She bent her body a little bit so she could be face to face with the little kid. Seeing his cheeks both puffed up as he sulked, Xiu Mei stopped herself from pinching his cheeks.


    The kid just moved his eyes away from her and continued ignoring her. Xiu Mei did not give up and continued cuddling him. She peppered him with kisses in his cheek and forehead as she tried appeasing him.


    "I¡¯m sorry, little Qiang. Forgive Mommy and Daddy okay?"


    "Do you want some hawthorns? Or some kebab? Mommy bought you food to eat!"


    "What do you want us to do? Do you want Mommy to sleep beside you tonight?"


    "Little Qiang~"


    The kid didn¡¯t budge at all no matter how many times she tried coaxing him.


    Xiu Mei sent a ¡¯Help¡¯ look at Lu Chen, convincing him to coax the child as well. He sighed, surrendering to his wife¡¯s request and quickly moved beside the child.


    "1 hour at the shooting range." Is what Lu Chen uttered that immediately piqued his interest.


    Hearing what his father said, Lu Qiang immediately lightened up as he raised his head to look at his Father.


    "No take backs?"


    "If you behave."


    "Deal!"


    Xiu Mei who did her best to coax him:...


    So is that all what it takes to cheer him up?


    Wait. Shooting range?


    Xiu Mei sent a questioning look at Lu Chen, as if asking him to confirm whether what she was thinking was what he was nning to do. Lu Chen nodded.


    ...Is he seriously letting the child practice a gun at such a young age?!


    Before she could even protest, Lu Qiang quickly returned to his old self and jumped off from his bed to run towards his bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. While he was away, Xiu Mei took the opportunity to scold the father.


    "What the hell are you trying to teach to a kid?" She immediately pped his arm while scooting closer to him.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m training him properly."


    "That¡¯s not the point!"


    "It will be fine. It¡¯s just a part of his training so he can protect himself in the future. And he enjoys it." Lu Chen assured Xiu Mei that she has nothing to worry about with Lu Qiang ying with guns.


    Sincest year, he noticed his son¡¯s fascination with guns. At first, he yed with some toy guns but eventually, he managed to steal away the gun from one of his bodyguardsst year after trying to fool them.


    It caused him to get scolded by him for almost an hour but he eventually allowed him to y with guns, but only with a guardian and inside a shooting range for practice.


    "You... isn¡¯t he too young for that?"


    "There¡¯s no such thing as too young if it benefits him when he grows up."


    "My parents didn¡¯t let me touch guns this young."


    "What about your brothers?"


    "..."


    "See?"


    "Still...."


    Xiu Mei was very worried about Lu Qiang¡¯s well being and how it will impact his childhood. Is it really okay to let him learn about guns this young?


    "Also, it¡¯s not the guns you should be worried about." Lu Chen patted her hair as if trying to raise her spirits. Xiu Mei tried to dodge his touches getting annoyed at him.


    "Then what?"


    "Your son has insane tech skills."


    "Tech skills? So he¡¯s good withputer and stuff?"


    Lu Chen looked at her as if it was a very unfortunate thing that she wasn¡¯t aware of that fact.


    "Remember the rumor?"


    "What rumor?" She titled her head in confusion. What was he talking about? Why did it suddenly jump to that topic?


    "Dating rumors."


    "...Ah! Yes, that one. Hey, now that I remember. You didn¡¯t try to rify that at all!" She poked his chest as she used him of not properly cleaning up that dating rumor.


    "Well, I did say I¡¯ll never you escape so it didn¡¯t matter whether I rified the rumor or not. But that¡¯s not the point. That rumor, did you really think I started that?"


    Xiu Mei stopped to think. "Didn¡¯t you?"


    Lu Chen shook his head. Before Xiu Mei could ask who, she saw Lu Chen turning his head towards the direction of the bathroom.


    She followed where he was looking at. After a few seconds, the truth dawned on her.


    Her sight immediately returned to Lu Chen who nodded at her, who already predicted what she was going to ask.


    Xiu Mei gasped as she fell speechless while returning her sight towards the bathroom. She kept her eyes glued on the door until it opened and a little kid exited the room.


    "..."


    Doubts seeded in her heart.


    Who she thought of as a harmless puppy.... Was she actually nurturing a cunning wolf pup?

 Chapter 95 - His Parents

    <h4>Chapter 95 - His Parents</h4>


    The next morning, the three had breakfast together as usual. Xiu Mei was back to being her carefree self, the topics fromst night thrown at the back of her head. Lu Qiang ate the hawthorn as a dessert, the one they boughtst night as a bribe that didn¡¯t work at all.


    "Mom, are youing with us tomorrow?"


    "Hm?"


    Xiu Mei was caught off guard with the question so she wasn¡¯t able to quickly respond. She faintly nced at Lu Chen before returning her look at the little kid on the opposite side of the table.


    "Of course, Mom would be with you tomorrow."


    "Hmm!"


    Then he returned to eating his dessert. Xiu Mei¡¯s sight stayed at his figure for a few more seconds before looking away, suddenly feeling heavy after answering that question.


    Tomorrow is Lu Qiang¡¯s parents¡¯ death anniversary. She knows its normal for a kid to remember his biological parents¡¯ death anniversary but if you think about it, it¡¯s a date that you wouldn¡¯t really want to remember at all. After all, it¡¯s the date when his parents were taken away from him.


    Her mood turning sour, she went to work in that kind of mood. She tried to erase that thought in her mind by distracting herself with work but somehow, it really weighed heavier than ever for her.


    Until lunchtime came and she was back at sitting in front of Lu Chen.


    "Is something wrong?" Lu Chen clipped a piece of sausage in her bowl as he continued, "You seem out of it since morning."


    Since Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t moving her chopsticks at all, Lu Chen got a bit worried. What was she so worried about that she suddenly lost her focus? It¡¯s not like her to suddenly lose focus ah. No matter how many times he made her angry in the past or how much pressure she had to face, she stayed unfazed and got more focused instead.


    But right now, she was even losing focus while eating.


    "Lu Chen, can I ask a question?"


    "Hm.??


    "Can you tell me more about Lu Qiang¡¯s parents?"


    "..."


    Lu Chen¡¯s hand that was reaching out for the piece of tomato stopped moving. He stared at Xiu Mei that was looking at him with a troubled look on her face. Then he remembered what the kid asked her this morning and he immediately understood.


    Sighing, he leaned on the couch after cing back his food on the table.


    "Lu Qiang¡¯s father, my cousin, took me in when I was still in junior high school. His family took me in after my mother died from a terminal illness. Since there¡¯s no one left in my mother¡¯s side to take me in, my father¡¯s brother brought me to his family."


    While he was telling this to Xiu Mei, Lu Chen couldn¡¯t help but feel as if he was back in the old days.


    "My cousin, Lu Yu Xiao, was seven years older than me. Since he was also an only child, the two of us grew up like siblings. He was working as a prosecutor when he met his wife."


    Lu Chen pulled out his phone and looked for the old family picture that Lu Yu Xiao sent him when Lu Qiang was born. He ced it on the table and showed it to Xiu Mei.


    "This is my cousin, and this one is his wife, Jing Li Yan."


    Xiu Mei leaned forward to look at the picture, there she saw a man who was 6 to 7 points simr to Lu Chen and a girl that still looked pretty despite looking tired in the picture. She understood that this image was probably taken right after Lu Qiang¡¯s mother gave birth.


    She realized that Lu Qiang looked mostly like his mother, but when he smiles, his eye smile looks exactly like his father. From this photo, she could feel the warmth and happiness that his parents must¡¯ve felt when he was born in this world.


    Looking at their smiles, she knew that Lu Qiang was loved and cherished by the couple when he was still a baby.


    They would¡¯ve looked forward to seeing Lu Qiang grow up... but they can¡¯t anymore.


    Her finger unconsciously reached out to Lu Qiang who was still wrapped in cloth, looking all wrinkly. She rubbed her finger on the screen as if she was trying to touch the baby.


    Lu Qiang looks so cute in the image. It must¡¯ve been more adorable seeing that small hands and feet of his.


    Her lips unconsciously curled up.


    "The two of them got married before I graduated in the university. Then a yearter, Lu Qiang was born."


    Xiu Mei continued listening to Lu Chen while she kept her eyes on the image.


    "A few months after Lu Qiang was born, my cousin told me he was nning to migrate abroad with his wife and son. I said I was fine with that and I could take care of his parents in his ce but then one day, his parents visited me in the office."


    Lu Chen¡¯s hands clenched as he remembered that day. It was as if that day was shing before his eyes once again like a movie.


    "They told me they were going out for a date for a few days. I asked him why didn¡¯t they leave the baby to his parents¡¯ care instead since I was busy with thepany and all, but he justughed. Then he punched me in the arm and scolded me for being a terrible Uncle. He wasining that I wasn¡¯t visiting my nephew enough so he sent the baby to me to watch over. After that, the two of them went to the airport and traveled to a different city."


    Lu Chen remembered looking so stupid in front of the baby on the stroller. The baby looked at him with his wide and innocent eyes as if he was examining the new environment in front of him.


    Reading the long list of reminders that his cousin gave him, he sighed in defeat. He leaned over towards the child and like a foolish a.d.u.l.t, he said hi to the baby and introduced himself once again just in case the baby didn¡¯t really remember him.


    Back then, he was still starting hispany from the ground up. He had a lot of things to do and now, he still has to look after such a small baby.


    Since he didn¡¯t have any experience in babysitting, he was at a loss on how to change the baby¡¯s diapers when he poops. He didn¡¯t even know when to change his diaper and only when he could faintly smell the scent of poop that he changes his diaper.


    He didn¡¯t even know how difficult it was to feed a baby. He remembered almost getting angry while he was trying to feed the baby. The infant Lu Qiang would often throw the baby bottle away before he finally gets tired and eats it. He had to make the baby form multiple times every time it spills on the ground after the baby bottle kept being damaged by the baby.


    It was then that he fully realized how strong a baby could be. Looking at the pile of baby bottles ruined in just a day, he feared that this baby would grow up to be a headache in the next few years.


    He surrendered to his fate and just continued taking care of the baby. He¡¯ll make sure to spend some time with him to y despite his busy schedule so that the baby would be tired enough to sleep in the afternoon and at night just like what was written in the reminders.


    Even if he¡¯s already dead tired at night, he¡¯d still find time to keep the babypany and wash him. He¡¯d coax him for almost an hour before the baby finally sleeps. Then he would sometimes wake up when the baby cries for no reason and it was back to the routine of hugging him and lightly patting his back to make him sleep.


    His day continued normally with the baby as an additional part of his schedule. And it was only after the 3rd day that he received a call that ultimately changed his whole life.


    That morning, he messaged his cousin about the current status of his son like he¡¯s ying happily and he already finished feeding him. He continued doing his work and it was after lunchtime when he received a call from an unknown number. Perplexed, he answered the call.


    "Then I received a call," Lu Chen uttered while looking at Xiu Mei.


    "It was from the police. After confirming who I was, it was then that they informed me that my cousin and cousin-inw were involved in a shooting spree. They were eating at a restaurant at that time when the shooter forced his way in and went on a shooting spree killing almost everyone inside."

 Chapter 96 - Are you scared?

    <h4>Chapter 96 - Are you scared?</h4>


    He paused for a little while as he remembered every bit of that memory from that day. As soon as he heard that, he quickly booked a flight with Lu Qiang in his arms. He called his Uncle and Aunt to inform them of the news as well and the two of them rushed as soon as possible.


    Seeing that lifeless body of his cousin and his wife in that table knocked the air out of his lungs. If it wasn¡¯t for the baby he was holding, he would¡¯ve surely stormed out to beat up the shooter who did those things. Watching his Uncle and Aunt break down in front of the two bodies, the baby seemed to sense the current situation as well. He cried so loudly that day as if he knew that his parents already left him alone in this world.


    "The police did an investigation about the shooter and they tried to figure out the motive behind that shooting spree. The shooter just confessed that he did out of spite to all the people who looked so happy living their lives and he was just left to live in difficulty. So they summed it up as envy."


    His fist clenched as he remembered the police informing him that they were closing the investigation since they¡¯ve finalized the motive and all. But Lu Chen did not stop there. With the power he gained from the old man, he mobilized his people and had them investigate the background of the shooter.


    He found some things that did not fit the puzzle so he grew more suspicious. Later on, he found out that his cousin¡¯s wife, Jing Li Yan, got involved with him while she worked as a reporter. Digging deeper, his cousin was involved with a case rted to him as well.


    Since the shooter wasn¡¯t directly rted to both cases, it didn¡¯t look like he would both know them at all.


    As he continued digging deeper into the truth, a couple of his men met their demise. It wasn¡¯t unusual with their line of work, but to kill a couple of his men that were assigned to follow the case was murdered less than a day, in different areas of the city.


    Clearly, someone was aware that he¡¯s hot on the case and there must be a mastermind behind that. And that someone didn¡¯t want them digging deeper, hence warning him by killing his men.


    He didn¡¯t want to stop.


    He treated his cousin as his older brother. His wife was like his older sister.


    He watched the baby who was innocently eating in front of him unaware that he had just be an orphan.


    If that person was determined to kill his cousin and his wife, he finally realized the danger it has for Lu Qiang.


    That person was probably aware of Lu Qiang¡¯s existence, and who knows, one day that person might go after Lu Qiang next.


    Lu Chen¡¯s forehead creased as his face grew dimmer. He was used to getting himself involved in dangerous cases, but this time, his family was getting involved into one too.


    "Since it wasn¡¯t the real truth, I realized the danger Lu Qiang could be potentially in. Originally, I nned to have Uncle take care of the baby since no one from the wife¡¯s family was stepping up to adopt him, but if his life was in danger, I couldn¡¯t dare leave him in my Uncle¡¯s hands."


    His eyes glinted as his eyes narrowed. His clenched fist trembled in hisp.


    "I applied as a legal guardian and worked on his papers to officially adopt him. After that, I took care of him until he grew up like the kid you know as of now."


    Xiu Mei listened to Lu Chen as his mood continued fluctuating. She watched his expression change to loneliness to anger to a determined one. This was the first time she was seeing him get so emotional.


    She was used to his aloof and cold side. His smiling and flirty side. His teasing side. But this one, he was showing so much emotion on that cold expression of his.


    Listening to his story, she fully realized that things really weren¡¯t as simple as it seems.


    She¡¯d heard that they died, but she didn¡¯t expect that there was such a dangerous story behind it.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes paused at Lu Chen and their gazes met.


    Somehow, the two of them are quite simr but different.


    She has his own nightmares and he has his own. It may be different but the pain and struggles were almost simr. It wasn¡¯t really right to think like this but somehow, she felt closer to him.


    "I¡¯m sorry, I made you remember such a terrible memory." She apologized to him.


    As a person with firsthand experience, she knew how difficult it was to always remember that terrible memory that would always fill you with torment. She couldn¡¯t even remember thest time she talked to someone about the incident she had 10 years ago.


    "It¡¯s fine." Realizing that he was losing his grip in his emotions, Lu Chen took a deep breath as he slowly triedposing himself once again.


    "It¡¯s better that you know the story as well. Since you¡¯ll be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother, I would¡¯ve told you this sooner orter if you didn¡¯t ask about it."


    After that, the whole room fell into a deafening silence. As if they didn¡¯t know how to continue their current conversation any longer or was it even right to just suddenly change the topic to something a bit livelier.


    Lu Chen stared at Xiu Mei who kept looking at the image on the phone and wondered.


    "Are you scared?"


    "What do you mean???


    "After hearing that, aren¡¯t you scared?"


    Xiu Mei nced at Lu Chen. Even though his previous expression a while ago was now wiped off his face, she didn¡¯t miss the slight anxiousness in his voice.


    "Do you want me to be scared?" She asked, straightening her back while slightly tilting her head.


    "No." Lu Chen honestly answered her question.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t respond immediately, but she stood up from her seat and walked over to his side. She sat beside him and leaned over to him. Resting her head on his shoulder, she finally answered his question.


    "You said you married me because you wanted to protect me."


    She looked at him by resting her chin on his shoulder as she continued speaking, "And you adopted Lu Qiang because you wanted to protect him."


    Lu Chen turned his head to look at her, making their faces a few meters closer to each other. But Xiu Mei didn¡¯t move away and finished what she was trying to say.


    "How can I be scared if the reasons that Lu Qiang and I are now living so freely is because you worried and loved us enough to risk your life to protect us." She reached out for his hand and interlocked their fingers.


    "You had a choice to ignore it, but you didn¡¯t look away. And instead, you bravely stood in front of us, trying to cover us from wind and rain. You said you wanted to know if I was scared, so listen to me."


    She took a deep breath before honestly spoking out her deepest thoughts.


    "No, I¡¯m not scared. When I listened to your story, I realized once again how courageous you are and dyou¡¯re not the person people thought you to be. Being a father isn¡¯t an easy task, but you willingly took that role for the sake of Lu Qiang. Then being a good husband is a different role with its own responsibilities as well, but you still proposed to me and promised me that you¡¯ll do your best to be a good husband."


    Her grasp on his hand tightened as the emotions inside her seems to slowly spillover through her words. She warmly smiled at him, as she continued her words.


    "People say you¡¯re like a robot, a heartless emperor ordering people around. But what I see is a man that has so much love to give that he would willingly be a knight in shining armor for the people he cares about."


    "Lu Chen, I haven¡¯t really said this to you before but thank you. Thank you for saving me, for being there for me. You didn¡¯t even ask me about the story that kept haunting me, and even though I¡¯m quite sure you somehow knew something about it, you didn¡¯t speak about it anything at all. You just kept staying at my side, bringing me to your home for safety and just protecting me without trying to open my wounds."


    She could feel tears slightly pooling in her eyes, but she tried blinking it all away. She didn¡¯t want to cry.


    With her free hand, she reached out and caressed his face.


    "Lu Chen, I will never feel scared as long as you¡¯re by my side."

 Chapter 97 - Day 1

    <h4>Chapter 97 - Day 1</h4>


    "Lu Chen, I will never feel scared as long as you¡¯re by my side."


    For the first time in his life, Lu Chen was dozing off during work. His eyes glued on the desktop in front of him, yet he didn¡¯t make any progress at all. He looked so out of it that fortunately, he didn¡¯t have any meetings scheduledter that afternoon.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s words reyed in his mind again.


    He reached out and ced his hand to where his heart was. It was crazily pounding as if it was trying to escape from his body. Weirdly, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from smiling too. He grinned like a little boy that foolishly smiled whenever he¡¯s with his crush. That kind of feeling.


    "Xiu Mei..."


    His eyes trailed back to the part of the room where his two couches are. It felt like the scene a while ago was shing before his eyes once again and he could hear Xiu Mei¡¯s confession to him over and over again.


    His hands flew to his mouth, trying to hold back the foolish-like smile that was appearing in his face.


    What is this feeling?


    He wondered. He was filled with the emotion of bliss. Is this what they say the feeling of love is? Or is it just a like?


    He wasn¡¯t sure. Even while chasing his wife, he kept true to his words. He didn¡¯t only promise to protect her and be a good husband to her. He also promised her before that he will love her if the feeling he has right now isn¡¯t still love.


    Can humans really force themselves to love someone? No.


    So Lu Chen was slowly learning. He was slowly learning to love Xiu Mei. Slowly, she¡¯s bing a precious person to him that he couldn¡¯t let go anymore.


    Living in one roof, he tried her best to know her. He wanted to know the different sides that no one knows, her habits, what she likes, and other relevant stuff that defines ¡¯Xiu Mei¡¯.


    And now, finally knowing that Xiu Mei trusts him so much that she felt secured by his side, he held himself back from really kissing her.


    She didn¡¯t know that at that time, she looked like a prey that he wanted to ravage.


    Xiu Mei... his wife.


    "Wife..." That word rolled sofortably in his mouth as if it was the most perfect name to call her with. That the endearment ¡¯wife¡¯ was always meant to be hers.


    And that¡¯s how the emperor CEO spent the rest of the afternoon dozing off for the first time in his life because of his wife.


    The next day.


    The family of three got up pretty early to prepare for the day.


    Xiu Mei already packed their bags the night before so they didn¡¯t need to do any packing that morning. After having a simple breakfast, the three of them went straight to the airport to catch their flight.


    The three of them sat in the Premium Economy ss seat. Their travel time is only a few hours and buying first-ss for such a short flight seemed a bit too much. Also, the two of them are not nning to hide their ¡¯dating¡¯ status rtionship at all so it was fine for both of them if someone sees them together.


    They can write all they want and Xiu Mei and Lu Chen wouldn¡¯t even care. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s the truth anyway.


    "Why don¡¯t you get some more sleep?" Xiu Mei proposed to Lu Chen, remembering that he was up untiltest night trying to finish up some important doc.u.ments so he could free up his time today and tomorrow.


    "Hmm. Then wake me up when there¡¯s something." Pulling out his own sleeping mask, he inclined his seat and slept.


    Since the big guy is asleep, Xiu Mei signaled for Lu Qiang to behave so he wouldn¡¯t wake up his father. The little kid obediently nodded and returned to ying on his tablet. Seeing that Lu Qiang looks fine ying all by himself, she left him in his own devices and pulled out a book.


    An hour passed and all the lights in the ne were now dimmed. Most of the passengers asleep in their seats and some are busy with their own stuff. Pausing from her reading, she looked both her sides and realized that the two men with her were now all dead asleep.


    Xiu Mei found them very adorable at that moment so she couldn¡¯t help but giggle.


    She was about to return to reading her book when she suddenly felt a heavy gaze in her direction. Growing up in a military family or maybe it runs in her blood, she could quickly feel when someone is looking at her.


    Though most of the time, she usually shrugs it off whenever she feels a gaze on her. But this time, she felt a bit nervous. She doesn¡¯t know if it¡¯s because she¡¯s afraid that maybe that person eyeing her is dangerous or if it¡¯s because right now, she¡¯s worried over her son and Lu Chen.


    She stiffened in her seat, as she waited for that heavy feeling to disappear. She was quickly distracted by the flight attendant that was asking if she wanted some juice or water. After that short exchange with the flight attendant, Xiu Mei realized that the heavy feeling was now gone.


    She sighed, her eyes shifting in between Lu Chen and Lu Qiang. Maybe she was just getting paranoid?


    Shaking her head, she immediately shrugged the thought in her head and returned to reading her book.


    Beside her, she didn¡¯t notice that Lu Chen was already awake for quite a while. He stayed still for a few minutes as if he was waiting for something. Gradually, he rxed and returned to his slumber.


    After that 4-hour flight, someone picked them up from the airport and dropped them off at the hotel. After receiving the key to the president suite, the three of them took a short rest at the living room while waiting for their meal to be delivered in their suite.


    "Dad, the security system here is terrible." Lu Qiang blurted out while he was ying with his tablet. Lu Chen who was sitting beside him leaned over to look at his screen and replied in agreement to his statement.


    Hearing their exchange, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but be speechless. It felt like her normal and average IQ took a hit after listening to them.


    Damn it! Was that how two geniuses look like when they talk about something as if the topic they were talking about were something normal?


    I mean, who arrives at the hotel and sits down for a few minutes then just tells off that their security system sucks?


    That did not sound a normal conversation at all!


    "You hacked their security?" She raised her left eyebrow as she probed.


    Xiu Mei sat separately from them so she couldn¡¯t easily lean over to see what¡¯s on Lu Qiang¡¯s tablet. And even if she could, god knows she won¡¯t even understand whatever is shing on that thing at all.


    "No, I just tested it, Mom." Lu Qiang eximed while keeping his head down to look at his tablet.


    "..." So he did?


    Xiu Mei quickly gave up and did not try asking him anymore. She didn¡¯t really want to know what they¡¯re talking about anymore because somehow, she has this gut feeling that the less she knows, the better.


    Heck, it hasn¡¯t really fully registered in her brain that Lu Qiang was a tech genius. At that age. Like how do you be a tech genius at such a young age?


    It¡¯s not she can just buy something in the bookstore and memorize it and vo! She can hack everything now.


    She looked at Lu Chen who was pointing out something in Lu Qiang¡¯s tablet. Something clicked inside her head after seeing that.


    Well, if it was Lu Chen, he does look like a person that would teach a kid about technology and stuff. He wouldn¡¯t probably even realize that the topic he was teaching was so difficult for a normal kid to learn, but since that kid is Lu Qiang, it works.


    Xiu Meimented her current situation. She scratched her chin as she worried.


    But is this really fine? Hacking a private hotel... isn¡¯t that illegal?


    Her thoughts were cut off with the sound of the doorbell ringing. Immediately, her paranoia kicked in.


    Is that the police?! They¡¯re here?! They tracked them that fast and arrived at the hotel in such a short time?


    Lu Chen stood up from his seat to open the door. Xiu Mei wanted to stop him from opening the door, but Lu Chen just looked at the doorhole then finally opened the door.


    Seeing the cart full of food being pushed into the room, Xiu Mei felt like hitting herself.


    Gawd, she was imagining too much. What was she even thinking? Stupid Xiu Mei.


    Looks like she should have a short nap to stop her from being too paranoid ah.

 Chapter 98 - Good Mother

    <h4>Chapter 98 - Good Mother</h4>


    After having their lunch at the hotel, the family of three immediately changed into a more solemn attire and traveled to the cemetery. They first stopped by at a nearby flower shop to buy some chrysanthemums.


    Xiu Mei observed the surroundings while they walked to Lu Qiang¡¯s parents¡¯ graves. The first thing she saw was the lined up tombstones that reach until as far as she could see. She could clearly see that the ce was very well maintained with all the grasses neatly trimmed and there¡¯s no patch of mud exposed. Even the tombstones were very well cleaned.


    After walking for a little while, Lu Chen and Lu Qiang finally stopped in front of a tombstone. Engraved in it were the pictures and two names she¡¯d heard yesterday--Jing Li Yan and Lu Yu Xiao. Her eyes grew solemn.


    Lu Qiang slowly knelt in front of the grave to put the bouquet in front of the tombstone. She noticed that the kid paused.


    His eyes glued on his parents¡¯ names, Lu Qiang reached out and traced his parents¡¯ picture with his fingers. He doesn¡¯t remember anything at all, and he wasn¡¯t sure if he was very fortunate to not remember at all. Because wouldn¡¯t it be harder for him to ept that he was already an orphan if he could remember them at all?


    The kid stayed like that for a few minutes before finally standing up and standing to the side. He brushed away the pieces of grass that stuck on his knee when he knelt down.


    Next to give their respects was Lu Chen and Xiu Mei.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t say much and finally introduced Xiu Mei to them.


    "This is my wife, Xiu Mei. She¡¯s also the one who¡¯ll be standing as a mother to Lu Qiang from now on." Lu Chen briefly introduced her.


    She felt a bit pressured when Lu Chen spoke about her being a mother to Lu Qiang but she didn¡¯t step back and bravely introduced herself.


    "Hello, my name is Xiu Mei. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re watching over us somewhere but please rest assured that I???ll be a good and proper mother to your son. I will love him as much as you did and shower him with affection."


    Feeling the smooth gravestone with her hands, she continued.


    "I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll do it well but I will do my best to be a qualified mother. Also, thank you for giving birth to such a wonderful child, Ms.Jing. If you could see Lu Qiang right now, you¡¯ll see how much she looks like you."


    Turning her head towards Lu Qiang, she smiled with so much tenderness at the little kid that looked so absent-minded right now. She knew that it must be because he was feeling sad. She remembered his empty eyes back when she first met him and her heart ached a little.


    Yes, right now that she¡¯s his foster mother, she promises to never let that happen again. She¡¯ll apany him and make him happy.


    The three of them stayed for almost an hour before finally deciding to leave when Lu Chen pointed out that it would rain very soon. She looked up to the sky and noticed that the sky indeed had gotten a bit darker than it was an hour ago.


    After the three of them said their goodbyes to the dead couple, they finally left the cemetery.


    Their ride back to the hotel was filled with deafening silence. Lu Chen was looking ahead while Xiu Mei pulled Lu Qiang towards her body. She hugged him by the shoulder and kept him like that without speaking at all.


    When they finally reached the hotel, Lu Qiang quickly returned to his room. Xiu Mei was just about to follow him when she was pulled back by Lu Chen when he grabbed her wrist.


    "Just let him be."


    She nced at the door before turning worriedly at Lu Chen.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Hmm. He¡¯s always like that every time we visit their graves. He¡¯ll just spend a few hours alone in his room and he¡¯lle out fine afterward."


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei did not follow the kid to his room anymore. But she was still worried.


    She bit her lower lip while she stared at the closed door of his room. Would it really be fine to really leave him alone for now?


    "You¡¯re worried about the kid but you¡¯re not worried about me?" Lu Chen tried distracting her from getting even more distressed. She¡¯s not yetpletely recovered so all this trip wasn¡¯t helpful at all for her body.


    For now, he couldn¡¯t afford her getting mentally stressed as well.


    Since she was in front of him, he bent his body slightly to bury his face on her shoulder. He grabbed her by her arms to keep her still as well.


    He ignored it when he sensed that she stiffened for a little bit by his touch but then, she gradually rxed in his arms. Xiu Mei clumsily clung onto his clothes by the waist and patted lightly as if she wereforting a little child to sleep.


    He suppressed the chuckle that was threatening to escape from his mouth. With his face mostly buried on her neck and shoulder, he was filled by her sweet scent that he unconsciously rxed his guard.


    "Are you a kid?" She snorted as if she didn¡¯t believe him at all.


    "I am, so what?"


    What kind of man would get jealous of a kid? Most especially that was his son?


    Ah, here he is. A man named Lu Chen.


    Sheughed at the thought and finally let the a.d.u.l.t man cling to her. Sheforted him for a little when she finally opened her mouth to ask him something.


    "Lu Chen."


    "Hm?"


    "Do you think I¡¯ll be a good mother?"


    Startled by the question, Lu Chen pulled away from Xiu Mei to look at her. He read her expression and he could see the anxiety in her face. Then he remembered what she said at the cemetery, he thought that Xiu Mei must¡¯ve been too pressured to do well in her role as Lu Qiang¡¯s mother.


    He raised his hand and patted her head.


    "You¡¯ll be fine." He brushed her hair with his fingers, feeling the smooth strands in between them.


    "It¡¯ll be hard, but you¡¯ll learn along the way." He looked at her eyes for a few moments then he pulled her towards the sofa to sit.


    He sat beside her and pulled her towards himself before continuing.


    "When I first took the role of being a father, everyone thought that I was not a qualified back then to take care of Lu Qiang. Since thepany was just newly built-up back then, I was too busy taking care of thepany¡¯s affairs that I¡¯ll even forget to eat meals often. Back then, I¡¯ll work even with an IV stuck on my hand so my Uncle and Aunt were very hesitant to leave him in my care."


    Listening to his story, Xiu Mei understood that it must¡¯ve been very difficult for him to open apany from scratch. The first step is always the hardest part to endure.


    "When I was finally recognized as the official guardian, I had topletely change my habits. I¡¯d always bring the baby to my office so I could watch over him since I couldn¡¯t trust leaving him to a babysitter at that time. If I need to go somewhere, I¡¯ll leave him to Lu Shao for a while and finish the job as soon as I can. When Lu Qiang grew older, it was very difficult for me to find time to teach him. He learned to crawl and stand at an early age, and he would mumble incoherent words."


    "But what made all those sacrifices worthy and satisfying was when he finally uttered his first decent word."


    Xiu Mei saw Lu Chen¡¯s expression soften and was gradually filled with tenderness.


    "That¡¯s when it all came back to me. All those sleepless nights while working on some doc.u.ments and coaxing him to sleep, that countless baths that I have to do when he kept throwing the food I was feeding him, when he¡¯d pee a few moments after changing him into a new diaper, and the other things that I did for the very first time in my life. At first, I was very clueless about what to do that I doubted myself whether I could really do it, but slowly learned and got used to that kind of pace as time passed by."


    Lu Chen held Xiu Mei¡¯s hand while his free hand patted her head.


    "That¡¯s why you don¡¯t need to pressure yourself. Just go on your own pace while learning things. And whether you¡¯ll be a good mother, it¡¯s only Lu Qiang who can really judge that." Then Lu Chen nced at the door and chuckled.


    "But seeing how that kid is all over you, I know you¡¯re already doing a great job as a mother figure for him."


    "..."


    "Xiu Mei, you¡¯ll be fine. Trust me."

 Chapter 99 - Chen

    <h4>Chapter 99 - Chen</h4>


    "Xiu Mei, you¡¯ll be fine. Trust me."


    Then she was pulled into a hug by Lu Chen. She let herself be buried in his arms as he triedforting her. He gently patted her back while whispering encouraging words in her ears which made her put down her worry.


    "Hmm. Thank you, Lu Chen." She muttered as she rxed in his embrace.


    "Wife."


    "Mm?"


    "Can I request something?"


    She shifted in his embrace, slightly raising her head meeting his gaze that was a few inches away from her. She gestured for him to continue speaking.


    "Um," Lu Chen cleared his throat. He looked a bit nervous as if he was going to say something that she wouldn¡¯t like at all.


    "Can you call me husband?"


    The instant those words escaped his mouth, the sound of coughing resounded in that enclosed space. Xiu Mei almost pushed Lu Chen, as she covered her mouth trying to stop herself from coughing after choking in her saliva. Damn it, to choke on your own saliva...that was really embarrassing.


    Lu Chen automatically patted her back as if trying to ease her of her pain. She turned her back at him and continued coughing while almost hitting the are between her lungs. Seeing that she wouldn¡¯t stop coughing at all, Lu Chen finally stood up and walked over the counter where the water bottles are.


    Unscrewing the cap, he poured water in a ss and immediately brought it to Xiu Mei to drink.


    She desperately reached out for the ss and chugged down the water. She breathed a sigh of relief after being finally relieved from that misery.


    Ah! Thank God, she thought she was going to die from choking.


    "Are you okay?" Lu Chen probed.


    She nodded as a response while wiping her lips with her hand trying to clean off the water that spilled while she was drinking so desperately a while ago.


    "Sorry, was that too sudden?" Lu Chen rested one of his hands on her shoulder. His forehead creased as his face was filled with guilt.


    Maybe his request was too much after all?


    After he said that, Xiu Mei was reminded again why she choked on her saliva. Her hand unconsciously stroked her chest and neck as she tried to calm herself.


    When she first heard his request to call him husband, she couldn¡¯t believe her ears at all.


    Never in her entire life, did she expect that kind of words to escape from his mouth. She was already quite used with him being out of character sometimes but to think it would reach this level....uh...should she prepare herself from this kind of sudden attacks in the future?


    In the first ce, how did the topic even shift to that?


    "Wife?"


    Cutting off her train her thoughts, she finally faced him seeing the guilt in his face.


    Xiu Mei:...maybe she reacted too much?


    Fl.u.s.tered, she cleared her throat trying to regain herposure.


    "So you want me to call you husband?"


    "Yes, but not exactly like that if you¡¯re ufortable with it." He cupped her hand in his as he continued, "Just probably something that¡¯s a bit more intimate. I saw on the inte that couples usually have something like nicknames that they call each other with so..."


    "...oh."


    Lu Chen felt a bit shy when he confessed that he had been reading articles like that on the inte.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei was amazed to hear that Lu Chen would search that kind of stuff on the inte. She imagined that just like in the dramas she watched before, the CEOs would always ask love advice to his friends or force his secretary to figure out this and that. So she assumed that Lu Shao must¡¯ve been having a rough time these days since Lu Chen clearly looked like a person with no knowledge about romance.


    But it seems that she got it wrong?


    Wait, that¡¯s not even the point. Nicknames huh?


    Xiu Mei remembered her parents. She would always hear them call each other cringey stuff that she and her siblings would always be the one to get embarrassed in their ce. Heck, back when they were younger, her parents were the kind of people to cling into each other. Thank goodness they¡¯ve gotten it more under control before she entered the university.


    Then she thought of the nicknames her brothers would call her and even Brother Lee. It¡¯s a really intimate nickname since it¡¯s not like everyone would call her ¡¯Princess¡¯ right?


    For Lu Qiang, she would sometimes call him little Qiang, darling, or her baby. It sounded right to call him like that so she was doing it so naturally.


    Hmm, thinking about it, even if after her rtionship with Lu Chen changed, at first she called him ¡¯Mr.Lu¡¯ then it changed to ¡¯Lu Chen¡¯. If wepare it to how she calls other people, it¡¯s really nothing special. She wondered if she should really her in a more intimate name ah?


    But... is their rtionship already at the stage of calling each other intimately?


    She bit her lip as she thought it over, ncing at Lu Chen.


    Lu Chen tried making himself look as if he didn¡¯t care about her answer at all but the unsteadiness in his eyes was immediately noticed by her.


    ...well, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s a hard request.


    She sighed, finally giving in to his rare wish. "Fine,"


    She looked at him in his eyes and mumbled, "Chen."


    Immediately after calling him that, she felt her cheeks burning and immediately looked away.


    Why is she getting weird, ah? It feels like something¡¯s tingling in her heart.


    While Xiu Mei was still feeling fl.u.s.tered, Lu Chen who was on the receiving end was in a cloud nine. He couldn¡¯t suppress his lips from curling from delight.


    So it was this kind of feeling ah... somehow, just her calling him that, it was enough to make him happy for a while. Though the kind of happiness from the thumb kiss back then was still a lot better though. Also her confession-like deration.


    "I-I¡¯ll return to my room for now." She was getting too embarrassed to keep looking at Lu Chen so she decided to run away. Anyway, she¡¯ll slowly get herself used to it for now so she won¡¯t be this fl.u.s.tered in the future.


    Lu Chen who wasn¡¯t able to speak anything at all watched his wife escape from him by running back to her room. The smile on his face didn¡¯t disappear and he chuckled as soon as he heard the door closing.


    So cute ah, his wife is too cute.


    And just like that, the family of three went to their own separate rooms for the time being.


    Later that night, just like what Lu Chen said, Lu Qiang dide out of his room hours after locking himself in there.


    She was just about to knock in Lu Chen¡¯s door to ask him what they¡¯re going to have for dinner but she stopped when she heard Lu Qiang¡¯s door opening. She smiled tenderly as she approached him.


    "Hi little Qiang, feeling hungry now?" She patted his head while asking him.


    Lu Qiang nodded in response.


    "So what food do you want for dinner?"


    "To The Paradise."


    "The Paradise?"


    ...Isn¡¯t the name of a bar?


    Before she could ask even further, Lu Chen finally came out of his room. She turned her head to look at him immediately noticing that he changed out of his clothes from this afternoon. It would have been normal for him to change his clothes but.... Why is he wearing a mask and a cap?


    Is he going somewhere shady or something?


    "Are you going somewhere?"


    Lu Chen was fixing the cap he was wearing. "Dinner."


    Xiu Mei was baffled by his answer. He¡¯s going dinner... like that?


    "If we¡¯re going out for dinner, why are you dressed like that?"


    "Ah, because Dad is afraid of the old woman running the ce." Lu Qiang answered on behalf of Lu Chen.


    Xiu Mei still couldn¡¯t understand what the two men are trying to say.


    "Dad almost got harassed by the old woman three years ago by trying to sell of her daughter to him. Then that happens every time we visit the ce annually."


    "..."


    "..."


    Oh so that¡¯s what it was.


    She pitifully looked at Lu Chen who had to cover himself up so much. It¡¯s really hard to be so popr ah.


    "So are you ready to go out?" She asked Lu Qiang, who already changed his clothes as well to something a bit more casual.


    Lu Qiang nodded.


    "Then let me just get my purse then we can go." She returned to her room and grabbed her purse from the room. She also changed her clothes to something more casual seeing that the two men with her were dressed like that.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    The three finally left the hotel and half an hourter, Lu Chen and Lu Qiang guided Xiu Mei to what seemed like a downtown. No matter where she look at, all she could see was the busy streets full of people.

 Chapter 100 - Mrs.Kim

    <h4>Chapter 100 - Mrs.Kim</h4>


    Upon reaching the downtown part of the city, the three of them took their time walking around until they reached a small restaurant.


    "The Paradise..." Xiu Mei mouthed the name as she read the signage at the top.


    So it¡¯s really the name of the restaurant ah...


    Lu Chen did a quick fix of his cap and mask before finally stepping inside the restaurant. Inside, Xiu Mei momentarily paused and admired the interior.


    She didn¡¯t expect such an amazing interior in such a small restaurant. The first thing she saw when the door opened was the hanging leaves that seemed to crawl along the walls. Along with that, the chairs and tables were all made of wood. At the corner of the room, behind the ss was a small pool of water surrounded by bamboo. To apany that, anyone could hear the sound of moving water.


    With all these elements together, anyone could imagine themselves somewhere in the middle of the forest or near the river. Pure peace and surrounded by nature.


    The three of them sat on an empty seat at the corner of the room. After signaling over a waiter, they were given the menu of the store.


    Amazingly, their menu was a mix of Asian cuisine. After fifteen minutes, their orders were finally served.


    She looked very baffled while staring at the foods in front of her. Her chopsticks unconsciously reached out for the food and tasted it. As soon as the food almost melted in her tongue, it almost felt like she was eating one of the greatest foods in the world.


    Waaah...She¡¯d really believe it if the two of them tell her that this ce has a Michelin Star. Everything looks amazing from the ce to the foods!


    "How¡¯d you know this ce?" She nudged Lu Chen with her elbow.


    He scooted closer to her and uttered, "This was the ce where Lu Qiang¡¯s parents first met."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened as she nced at Lu Qiang who seemed to be enjoying the food.


    "So Lu Qiang also knows this?"


    "Yes, I told him his parents¡¯ story. I skipped the nonsense parts my cousin told me though." Lu Chen continued on picking up some food and putting it in her and Lu Qiang¡¯s bowl.


    Used to this, Xiu Mei continued eating it without anyint.


    "Did you like it?" He added.


    "Very much. It¡¯s tastier than some of the fanciest ces I¡¯ve been before." She honestly voiced out her thoughts.


    This kind of ce really proves that the more expensive a meal is, the tastier it is. Look at this ce, the foods are very delectable yet it¡¯s not that pricey. Too bad it¡¯s too far from them, otherwise, she¡¯d really love to visit this ce over and over again.


    "That¡¯s good. The owner is very annoying but the food they make is really good. They¡¯ve been featured for quite a few times on television before so this ce is popr around the area."


    "So you¡¯ve been eating here every time you visit your cousin?"


    Lu Chen nodded. "The food is good plus Lu Qiang seemed to like eating here because of his parents¡¯ story too."


    Before Xiu Mei could even reply, their conversation was immediately cut off by the high pitched voice that suddenly came out of nowhere.


    "My son-inw!!"


    Almost all the customers eating inside the restaurant jumped in surprise and their heads spun to the kitchen entrance including the family of three who was enjoying the meal.


    Xiu Mei looked bewildered after seeing an elderlydy whose eyes seemed to sparkle just like a dog when seeing a treat. She lowered her head and continued eating after deciding to ignore thedy.


    But when she was just about to pick up the spoon again when she heard Lu Qiang and Lu Chen¡¯s conversation.


    "Dad, the witch found you again."


    "He¡¯s probably not talking about me."


    Lu Qiang scoffed at his words. "Dad, are you seriously saying that?"


    "Should I take back that 1 hour at the shooting range?"


    And with that, Lu Qiang immediately shut his mouth. He wanted to take the chance to tease his Dad but he¡¯s still stronger ah. He can only take a win from him if it¡¯s just about his Mom. Because his Mommy loves him more than his Dad.


    Xiu Mei, unaware of the thoughts of her son wanted to ask what were they talking about.


    What witch?


    "Son-inw, you¡¯re back ah!" Xiu Mei was startled when the elderlydy suddenly appeared at their table with all her attention at Lu Chen whose face now looked very grim.


    "Did you finally decide on marrying my daughter?" The elderlydy acted as if she didn¡¯t see that Lu Chen was with other two people, her eyes only stayed in his as if he was a golden prize she has to get.


    "Mrs. Kim," Lu Chen¡¯s expression wiped off his previous expression and immediately wore his deadpan mask. "Again, I am not here to marry your daughter."


    "You¡¯re saying that every year, but you alwayse back here every year."


    Xiu Mei saw the Lu Chen wanted to open his mouth to respond but stopped even before he could start. Somehow, she could guess what he wanted to say but stopped since he¡¯s talking with an elder that he should respect.


    At this time, Lu Qiang stepped in between their conversation.


    "Hi, Mrs.Kim!" He greeted, making his presence known.


    Hearing that, the elderlydy had no choice but to look at him to greet him back, albeit awkwardly.


    "Hi, younger one. Did you like the food?"


    "Mm! It¡¯s good. But Mrs.Kim, you should stop forcing my Dad to marry your daughter ah."


    "Little one, that¡¯s a conversation for a.d.u.l.ts ah. And don¡¯t you want to have a mother ah? My daughter is a good woman for your father."


    Even with talking to the little kid, the elderlydy was being assertive on pushing her daughter to Lu Chen. Hearing that, Xiu Mei blinked twice before getting speechless.


    Xiu Mei:...Am I an invisible person here?


    Or does she have selective attention that she can only see things and people that she wants to see?


    "But I already have a mother, Mrs.Kim!"


    As soon as Mrs.Kim heard that, she returned her attention to the kid again feeling a bit agitated. She tried tough it off like a kid was just telling a lie. "Lying is bad you know?"


    "He¡¯s not lying though." Lu Chen uttered, suddenly pulling Xiu Mei closer to him with his arm sn.a.k.e.d around her waist.


    "Mrs.Kim, I introduce to you my wife, Xiu Mei."


    "..."


    "..."


    Mrs.Kim seemed to fall into a state of shock as she stared wide agape at Lu Chen and then to her. After falling speechless for a few seconds, she instantly felt the displeasure radiating from her when her eyesnded on her figure.


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t able to react quickly too since she was also caught off guard with the sudden introduction. In fact, this may be the first time that she was formally introduced as Lu Chen¡¯s wife to other people aside from her family and subordinates.


    "Oh, that¡¯s too bad." Mrs.Kim¡¯s voice lowered a few degrees in contrast to her high-pitched voice a minute ago. She didn¡¯t even hide the disappointment in her voice and the dislike every time she looks at Xiu Mei¡¯s direction.


    Suddenly caught in an awkward situation, Xiu Mei immediatelyposed herself and gathered her thoughts. She can¡¯t be a coward at this time ah.


    Since Lu Chen brought her here, he must¡¯ve known that things will get to this point and since he didn¡¯t warn her about it, he must¡¯ve been very confident with Xiu Mei¡¯s capability to surpass this obstacle.


    "Hello, I¡¯m Xiu Mei. It¡¯s nice meeting you, Mrs.Kim." Xiu Mei politely introduced herself, and instead of rubbing the truth that she¡¯s Lu Chen¡¯s wife, she opted to leave it out in her first greeting. After all, she didn¡¯t want them to be the center of attention especially that they¡¯re in a pubic ce and Lu Chen and her are still public figures.


    If people see that they¡¯re disrespectful to an elder, surely tomorrow¡¯s headlines would be their faces plus a long list of people scolding them for their terrible behavior.


    Xiu Mei even bowed to her direction as a polite gesture.


    Seeing that the young woman was greeting her with politeness, Mrs.Kim¡¯s anger gradually reduced as she tried to properly greet her back.


    "Nice to meet you as well, I¡¯m Kim Li, but people call me Mrs.Kim here."


    Mrs.Kim eyed her from top to bottom as if she was examining her if she was fit to be Lu Chen¡¯s wife.


    She shifted her attention to Xiu Mei¡¯s unfinished bowl then remarked, "How did you find the food?"


    Sensing that the elderlydy¡¯s anger still did not disappear, Xiu Mei tried ttering her first. After all, who hates hearing apliment?


    "I enjoy them very much! They were all delicious and way better than the ones I¡¯ve eaten before." Xiu Mei did her best to sound as honest as possible. She shed her professional smile that she¡¯d always wear every time she had to interact with their business partners before.

 Chapter 101 - Exercise

    <h4>Chapter 101 - Exercise</h4>


    "I enjoy them very much! They were all delicious and way better than the ones I¡¯ve eaten before."


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t stop there and continued ttering the elderly woman. "Also, I could taste that they all taste very authentic. Did you travel to different Asian countries to perfect these recipes?"


    What she said was a half-truth and half ttery. If we move the elderly woman out of the picture, Xiu Mei greatly enjoyed and appreciated their food.


    Her family would often take vacations in different countries so her tongue is already quite familiar with the signature recipes of each country, and after tasting the food here in ¡¯The Paradise¡¯, all her words are purely admirations and praises.


    Being able to cook them exactly as it tastes and some foods, even better than the ones she tasted abroad, is really amazing.


    She wanted to genuinely praise the owner, but seeing Mrs.Kim¡¯s character, she easily recognized this kind of person.


    Mrs.Kim is definitely the overbearing type of person. After listening in on Lu Chen and Lu Qiang¡¯s story, even though she didn¡¯t know the full story, she can still understand the gist of it.


    This may sound too blunt but in her experience with this kind of person, if you don¡¯t want to spend so much time with them, appeasing them a little bit and talking nice would do the trick. After that, you can finally walk off and pray to the heavens that you won¡¯t meet again.


    Hmm, let¡¯s say it¡¯s kinda like cating a crying child by distracting it with a toy?


    "How did you know?" Upon hearing her response, Mrs.Kim¡¯s high pitched voice returned while she pped her hands together. Right now, she seemed to be enjoying thepliment she was receiving. "My husband and I did some little traveling back in the day then after studying a little bit, everyone seemed to really like the food so we opened up this restaurant. And look, it became one of the most rmended ces to visit in this city."


    Then Mrs.Kim suddenly pulled out her handkerchief andughed a bit arrogantly. "I suppose it¡¯s just a natural talent ah? Hohoho."


    The three people at the table looked at each other and discreetly shook their heads, evidently speechless about this situation. The three of them weren¡¯t sure what toment in that situation.


    Really... Mrs.Kim didn¡¯t even hold back and proudlyplimented herself that it¡¯s a natural talent.


    Xiu Mei did her best to keep that smile on her face when all she really wanted to do was pinch the bridge of her neck after feeling a headacheing.


    "Ms. Xiu, you have such a sweet mouth ah. I¡¯m liking you a bit better now."


    "..."


    But she didn¡¯t say anything though?


    She justplimented her with a couple of lines and then she besbeled as a sweet talker?


    Mrs.Kim¡¯s way of thinking...somehow, she was getting a bit lost.


    "So how long have the two of you been married?"


    The tense mood decreased by more than half by now after that short bit of conversing done by Xiu Mei. Sensing that, Xiu Mei immediately caught on that Mrs.Kim is the type that¡¯s also very easy to appease ah.


    But after the dropping that bomb question to her, she quickly put her guard up and realized that Lu Chen introduced her as his wife.


    My god, was she too happy to be introduced as Mrs.Lu a while ago that they forgot their roles in the public?


    Xiu Mei barely held herself from pinching herself to seriously return to her senses.


    They were dropping such a big secret at the wrong person ah.


    But then she took another second again to think of her answer. If she denied that they¡¯re married, would Mrs.Kim forcibly break off their rtionship to push her daughter in between?


    After foolishly thinking that, she felt a bit stupid.


    Xiu Mei ah, Xiu Mei ah... are you smitten now ah? Is she actually worried that some third party would interfere their current rtionship?


    "Ms.Xiu?"


    "Ah! Sorry about that, My darling just really loves to call me his wife that a lot of people who hear it assumes that we¡¯re already married. But we¡¯re not married yet. It¡¯s definitely in the ns though."


    Xiu Mei noticed that spark in Mrs.Kim¡¯s eyes slowly reigniting but she quickly put out that fire by continuing her words.


    She scooted closer to Lu Chen and leaned on his chest. Lu Chen naturally moved his body to amodate hers as if he¡¯s been doing it for a long time. This action definitely helped in making their acting more natural.


    "My darling and I are just tying a few loose ends before finally taking the next step. After all, my darling is such an eye candy ah!" She cupped Lu Chen¡¯s face and turned it towards her.


    Xiu Mei took that opportunity to pinch his cheeks as if she was a woman so in love with his boyfriend to the point that she finds him very adorable.


    After ying with his face for a few seconds, Xiu Mei returned her gaze to Mrs.Kim. She looked very ufortable seeing her showing affection to Lu Chen, but Xiu Mei didn¡¯t stop there.


    She stood of from her seat and as if she was trying to gossip something, she curled her finger towards herself gesturing Mrs.Kim toe closer.


    After getting close enough, she raised one of her hands and whispered in her ear.


    "Also, my darling loves me too much to look at other girls ah. Every night, he¡¯ll always pull me to do exercises and he loves doing it in different positions every time. Sometimes we¡¯ll get a bit wilder and the next day, I had to be brought to the emergency room for an IV ah."


    Xiu Mei shamelessly whispered that to Mrs.Kim and winked. "I¡¯d really love to have a rest but my darling just loves to exercise so much that my back and legs always feel that they¡¯ll fall apart." She sighed, trying to sound a bit whiny as well as if she was facing a difficult problem.


    "So Mrs.Kim, how do you control your husband when you do ¡¯that¡¯ ah? I¡¯m pretty sure your husband is still bothering you every night since you¡¯re this pretty ah!"


    Of course, she didn¡¯t forget to add the ttery part.


    Mrs.Kim looked at her a bit awkwardly but Xiu Mei noticed that she was grinning a little bit as if she was enjoying hearing that kind of gossip. Mrs.Kim did not even notice that after denying their marriage, she didn¡¯t give her the chance to fire again with another bullet by immediatelyunching another bomb.


    Doesn¡¯t matter that they¡¯re not married, Mrs.Kim should understand that she can¡¯t have her way and force her daughter to Lu Chen. So she had to lie about doing night activities with Lu Chen and showing off their affection.


    Xiu Mei continued on manipting their conversation for a little bit longer before Mrs.Kim finally raised the white g.


    "Oh my, look at that time! I¡¯ve been bothering you for too long. Ms.Xiu, let¡¯s continue our wonderful conversation on your next visit, okay?" And after exchanging a few pleasantries, she finally walked away.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t quickly wipe off that courteous smile on her face and waved goodbye to her until shepletely disappeared behind the kitchen door.


    After waiting a few more seconds, Xiu Mei slumped back on the chair and deeply sighed.


    That was really tiring ah. Mrs.Kim¡¯s gossip capability is through the roof and her knowledge in that area... is very extensive.


    Xiu Mei sighed once again while slowly massaging her temples. She came here to eat ah, not to lie and gossip. She felt like pulling her hair out when the realization of all the things she said a while ago was just dawning on her.


    My god Xiu Mei, you really had the guts to gossip about the nonexistent nightly activities of you and Lu Chen ahhhh!!


    Could she just p her mouth for once for making trouble like this ah?


    What if a reporter hears a word about it ah? Then won¡¯t it be too embarrassing?


    Ahhhhh seriously, what was she even thinking spouting nonsense like that! Shameless! Too shameless!!!


    While Xiu Mei willowed in shamelessness, she didn¡¯t notice that the other two people on the table were looking at her. It seems like she hadpletely forgotten the existence of these two people when she was gossiping thoughtlessly.


    The little one looked at her with a very confused expression while the other one was acting a bit weirdly.


    Lu Chen¡¯s expression still looked a little cold and nk, but if one would look closely, they can definitely see the slight changes in him. His gaze darkened a little bit, and his breathing a bit faster than usual. He was even clenching his fist tightly under the table as if he was trying to suppress something.

 Chapter 102 - The Gift

    <h4>Chapter 102 - The Gift</h4>


    Finally noticing that the other two were looking at her, she became more embarrassed.


    Xiu Mei cleared her throat and acted as if that conversation did not happen ten minutes ago.


    "Let¡¯s continue eating, shall we?" Then she quickly picked up her chopsticks and spoon to continue eating while trying to ignore their gazes.


    Lu Qiang obediently listened to his mother and resumed eating his dinner while Lu Chen didn¡¯t move at all. He looked away but he didn¡¯t move any further than that.


    God knows how he was trying to control himself after hearing Xiu Mei and Mrs.Kim¡¯s conversation. It wasn¡¯t loud enough for the other table to hear it but it was loud enough for him to hear.


    He even heard Xiu Mei tell Mrs.Kim about their supposedly ¡¯night activities¡¯ and even though he knows it¡¯s a lie, he couldn¡¯t help but get turned on. Then when their conversation continued in that direction with Xiu Mei discussing different positions, he was already at the point of suppressing his desire and questioning Xiu Mei about why the hell she knows that kind of stuff.


    Lu Chen ordered a cold drink and quickly chugged it down in an attempt to cool down himself. After a couple more sses, he finally suppressed the desire that he was trying to control.


    Xiu Mei finally noticed that Lu Chen was just continuously chugging down drinks instead of eating. She wondered whether Lu Chen was just too thirsty?


    "Chen, are you okay?" Xiu Mei worriedly asked. She nudged him in the elbow to catch his attention.


    Lu Chen¡¯s body stiffened.


    "Hmm? Are you having a fever?" She looked at his face and noticed that he was a little bit red. She reflexively reached out to touch his forehead which Lu Chen vehemently avoided.


    "I¡¯m fine." Lu Chen replied whilst trying to avoid her touches.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yeah, I¡¯m really fine."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze examined him a little longer before nodding.


    "If you say so. Do you need more iced water?" She offered.


    "No, I¡¯m fine."


    "Okay."


    And after that, Xiu Mei resumed finishing her bowl. She would sometimes put some of the food in Lu Qiang¡¯s bowl and her son would obediently finish eating it.


    The three of them finished having their sumptuous meal after half an hour. They just finished paying their bill when the waitress stopped them for a second.


    "Excuse me, Ms.Xiu?" The waitress greeted. Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t surprised when the waitress called her name because she assumed that she must¡¯ve seen them in the news a few weeks ago so they probably recognized her.


    "Yes?"


    "Mrs.Kim wanted me to give this to you."


    "Oh, thanks."


    After handing a paper bag to her, the waitress returned to her job immediately. Xiu Mei looked at the paper bag with a puzzled expression. She looked inside and saw a medium-sized box inside.


    She wondered what did Mrs.Kim give her but she decided to just check it outter.


    The three of them exited the restaurant and finally roamed around the different stores in the area.


    Xiu Mei quickly pulled the two of them inside a brand name clothing store for kids. Lu Qiang curiously gazed at the unfamiliar clothes in front of him.


    "Baby,e here." Xiu Mei called out to Lu Qiang who seemed overwhelmed by therge amount of clothes inside the store. But as soon as he heard his Mom, he quickly ran to her side.


    He saw her holding a long sleeve top with a dinosaur print.


    "Try this one on, and this one too! Oh, this looks good too." Xiu Mei continued grabbing some clothes on the rack for Lu Qiang to fit on. Seeing the small stack of clothes slowly growing into a mountain, Lu Qiang immediately stopped his Mom from grabbing anymore.


    "Mom! I think this is already too much?" He pulled on her clothes while pointing at the almost full basket.


    Xiu Mei turned to her son and followed where he was pointing at.


    "Oh."


    She seemed...to have gotten too much.


    "Then Mom, I¡¯ll go and try them on for you to see?" Lu Qiang quicklyforted his mother and picked up the basket. Like a filial son, he dutifully fulfilled Xiu Mei¡¯s desire to see him on those clothes.


    "Am I buying him too much?" Xiu Mei quickly whispered to Lu Chen as soon as Lu Qiang disappeared behind the changing room. She was now sitting on a soft couch just beside her husband who was reading some magazine.


    Lu Chen kept his gaze at the magazine while encouraging her. "He¡¯s a fast-growing boy so buying that many clothes are fine. Besides, we¡¯ll be enrolling him soon in a school so having more options to choose from is good."


    Finally remembering that they¡¯ll be sending him to school soon, Xiu Mei¡¯s worry disappeared. She feared that she might be spoiling him a bit too much and that might affect his behavior growing up but after being encouraged by Lu Chen, she finally put her worry down.


    "Speaking of school, we forgot to tell Lu Qiang about this decision ah." Xiu Mei blurted out.


    "Did you find a school yet?"


    "Yeah, my Mom was the one who found the school actually. She said that one of her friends runs the school and coincidentally, it¡¯s located near Lu Corporation so I was nning to visit the school sometime next week."


    Since choosing the school is no small matter, she asked for help from her mother who has a lot of connections. Since they¡¯re trying to be a little more lowkey about Lu Qiang¡¯s background, Xui Mei was going to visit the school discreetly. Her mother didn¡¯t even ask for a favor to her friend to wee her when she¡¯ll visit the school so Xiu Mei was going toe there just like a normal parent inquiring some stuff for her son.


    "Then I¡¯lle with you."


    "You can¡¯t!" She immediately declined his offer.


    Won¡¯t people immediately specte about their rtionship with the kid if hees with her?


    At least, if she goes alone, the people would still wonder what her rtionship was with Lu Qiang.


    The two of them will still go for family events but since their names are still a little bit hot from the headline a few weeks ago, she¡¯s being a bit cautious.


    Xiu Mei wanted Lu Qiang to enjoy normal school life and even though the time wille when Lu Qiang¡¯s background will be revealed to the public, at least, he¡¯ll still be able to continue a normal life though Lu Qiang would have to control himself a little more by that time.


    "Then I¡¯ll get Lu Shao toe with you."


    Xiu Mei angrily pped him on his arm. "You¡¯re overworking him too much!"


    "I don¡¯t."


    "Do you think I don¡¯t see the exhaustion in his face every time I see him at work? Besides, he was the one doing my responsibilities when I was on sick leave so now that I¡¯m here and as long as I can do it, just leave him alone for a little longer so he could rx a little."


    Lu Chen who was used of overworking Lu Shao:...


    While the two of them waited for Lu Qiang to change his clothes, Lu Chen suddenly received a call from someone.


    After looking at the caller ID, he nced at Xiu Mei before finally standing out to go somewhere before receiving the call.


    "Hello?"


    "Is my sister with you?" Xiu Mo Ruo asked as soon as the call was picked up.


    Lu Chen peeked at Xiu Mei at the corner of his eye before confirming. "Yes, she¡¯s with me."


    "Don¡¯t let her out of your sight from now on."


    As soon as Xiu Mo Ruo said that, Lu Chen turned ice cold. He could feel the anxiousness from his brother-inw¡¯s tone.


    "Did something happen?"


    "I¡¯ll talk about itter. For now, she¡¯ll surely hear the news about our father. Just assure her first that the things on our side are fine and to call Mom instead."


    "I know."


    "I know you¡¯re in a different city right now. The three of you can still go out and y but make sure to keep your men around you to protect the two of them."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep my promise and protect her. Are things really fine on your side?"


    "My Dad is already handling it so it will be fine. For now, it¡¯s better to be cautious."


    After that short conversation, Lu Chen hung up the call. He nced at Xiu Mei who still didn¡¯t notice anything weird and still busy waiting for Lu Qiang toe out of the changing room.


    He turned back to his phone and looked up at the news. The moment he opens the news page, he finally understood why his second brother-inw sounded tense.


    It seems that Xiu Mei¡¯s father, Xiu Gu Ren, got into an ident.

 Chapter 103 - Tired

    <h4>Chapter 103 - Tired</h4>


    Under the careful watch of Lu Chen, the family of three continued roaming around the area for almost an hour before returning to the hotel. Along the way, Lu Qiang and Xiu Mei happily talked about their day so she didn¡¯t have an opportunity to check her phone at all.


    "Quickly wash up then I¡¯ll read you a story before sleeping, okay?" Xiu Mei brushed Lu Qiang¡¯s hair and hugged him before pushing him towards his room. Lu Qiang nodded while Lu Chen entered his room with all the shopping bags in his hand.


    Xiu Mei returned to her room and washed up as well. After changing into her pajamas, she on her bed and continued rubbing her hair to dry it. After a few minutes, she stepped out of her room and entered Lu Qiang¡¯s room while her towel still hung around her shoulder.


    "Which story do you want for bedtime today?" Xiu Mei¡¯s face was filled with tenderness as soon as she saw Lu Qiang in his usual printed light blue pajamas. She pulled him towards the bed and rubbed his wet hair for drying.


    "Hmm..." Lu Qiang became silent for a short while before finally deciding on something. "Then can I listen about Grandma¡¯s story again?"


    "Grandma¡¯s story, huh. Okay, sure. I¡¯ll tell you that story again after I dry your hair."


    "Then mom, what about your hair?" Lu Qiang pointed at Xiu Mei¡¯s wet hair.


    Before Xiu Mei could open her mouth, another voice responded for her.


    "I¡¯ll help your Mom with hers." Lu Chen remarked as soon as he entered the room. He was in his navy blue pajamas and wearing his gold-rimmed sses he would always wear at night.


    "Wife, scoot over a little bit on this side so I can rub your hair."


    "Oh." Xiu Mei absentmindedly nodded and followed what he said. While holding Lu Qiang with his shoulders, she scooted aside a little bit to make space for Lu Chen.


    The area of the bed behind her immediately dipped as soon as Lu Chen sat on it. He quickly grabbed the towel around her neck and started rubbing her hair while slightly massaging it as well.


    Because this was the first time someone rubbed her hair, Xiu Mei felt a bit tingly around her neck. She didn¡¯t know if it was just because she wasn¡¯t used to it or if she was actually very sensitive when someone touches her hair.


    She continued drying Lu Qiang¡¯s hair while Lu Chen dries hers. If anyone sees this picture, they would surely look in envy with how picture-perfect it was.


    After that short bonding time, Xiu Mei immediately tucked Lu Qiang to bed. Lu Chen decided to sit beside Lu Qiang¡¯s bed to watch over them.


    Xiu Meiid beside him while starting telling stories about her mother¡¯s story in the military. She knows it¡¯s a weird bedtime story for a child but after Lu Qiang listened to her parents¡¯ story when she visited them before, the kid would often pester her to tell their stories instead of the normal bedtime stories for children. She was very skeptical at first but gradually got used to telling it after a few days.


    Ten minutester, Lu Qiang finally fell asleep. After giving him a kiss on his forehead, Xiu Mei sat up from the bed and turned to Lu Chen who seemed to be sleeping as well.


    Xiu Mei looked over him worriedly. Won¡¯t he got a body ache if he sleeps in that position?


    She quickly got off the bed and walked over to his side. She reached out to him and lightly patted his crossed arms.


    "Chen?" She whispered.


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes immediately opened as soon Xiu Mei patted him. He looked at Xiu Mei who was now saying to him to go back to his bed to sleep. He seemed to still be so out of it as he dozes off while staring at her.


    Seeing this, Xiu Mei grabbed his hand to pull him up.


    "Let¡¯s go." She said, finally pulling him to make him stand up. Lu Chen didn¡¯t fight back and allowed her to drag him outside of the room.


    "You seem tired. You should have just went straight to sleep ah." She said. Lu Chen shook his head.


    "Then, goodnight." She said. Before she could take a step towards her room, Lu Chen tugged her hand lightly to stop her from walking away.


    "Spend some time with me a little more, okay?"


    "?"


    Before she could even reply, Lu Chen pulled her towards the living room. He sat on the sofa so Xiu Mei was just about to sit beside him when she was suddenly pulled by Lu Chen forward.


    Xiu Mei stiffened in her ce after realizing her current position. She was now sitting on Lu Chen¡¯sp. She felt lost and she could hear heart drumming crazily within her ribcage in nervousness.


    Lu Chen acted moved very naturally while snaking his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulders and rxed.


    Not used with their current position, Lu Chen could sense that Xiu Mei¡¯s stiffness while hugging her.


    "Rx, wife." He whispered in her ear which tickled Xiu Mei¡¯s ears. She reacted and unconsciously avoided him but with her locked in his arms, she couldn¡¯t do anything.


    Xiu Mei bit her lip as she tried to distract herself with different thoughts. She didn¡¯t push him away because she wanted to try in getting used to this. It¡¯s not like she¡¯s ufortable with this kind of skinship because she hated it, rather, she¡¯s ufortable because this was the first time she¡¯d ever gotten this intimate with a male person after shepletely matured.


    Behind her, she was unaware of Lu Chen¡¯s thoughts.


    Lu Chen was genuinely tired at that moment so after seeing Xiu Mei, all he wanted to do was to bury her in his arms to seekfort. His work, his cousin¡¯s death, and his father-inw¡¯s ident were getting to him. He is still a normal human after all. So right now, he was acting a bit spoiled in front of her to get somefort.


    After staying in that position for a while, Xiu Mei leaned forward to reach for the remote control of the television.


    Lu Chen did not stop her and allowed her to turn it on. Xiu Mei was slowly switching the channels when a random thought hit her.


    "Ah! Did you bring the paper bag that Mrs.Kim gave me?"


    "It¡¯s on the counter."


    "Then let me grab it for a minute." She slightly pushed Lu Chen, signaling him to release her but Lu Chen stopped her from getting away and tightened his hug instead.


    "Later."


    "Chen,e on."


    "No." He buried his face on her hair and continued, "Just take itter."


    "..."


    Fine, Lu Chen seemed to have no intention of letting her go any moment now.


    She returned her attention to the television and switched the channel once again. She was just about to switch to another channel when she heard some news that paused her movements.


    "This afternoon, Vice Premier Xiu got into an ident...."


    The next words did not register in Xiu Mei¡¯s mind because as soon as she heard her Dad¡¯s name and that he got into an ident, her mind immediately went nk.


    ...Dad got into an ident?


    Her heart began to palpitate as dread suddenly filled her mind. She absentmindedly pushed Lu Chen¡¯s arms away to grab her phone in her room.


    She didn¡¯t even bother unlocking her phone and hit her mother¡¯s number in speed dial. After a few rings, the call was immediately picked up.


    "Mom? How¡¯s Dad?"


    "Mei¡¯er, calm down first okay." Hearing her daughter¡¯s panicked voice, Yu Shi Huang tried calming her down.


    "Is Dad okay? Please tell me, is he okay?" Xiu Mei almost begged on the phone.


    "Your Dad is fine. He¡¯spletely fine. So calm down, okay?"


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t immediately believe it, thinking that her mom might be just telling her that so she won¡¯t panic and worry.


    "Mom, is Dad really fine? Tell me, he¡¯s really fine right?"


    "Yes, honey. You¡¯re Dad is really alright. I wish you could talk to him right now but he¡¯s in the middle of a meeting with your second brother right now."


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei somehow calmed down a little bit. She was still unsure whether her Mom was telling the truth so she won¡¯t get a panic attack but she changed her mind after thinking that if something serious had really happened, she¡¯d surely receive a random call from one of her brothers which usually tips her off that something had happened.


    This time, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know that the reason why she wasn¡¯t tipped off at all because her second brother called Lu Chen instead of her.


    Xiu Mei worriedly asked her mother for his Dad¡¯s current condition and what really happened. She was too worried and focused on the call that she did not notice Lu Chen was leaning on the door frame of her room. In his hand is his phone messaging Xiu Mo Ruo of Xiu Mei¡¯s current condition.

 Chapter 104 - Breathe

    <h4>Chapter 104 - Breathe</h4>


    Since Xiu Mei¡¯s parents are still busy handling the problem on their side, her mother just gave her a quick brief of what happened.


    To summarize the story, her father was in the middle of inspecting one of the major projects he was handling when was suddenly attacked by one of the ordinary citizens that were around the area.


    Since that person was pretty near, he was able to injure his father when he pulled out his dagger. Her Dad was roughened up by her grandfather(Yu Shi Huang¡¯s father) before he got married to her Mom so he was able to quickly deflect the knife before it even stabbed him.


    Though, since he used his bare arm, he was still grazed lightly on his arm making a long diagonal wound on it. Thankfully, the wound wasn¡¯t deep and just required some small stitches.


    Her Dad¡¯s men were able to apprehend the guy who tried to attack him but the gu¡¯s mouth waspletely shut when they tried to pry some information from him.


    Xiu Mei carefully listened to her Mom on the phone. As soon as her Mom updated her on where they are right now, she fell silent for a few seconds before opening her mouth.


    "Are you sure you don¡¯t need me there?" She asked.


    Xiu Mei already understood what her mother was trying to say. She was telling her not to worry and everything is fine on their side. That she didn¡¯t need to rush back and to just finish the two days vacation here.


    "Sweetie, it¡¯s going to be fine. I promise."


    "Mmm... okay."


    Once her Mom promises her that, she really couldn¡¯t say anything anymore. Given how strong her parents¡¯ background, there¡¯s a very high chance that they¡¯ll figure out who nned this attack.


    Also, her second brother is right there so she¡¯s very assured that it will be fine.


    In the back of her mind, she suddenly thought that if they reallypare her with her twin brothers, she¡¯s pretty weak ah. Her first brother has military power and her second brother in politics, the two supreme powers in the country. And then there¡¯s her who has business connections and power. The only thing that¡¯s in her advantage is that she has more connections internationally whenpared to her brothers.


    Still, it proved how much of an odd one she was in the family for choosing a very different path.


    "How¡¯s my grandson? Is he asleep?"


    Knowing that her Mom was trying to shift the topic, she let her have her way and answered her question.


    "He¡¯s asleep. He probably got tired after ying around a little bit after dinner."


    Xiu Mei remembered how Lu Qiang really tried on each and every piece of clothing in that basket for her sake. She fell for the little kid again while peppering him with kisses as they paid for the clothes.


    "That¡¯s fine. He¡¯ll grow up healthy if he sleeps enough."


    "Mmm."


    "Sweetie, we can talk one you¡¯re back okay?"


    "Mm, I know."


    "Then, I¡¯ll say goodbye for now."


    "Okay. Goodnight, Mom."


    "Goodnight, and I love you."


    "Mm, me too."


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t move a muscle even after the call was hung up. She stared away at something, feeling lost.


    Was she really worrying too much?


    It was only when she heard someone knocking on the door did she wake up from her senses. Xiu Mei was very startled when she heard that sound. Turning behind her, she finally saw Lu Chen leaning on the door frame with his hands crossed. He looked very bored and nonchnt in the position yet the soft gaze he was using clearly expressed his emotions.


    "Can Ie in?" He asked.


    She hesitated before finally letting hime into her room. Being granted permission to enter her room, Lu Chen properly closed the door behind him and approached Xiu Mei. He was able to quickly reach her with his long strides and stopped in front of her.


    He looked down to look at her face since there were some differences in their heights. The two of them stared at each other¡¯s eyes, filling the room with silence. A few momentster, it was Xiu Mei who finally broke the peace in the room.


    "Did you know about it earlier?" She wasn¡¯t using him or anything when she asked him this.


    She simply wanted to know if Lu Chen was aware of that news. If he did, then she will surely feel slightly disappointed with him but she won¡¯t me him either way. She didn¡¯t know why he hid it from her but she had a strong hunch it was definitely because of her brothers.


    If he didn¡¯t, then it¡¯s still fine. Though she¡¯ll be more surprised that he was unaware of it.


    Lu Chen did not respond immediately and pulled Xiu Mei¡¯s body closer towards himself. His arm remained in her waist while the other brushed the small hairs around her face.


    "I¡¯m sorry." He didn¡¯t directly answer her question but with his apology, he was already implying that he knew what was happening but kept his mouth shut about it.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t feel angry at all and just nodded. She bit her lip as if she was thinking about something.


    "Do you think it¡¯s the same person who tried to kidnap me?" She randomly thought.


    "We¡¯re not sure."


    Xiu Mei remembered the night she was kidnapped again and the mysterious man she met in the hospital. She was trying to connect all the dots with her kidnapping ten years ago but she couldn¡¯t find the link at all.


    She was thinking so deeply that she didn¡¯t notice that she was already sweating and trembling while in Lu Chen¡¯s arms.


    Sensing that her PTSD symptoms were recurring again, Lu Chen soothed Xiu Mei¡¯s back by brushing his hand and cupped her cheek. He pulled her into a tight hug while whispering in her ear.


    "Breathe, wife. Breathe." He repeated those words over and over in her ear.


    Xiu Mei clung to Lu Chen as if he was her lifeline. With his support, she tried her best to ignore the memories and negativity that was slowlying back to her.


    "I-Is it n-not over?" She asked with her trembling voice whilst trying to inhale and exhale in an even patter to calm down herself.


    "I promised you. You¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll always be here." Lu Chen continued soothing her.


    With tears running down her cheeks, she sobbed in his chest. A few secondster, she was already trying to push Lu Chen away from her.


    "I¡ªN-No¡ª" She struggled in his arms and continuously punched him in his chest but Lu Chen did not let go. He tried to hold her still when she was doing that.


    "Xiu Mei, breathe." He whispered to her ear once again. "Come on, breathe with me. Just focus on my breathing okay?"


    After a few minutes of going back and forth like that, Xiu Mei gradually stopped pushing him away. She was still not fully calmed down but she was better than before.


    "Just listen to my breathing." Lu Chen held her head onto his chest so she could feel his rhythmic pattern in breathing every time his chest rises and goes down.


    "It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay." He continued soothing her like that for almost half an hour. Xiu Mei gradually calmed down after though her body was still trembling a little bit even after that.


    Lu Chen did not let her go and continued giving her his warmth.


    Ten minutester, Xiu Mei was now back to her senses.


    With her head still in Lu Chen¡¯s chest, she could clearly hear the beating of his chest. She found that even patter very soothing and calming so she continued rxing in his embrace.


    "Do you want me to tell you a story?" Seeing that she was now calmed down, Lu Chen tried acting like she didn¡¯t have an episode a while ago. He was now trying to distract her with other things and trying to make herugh.


    Xiu Mei did not speak but she shook her head, declining his offer.


    For her, this peace and silence are making things easier. It was easier for her to concentrate on him instead of thinking about other things. She clung to him so desperately that she didn¡¯t feel like letting go at all.


    After standing for that long, Lu Chen thought that Xiu Mei must be getting a bit tired at that position so he sat on the bed and pulled her towards him. Xiu Mei did not struggle at all so she let him make her sit on hisp.


    She was clinging to him like a baby, with her arms wrapped around his shoulders and neck and her chin resting on his shoulder.


    Feeling at peace, Xiu Mei asked for a request that Lu Chen did not expect at all.


    "Can you stay with me tonight?"

 Chapter 105 - Mysterious Woman

    <h4>Chapter 105 - Mysterious Woman</h4>


    The dark nketed sky was very peaceful tonight. The moon hung in the sky so brightly with the stars that seemed to be apanying it. Underneath this beautiful night sky stood a woman in her early 20s.


    She was leaning against the balconyzily with a cigarette in between her hands. The white leather dress clung to her skin tightly entuating her hourss body. Her long legs looked smooth and attractive enough to entice any men. When her silky long ck hair was being blown away by the wind, the small tattoo engraved on her neck could be immediately seen.


    "Miss, we¡¯ve started ruffling their feathers as nned." A man in a humble voice reported behind the woman.


    The figure on the balcony did not move or utter any word as if she never cared at all. She continued smoking her cigarette while her downturned eyes looked unconcerned at all.


    "The Xiu family are now on high alert with almost all their security deployed 24/7. The men we nted are nowying low but they will return to their posts in a few days."


    The room was filled again with silence. The mysterious woman brought the cigarette back to her mouth but paused when she saw that she was almost running out. Her gaze stayed on that shortened stick while finally opening her mouth.


    "What about that bitch?" Her statement wasced with hostility most especially when she mentioned the word ¡¯bitch¡¯.


    "She¡¯s recovering pretty fast under the watch of the CEO of Lu Corporation."


    "Heh... she¡¯s still pretty lucky ah? Having the Chief of the First Ranking Legion in the underworld." The woman nonchntly remarked as if that information did not bother her at all. It even sounded like she was expecting it to happen.


    "Isn¡¯t that even better? My master would be very delighted if he knows that our enemy our now teaming up against us." After throwing away the finished butt of cigarette on the ashtray, she finally turned towards her right-hand man that was standing rigidly in front of her.


    Her gaze immediately sharpened and grew cold as soon as sheid her eyes on him. "Prepare for your second visit. I want that bitch to grow crazy in anxiety trying to find out who is behind all the idents I¡¯ve been creating."


    "Won¡¯t it be boring if the prey is being kept sheltered, isn¡¯t it? What I want is to hear her cries and begging, just like how my sister suffered on that night." She uttered that as if she was speaking a pledge filled with venom. A promise that it will bring the nightmare to its target, and that she won¡¯t stop unless that person¡¯s on the ground crawling and begging for forgiveness.


    Morning.


    Xiu Mei ufortably shifted in her bed as soon as she woke up. The hard pillow she was leaning on was making her head feel pain so, under theforter, she stretched her hands out and blindly looked for a soft pillow on her bed.


    She caught the air instead, finally realizing that she wasying almost at the edge of her bed. Before she could even take back her hand, she finally heard a voice behind her.


    "Woke up?"


    She almost jumped in surprise after hearing that deep and husky morning voice. Her eyes immediately flew open and the first thing she saw was the arm her head was currentlyying on. She sat up and looked behind her where she immediately saw Lu Chen¡¯s face that still looked sleepy.


    The events fromst night slowly dawned on her then she gasped.


    Oh my god, did she really ask him to sleep with himst night?!


    "Goodmorning, wife." Lu Chen sat up and greeted her. He even pulled her in a quick hug after greeting her before finally climbing off her bed.


    "G-Goodmorning..." She stammered while greeting back feeling a blush crawling on her cheeks.


    Wow, she was really slowly bing shameless ah. Daring to ask a man to stay with her during the night is a really bold move. If she continues at this pace, she won??t even be surprised if Lu Chen suddenly decides to eat her.


    The three of them finally started their day. After having a quick call with her Dad first thing in the morning, she finally started her morning routine like washing and changing out of her pajamas.


    They took their breakfast quickly and left the hotel to spend the little time they have before they have to run back to the airport for their flight. The day passed by quickly and by night time, the three of them are back in their home.


    "Should we just grab some takeout?" Xu Mei suggested after seeing the house look so empty. Aside from the securities stationed around the house, they gave their employees two days off since they weren¡¯t in the house anyway.


    They had some pizza for dinner. Quickly after that, Lu Qiang immediately fell asleep from exhaustion while they were watching the television. The couple giggled at the sight before Lu Chen carried him back to his room.


    Xiu Mei stayed in the living room busily changing the movie they were going to watch. She was munching on some ch.i.p.s when Lu Chen returned to his seat beside her.


    "Aren¡¯t you gonna sleep?" She tilted her head a little bit to his side without removing her eyes on the television.


    "And you? You¡¯re still recovering and you¡¯re up thiste."


    "I¡¯m not a child."


    "But you¡¯re a patient."


    "You¡¯re overreacting. I feel very fine already."


    She¡¯ll have her check-up again with Dr.Tang tomorrow but she was pretty confident that she¡¯ll be cleared very soon as a healthy person again.


    "I¡¯m just being careful. You¡¯re always getting injured even by just standing."


    Xiu Mei pped his chest as she roared.


    "Hey, are you saying that I¡¯m too unlucky?"


    "That could also work. I was gonna say you¡¯re too oblivious of your surrounding."


    "You¡¯re scolding me as if it was all my fault."


    "I just want you to be careful." He pinched her cheek while continuing his words, "You know people are targeting you, but you always want to go out and y as if it¡¯s safe."


    "It¡¯s because..." Xui Mei bit her lip as she thought about something. She reached for the remote and paused the movie she was watching so she could face Lu Chen.


    "It¡¯s because I¡¯m very tired of being kept away ah."


    Xiu Mei turned gloomy when she remembered her teenage years.


    "Maybe because my family kept me in tight security for almost three years so I desire freedom so much right now."


    "..."


    Lu Chen fell silent when she said that. He suddenly thought if she was feeling ufortable with how much he was restricting her right now. He didn¡¯t allow her to go anywhere yet since she¡¯s still recovering and now that someone is really targeting the Xiu family, he didn¡¯t want her to go out that much either.


    "I really didn¡¯t want to tell you this but I know it might get worst if I keep it a secret." She looked straight into his eyes and became honest.


    "You know about the note right? I faintly remember seeing you before I passed out back in the hospital."


    Lu Chen nodded. "I do. What about it?"


    "That day in the hospital, before I lost my senses, I saw a man. The kid who gave the note to me said that it was that man who gave it to her."


    "!"


    Lu Chen¡¯s heart jumped in surprise after hearing that.


    ¡¯Xiu Mei met the rat in the hospital?! So it wasn¡¯t just the note that she saw?¡¯ is what ran through his mind.


    He already knew that a rat visited Xiu Mei in the hospital since he also heard the ount of it from the little girl after asking her for a few questions about the note she gave to Xiu Mei. The person was caught on camera but they couldn¡¯t see his face.


    "Do you think that person would stop bothering my family if I die?" Xiu Mei carelessly blurted out that made Lu Chen panic.


    He grabbed her by the shoulder to make her face him while his face darkened.


    "Xiu Mei, don¡¯t you dare do something so reckless."


    He didn¡¯t like one bit of what Xiu Mei uttered just now. She was insinuating that she was considering the idea of killing herself if it meant that person would leave her family alone.


    "But what if he starts targeting our family next? When I heard about someone attacking Dadst night, I... I thought that one day, that person might target you or Lu Qiang next."


    She knew that Lu Chen would definitely protect her and Lu Qiang but after thinking that she might be the reason why her family is currently being surrounded by some idents, she feared that it might be Lu Chen or Lu Qiang¡¯s turn next.


    She was ming herself. If she died along with Ying Yue at that time, would this have happened?

 Chapter 106 - Living in the Present

    <h4>Chapter 106 - Living in the Present</h4>


    Before she could continue her current train of thoughts, Lu Chen finally broke his silence.


    "Xiu Mei."


    When he called her name, she immediately looked at him whose face is now filled with seriousness. She slowly returned to her senses, finally realizing the weight of her words.


    She stopped him from speaking by cing her hand on his mouth.


    "Sorry, I... I think I¡¯m worrying too much when there¡¯s nothing confirmed yet." She averted her gaze and decided to run away for now.


    "I¡¯ll go back to my room to rest. Goodnight."


    Xiu Mei rushed back to her room without even looking back. She leaned behind her door as soon as she finally entered her room and let out a deep sigh. She ran away because she was afraid of Lu Chen¡¯s response to her statement.


    Deep inside her heart, she knows that Lu Chen would surely assure her that everything¡¯s going to be fine, just like how he stayed beside her andforted herst night when she had her another episode.


    Still, there¡¯s still a fear lingering somewhere in her mind that maybe one day, he will leave because of all the dangers she brings to people around her.


    After staying like that for a few seconds, Xiu Mei immediately pped her cheeks as if she was trying to wake herself up from all her gloomy thoughts.


    "Stupid Xiu Mei, you¡¯re losing it again."


    With heavy steps, she approached and threw herself on the bed staring at the ceiling.


    Lately... she¡¯s getting too vulnerable. She was losing herself again because of that misery from ten years ago.


    Ten years... and it¡¯s still the same.


    Xiu Mei raised her left arm to nce at her fair wrist. She could barely see the scar from her first suicide attempt a month after the kidnapping incident.


    She was still so young, extremely traumatized by the cruelty and death she witnessed. Then remembering the despair and resentment of Ying Yue¡¯s parents, her young mind could barely hold on to that extreme emotions.


    Ten years had passed and now, that scar was barely visible now. Since she didn¡¯t have a good grip, she wasn¡¯t able to cut deep in her wrist so the wound wasn¡¯t all that bad at that time. But she could remember the face of her mother when she saw her bleeding.


    Her strong mother froze on the spot as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. It was her brothers who immediately moved to rush her to the hospital. And the next thing she could remember was her mother sobbing beside her hospital bed, gripping her right arm so tight with her trembling hand.


    She overheard their conversations once. Her parents med themselves at that time. Because they felt that it was because of their incapability that she became like that. That it was them who caused their daughter to kill herself.


    Immediately, regret swept over her.


    ¡¯Ah... I am hurting my family because of my actions ah...¡¯ was what she thought.


    The very next day, she willingly cooperated to undergo psychiatric treatment. The young Xiu Mei realized that she was reverting back to the old selfish and arrogant self that caused her to be like this in the first ce.


    She was getting blinded by the pain that she was ignoring the pain pf her family too.


    Her path to recovery took years. She did not recover one hundred percent, but it was enough that she was finally allowed to live on her own.


    "...I should stop." She whispered while staring at her wrist.


    A knock on the door suddenly interrupted her train of thoughts. She paused in the direction of the door and hesitated.


    Should she open it?


    Xiu Mei rose from the bed and walked to the door to open it but halted. Her attention was caught by the photo lying on the floor just in front of her door.


    Did Lu Chen slip it underneath?


    She crouched down to pick it up and recognized the photo. It was the recently taken family picture with Lu Chen and Lu Qiang in it.


    Thest time when her family visited her, her mother forced everyone to pose for a family picture. She said that since Xiu Mei is now married, Lu Chen and Lu Qiang are now part of the Xiu family as her son-inw and grandson.


    Xiu Mei stared at the picture for a while and smiled. She remembered feeling so happy and awkward at that time because of her mother¡¯s antics but then, she¡¯s the queen of the family so her words are to be treated like a decree.


    She flipped the photo and saw a sentence written behind it.


    "Let¡¯s live only in the present."


    That is what was written on the photo. She recognized that it was Lu Chen¡¯s handwriting.


    The words resonated in her mind as she read it over and over again.


    Live only in the present.


    ...Indeed.


    She was so stuck in the past that she kept forgetting the things in front of her. She was too worried about the uncertain future too.


    So Lu Chen told her to live only in the present.


    She brushed her fingers over the words. Is it really fine to live like that?


    Xiu Mei gradually returned to her normal routine after that. After being cleared to work normally again by the doctor, she slowly returned to her previous work cycle. Though this time, she adjusted her time a little bit since she had to go home to apany Lu Qiang since he¡¯ll be going to school in the next few months.


    When they first told Lu Qiang the news, he acted as if he did not mind whether he was homeschooled or not. But the sparkle in his eyes failed to hide his emotions that were full of excitement and curiousness.


    After inquiring and getting all the paperwork down, Lu Qiang was now ready to go to school for the uing school year.


    Right now, Xiu Mei is eating at Kei¡¯s family restaurant since Lu Chen was out of the country to attend some business. However, she was forced to bring some bodyguards whenever she goes out to assure her safety.


    "Kei, stop stealing my food already!" She fumed, pping away the pair of chopsticks that were reaching out for the meat she was eating. She red at the person in a chef¡¯s uniform sitting opposite her who was acting like a thief.


    "Hey, I cooked that you know!" Kei argued.


    "But I paid for that."


    "Why are you so stingy? I thought we were friends!"


    "I am stingy, so what? Order your own food, heck, it¡¯s your own restaurant you know!"


    Xiu Mei and Kei argued back and forth just like that during lunch. They acted as if they¡¯re kids arguing over a stupid snack.


    "Mei, you¡¯ve be so stingy after getting married ah." Keiined after finallypromising to Xiu Mei and ordered his own food. He looked at her as if he was wronged by her.


    "And you¡¯ve be a glutton since thest time I saw you ah." She retorted, putting a piece of vegetable in her mouth. She pointed her chopsticks to Kei¡¯s direction and warned.


    "And stop bbing about my marriage. What if someone hears you?"


    Kei clicked his mouth after getting reprimanded. Then he stood up and sat on the seat closer to Xiu Mei and leaned over to her.


    "Speaking of that, you really surprised me when you said you¡¯re already married. I mean, I visited you not that long ago, and then you call me to say you¡¯re married? Do you think that makes sense?"


    "It¡¯s inevitable." She mumbled.


    "Inevitable? Oho." Kei grinned at her and started teasing his newly married childhood friend.


    "Is Mr.Lu that aggressive that he wouldn¡¯t let go of you? I bet you¡¯re always tired in the morning. Do you want to take a break first?"


    "Hey, stop imagining dirty things! I¡¯m still eating." She pped Kei on his side after hearing him say such embarrassing things.


    "Oho, but he¡¯s eating you right?"


    And with that, Xiu Mei pped Kei¡¯s head to shut him up.


    Damn it! Why was she even having this kind of conversation with Kei, with a guy nheless!


    "Can¡¯t you just shut up?!"


    "Jeez, why are you so moody? Are you pregnant?"


    "KEI!"


    "I¡¯m zipping my mouth!" Kei finally surrendered after being threatened by the re that Xiu Mei threw to him.


    "By the way, did you receive the invitation to our middle school gathering?" Kei brought up while he was digging into his food.


    "I thought you¡¯re zipping your mouth?"


    "Ohe on, it¡¯s a different topic now isn¡¯t it?"


    "Tsk."


    "So did you?"


    "I did. Are you going?"


    "I¡¯m still not sure. How about you?"


    Xiu Mei thought about it for a little while before making up her mind. "I think I should go. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯vest met with some of our friends in middle school. Also, I¡¯d like to talk with some of our teachers as well since it¡¯s been quite a long time."


    "But will you be fine?" Kei worriedly asked.


    Xiu Mei understood what he was asking about and wryly smiled at him.


    "Who knows. Maybe not, maybe yes?" She paused on her movements when she remembered Lu Chen¡¯s message again.


    Live in the present.


    "But you know what, maybe, I should stop running away now. What do you think?"


    She looked up and shed a determined smile to Kei.

 Chapter 107 - Preparations

    <h4>Chapter 107 - Preparations</h4>


    La Grace Academy is the most prestigious academy for the wealthy in the country. But aside from that, the academy is also popr for producing excellent talents from different areas like business, art, and the likes.


    And this academy is where Xiu Mei studied in from pre-school to middle school. The day after tomorrow is when her batch is gathering for a formal party along with their teachers from the school.


    "I haven¡¯t bought a new dress for quite sometime ah." Xiu Mei mumbled while standing in front of her wardrobe. She was looking for a fitting attire to wear to the party but it seems that all she has at the moment was thest year¡¯s designs.


    If it were just a normal gathering, Xiu Mei wouldn¡¯t need to spend so much thought about it but since she was one of the high profile alumni in the academy plus taking into ount her family¡¯s standing, Xiu Mei needs to prepare for the party well.


    Especially that it¡¯s not like her entire middle school years went pretty smoothly.


    Giving onest look at her wardrobe, she deeply sighed and looked out the window.


    Seeing the full moon hanging up in the sky, she felt a bit mncholic.


    Is it because Lu Chen she hasn¡¯t seen Lu Chen since yesterday?


    She pulled out her phone and clicked her message exchange with Lu Chen. Since the two of them are quite busy with their own work, the two of them barely have any time to have a short call with each other especially that they¡¯re in two different timezones.


    Hence she would often update him about what she and Lu Qiang does at that time and ask him if he¡¯s eaten or not.


    Since it¡¯s night right here, it should be morning now right there?


    Finally gathering her courage, she dialed his number. It took almost ten rings before Lu Chen finally picked it up.


    "Wife."


    When Lu Chen picked up the call, he was in the middle of an important meeting. Seeing that it was from Xiu Mei, he firmly excused himself and found somece quiet to answer the call.


    "Chen! I... "


    Finally hearing his voice, she felt ted but fl.u.s.tered at the same time. She just realized that she called him randomly without even thinking of any topic to talk about.


    "How are you doing?" Lu Chen asked.


    He would always get multiple reports daily on how Xiu Mei is currently doing. Since he was quite worried about her safety and mental state, he was always filled with uneasiness knowing that he wasn¡¯t by her side at the very moment.


    "Fine, I guess...though it just kinda feels empty when you¡¯re not at home."


    The two of them fell silent for a few seconds. The next thing she heard is a deep sigh from Lu Chen¡¯s end.


    "I should¡¯ve really brought you here with me." He sounded regretful when he said that.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. "That¡¯ll be impossible, Mr.Lu. I have to hold the fort here if you¡¯re not around."


    "Then I can just leave Lu Shao there in your stead."


    "I¡¯ve always been the one to act as your stand-in ever since I¡¯ve be your secretary, remember?"


    "That was before. But you¡¯re my wife now. So I think it¡¯s best if I bring you with me in the future."


    "So are you indirectly firing me as a secretary now?"


    "Of course not."


    "Oh. Then I still get to stay here if you¡¯re not around. Spare Lu Shao some work, he¡¯s exhausted."


    "...You seem to be quite worried about Lu Shao these days?"


    "Who wouldn¡¯t be?"


    Xiu Mei recalled the days when Lu Shao would spend his break sleeping in the break room or refill his coffee mug multiple times a day. She couldn¡¯t even ignore the tall pile of work just beside his table and the boxes on the ground.


    Everytime she sees his working station, she would always wonder if Lu Shao still finds working with Lu Chen worth it if he¡¯s being overworked this much. She can¡¯t help but fill pity ah. It¡¯s not like she can help in doing those papers since a lot of his work isn¡¯t involved in Lu Corporation.


    She would even wonder what kind of work Lu Shao does for Lu Chen that¡¯s outside the scope of Lu Corporation.


    "Just spare the guy some ck and let him take a break. I¡¯ve taken an amazing amount of day off this year so it¡¯s his turn to rx, right?"


    "Tsk...fine."


    Lu Chen gave in. It was true that ever since Xiu Mei started working for him, the one who was always left in handling thepany affairs would be her instead of Lu Shao.


    Lu Shao¡¯s main work is on his underworld affairs and personal assignments that are outside of his normal work. He would often assist in some stuff rted to thepany but Xiu Mei is still the main person who fills as his stand-in whenever he¡¯s not around.


    He sighed in disappointment once again. Who would¡¯ve thought that he¡¯d regret this kind of work arrangement he set in the past?


    Now he couldn¡¯t even bring his wife to his business travels in the future unless her presence is definitely needed.


    "Oh! I forgot to tell you, I¡¯ll be attending a party the day after tomorrow and it¡¯s a really important one so I won¡¯t be able to pick you up that day at the airport."


    "That¡¯s fine. But what kind of party is it?"


    In his mind, Lu Chen was already calcting what kind of adjustment he needs to do for his wife¡¯s security at the party.


    "A middle school gathering. I¡¯ll be with Kei and my cousin so I¡¯ll be fine."


    "That¡¯s good."


    The two of them chatted for a little while longer before Lu Chen brought up that he still has some meeting to attend to. Fl.u.s.tered that she disturbed him, she quickly bid him goodbye and finished the call.


    The next day, Xiu Mei found some spare time to visit the VIP franchise of an international brand at the mall.


    She was properly amodated by the staff and was brought into a VVIP room. She casually sat on the couch while they served her a te of cookies and tea to munch in while she¡¯s choosing her clothes.


    The staff pushed a couple of racks of clothes in the room. She nonchntly raised her hand, signaling them to leave the room so she canfortably choose a dress.


    She was in the middle of choosing a dress when she heard amotion outside the store.


    "What do you mean I can¡¯te in? I¡¯m a VIP here!" A man¡¯s voice could be heardining.


    "Babe, it seems like the staff here doesn¡¯t respect you at all. Look at how they¡¯re treating you as if you¡¯re not the one paying them." It was a female voice this time.


    The two people continued arguing with the staff for quite a while that some VIP who are in their rooms have already noticed themotion.


    Xiu Mei curiously peeked at the ss window on the door. She couldn¡¯t see their figures very well since she was almost at the innermost part of the area where you could barely see the reception.


    Xiu Mei was nning to ignore it since it¡¯s not like this was the first time she encounteredmotions like this but after listening in on for a little longer, she finally recognized the voice of the man.


    It was Zhu Lin¡¯s voice.


    She contemted for a little while behind the door before finally deciding to interfere in the situation.


    Since the man delivered himself in her doorstep, though not exactly hers, why not make the most out of it since she¡¯s nning to take her first step in escaping from the past right?


    After all, it was this man¡¯s cowardice that caused her and Ying Yue to fall into that kind of situation in the first ce.


    "I thought I heard some uncultured people trying to get into the store, so it was just you huh, Zhu Lin." She uttered his name with so much disgust.


    The two people behind the counter raised their heads and looked at her direction. The girl was just about to burst from anger after being insulted as an uncultured person when Zhu Lin beat her to it.


    "Mei¡¯er! What a coincidence."


    Xiu Mei very much wanted to say that what kind of bullshit luck she really have to bump into him again.


    Zhu Lin looked happy when he saw her and was trying to approach her so she quickly took a step back and held out her hand to signal him to stop his movements.


    "Oh please, can you stop calling me like that as if we¡¯re close? Thest time I checked, I told you that your mere presence disgusts me right? Or is your brain that useless that you don¡¯t even remember that?"

 Chapter 108 - Ying Yues boyfriend

    <h4>Chapter 108 - Ying Yue''s boyfriend</h4>


    "Oh please, can you stop calling me like that as if we¡¯re close? Thest time I checked, I told you that your mere presence disgusts me right? Or is your brain that useless that you don¡¯t even remember that?"


    Xiu Mei crossed her arms while bluntly expressing her distaste to Zhu Lin. Upon finishing those words, Zhu Lin¡¯s movements froze.


    She could hear the faint chatter of the staff watching the scene. She paused for a moment to think.


    Was she being too rude in public?


    She blinked twice before resigning to her fate. Toote to take that back now. She¡¯ll just believe in the store¡¯s confidentiality protocol and her family¡¯s background so that what happens here won¡¯t leak outside.


    "Mei¡¯er, are you still angry about that? It¡¯s been many years ago." Zhu Lin tried to persuade and act pitiful in front of Xiu Mei.


    Unfortunately for him, she didn¡¯t feel pity, rather, it was anger and disgust that reigned over her emotion. Because every time she sees him, all she could remember was his cowardice that led to the events that traumatized her all her life.


    Ten years ago.


    "Ohe on, Mei Mei! Just a few more minutes. Zhu Lin said he¡¯s on his way now." Ying Yue pulled on Xiu Mei¡¯s sleeve stopping her movements.


    The 14-year-old Xiu Mei scratched her head and begrudgingly sat down on the grass. She looked up at the zing sun in the sky and cursed.


    It was midday and frickin hot. Sweat trickled down their skin making her feel so sticky and slightly disgusted with herself.


    All Xiu Mei wanted to do now is change out of her uniform and submerge in an aromatic spa and bath. God knows how high the temperature is at this moment and Ying Yue¡¯s boyfriend was taking so long to arrive.


    The two teenage girls are currently hiding underneath the shade of a tree in some small park ten minutes away from the academy. Looking at their attire and the time of the day, anyone would realize that they are students who skipped sses.


    After sitting there for another ten minutes, Xiu Mei scowled at Ying Yue. She was very tempted to just ditch her here right at this very moment if thatte boyfriend of hers does not show up anytime soon.


    She was just here to apany Ying Yue since she wanted to meet this boyfriend of hers that she repeatedly told her about.


    "Does he have no sense of time or direction ah?! I¡¯m dying from heatstroke and he¡¯s still not here?" Xiu Meiined while desperately fanning herself with her hand.


    Damn it! If she knew that she¡¯ll be waiting this long, she should¡¯ve brought her wallet with her so she could buy some cold drink somewhere around here.


    "Oh! He¡¯s right there! Zhu Lin!!" Ying Yue eximed, pointing at the entrance of the park. Xiu Meizily followed where she was pointing at and saw a man in their school¡¯s male uniform but instead of looking neat, he looked very unkempt and it looked like he did not even bother inbing his hair at all. What stood out the most was his good-looking face that could surely attract many girls everywhere he goes.


    At first nce, Xiu Mei knew that Zhu Lin was the yboy type of guy.


    She nced at the Ying Yue who stood up and was waving at Zhu Lin yelling at him to hurry up. On her face, she looked very happy and infatuated with the guy.


    Xiu Mei:...why does she always fall for good looking men ah?


    Don¡¯t Ying Yue look at their overall look and attitude first before dating them?


    Xiu Mei felt like pulling her hair in frustration because of Ying Yue¡¯s weird taste in men.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time that Xiu Mei discovered her best friend¡¯s taste in men. If we count from primary school, Zhu Lin could be counted as Ying Yue¡¯s fifth boyfriend already.


    And recalling all her ex-boyfriends, all of them fall in the good looking category. The catch though, their personalities are either yboys, too quiet, rebel, and c.o.c.ky.


    With Zhu Lin¡¯s arrival, the three of them started walking away from the park. Xiu Mei wanted to give them some alone time at first but Ying Yue convinced her toe with them instead since she already skipped sses and all.


    Xiu Mei could already imagine the scoldings that she would get from the queen at home once she hears about her skipping sses. She sighed before giving in to Ying Yue¡¯s request.


    Since Xiu Mei forgot to bring her wallet, Ying Yue was the one who paid for most of the expenses that day. Xiu Mei was fine with Ying Yue to pay for her since every time the two of them hang out together, it¡¯s either her or Ying Yue who pays for their expenses anyway.


    But seeing her boyfriend that does not volunteer in paying at anything at all, Xiu Mei¡¯s dislike to the guy hit rock bottom. He was very whiny and picky every time they go to different stores and he would always tell Ying Yue to pay for him instead with the excuse that he will pay her in the future.


    Xiu Mei really did her best in holding herself back in hitting him at that time and dumping his body in a river. How the hell did Ying Yue meet this guy?!


    They are currently in some kind of open bazaar that¡¯s quite popr these days. Xiu Mei saw a lot of peopleing in so her interest was also piqued on what kinds of things are being sold at this kind of ce.


    She was too engrossed in looking at the items that she failed to notice that she got separated from Ying Yue and Zhu Lin. She slightly panicked after seeing no trace of them at all. Hastening her steps, she looked all over the ce for them.


    Xiu Mei cursed when she slipped her hand in her empty skirt and uniform pockets. Damn it, she forgot that she left her phone in her bag since most of her devices have a tracker.


    She bit her lip in frustration while resuming in looking for them again.


    Poor her, she didn¡¯t even have a single cent in her pocket. She might have to resort to borrowing a phone from someone just so she could call Ying Yue.


    After looking for them for almost fifteen minutes, she finally saw them after exiting the bazaar.


    "Ying Yue!" She eximed, trying to catch her attention. Ying Yue seemed to have heard it and turned to her direction. She was standing beside Zhu Lin at the entrance. Xiu Mei thought that since the two of them don¡¯t have any way ofmunication, Ying Yue realized that it¡¯s better to wait at the entrance since the exit and entrance to the bazaar is just this one.


    She ran and stopped in front of Ying Yue. She was just about to apologize for identally getting separated from her when she felt something pointed at her waist.


    "Don¡¯t move." A voice whispered behind her.


    The three students were stunned by the sudden situation. Xiu Mei stiffened after realizing that the thing being pointed at her waist was a gun.


    "Follow us and nobody makes a sound." The man instructed. Two other men appeared in front of them and threatened Ying Yue and Zhu Lin with guns.


    They slowly forced them to walk side by side, probably trying to bring them somewhere with fewer people. Xiu Mei nervously gave a look at Ying Yue, who looked very scared at that time. She gave him ¡¯that¡¯ look, signaling her about the self-defense sses they took with her brothers.


    Ying Yue immediately understood it and discreetly nodded. Xiu Mei waited for a chance to surprise them with an attack so the three of them could escape.


    A minuteter, Xiu Mei moved swiftly twisting her body to the side and blocking the gun with her arm to push it away. She didn¡¯t waste any second captured the arm that was holding the gun and forced it to a direction with no people so just in case if the person pulls the trigger, no one would get hit.


    She immediately targeted their eyes and struck them with her finger to temporarily blind them. After doing so, she quickly disarmed the man and inched away from him. She moved very quickly in doing this routine since she knew that she can only surprise them with speed but not force since she¡¯s not that physically strong yet.


    Xiu Mei spun her head to look at Ying Yue¡¯s direction. She smiled seeing that Ying Yue also sessfully disarmed the man. Zhu Lin was panting but he was able to free himself as well.


    The three of them started to flee from the scene but stopped on their tracks when another group of men stood in front of them. All were looking at the three of them like they were some kind of prey that they are trying to capture.


    Xiu Mei noticed the guns and knives that they were holding. She cursed.


    Shit, there¡¯s too many of them. She wasn¡¯t sure if the three of them who don¡¯t have proper training can defeat all these armed men in front of them.


    Before she could even think of something, Zhu Lin did the most unexpected thing that shocked Xiu Mei.


    Zhu Lin was in so much panic and was very scared that he suddenly pushed Ying Yue to the front, towards the direction of the armed men.


    "YING YUE!" Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened as her heart almost stopped in shock. She faintly saw Zhu Lin escaping the scene after sacrificing Ying Yue before Xiu Mei¡¯s body reflexively ran towards Ying Yue¡¯s direction trying to stop her body from falling forwards.

 Chapter 109 - Facing the fear

    <h4>Chapter 109 - Facing the fear</h4>


    Recalling that terrible memory, Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze changed. She paused for a moment to take a deep breath. Counting slowly in her head, she tried her best not to lose grip of her emotions.


    Since she made the decision to stop running away, then what¡¯s left for her to do is to move forward and face her fears.


    "Zhu Lin," Xiu Mei¡¯s tonepletely changed. She held her head high like a proper miss from the Xiu family with a mix of arrogance and mockery in her eyes. She crossed her arms as she continued, "Lately, I¡¯ve been hearing a lot of interesting news about the Zhu family around the circle."


    Zhu Lin¡¯s eyes widened. He instantly realized what she was talking about and in an instant, his eyes showed fear while he looked at Xiu Mei.


    Xiu Mei sneered at his reaction. She approached him and got close enough for him to hear what she was whispering.


    "I wonder what would happen once the media hears a wind about it?"


    The Zhu family may still have enough power to suppress the news, but once Xiu Mei says a word against it, it would be enough for them to ignore the suppression from the Zhu family.


    Xiu Mei looked at his eyes with an icy gaze. "Zhu Lin... you should just sit back and wait, eh? The ount from ten years ago, I¡¯ll make sure you pay it back to us with interest."


    Zhu Lin bravely faced her cold gaze but his trembling eyes were enough for Xiu Mei that she already threatened him enough.


    "Scram." She uttered as a final warning. She rolled her eyes at him before deciding to return to the VIP room she was upying. She didn¡¯t bother looking back at all and continued choosing her attire for the party.


    After that incident, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t return to the office. After pinging her assistant that she won¡¯t be back for the day, she drove off with her car and returned to the Xiu mansion.


    "Where¡¯s Mom and Dad?" Xiu Mei asked their butler as soon as she got home. The butler immediately replied that both her parents were out.


    "What about my second brother?"


    "He is at his study."


    Xiu Mei nodded and went straight to her brother¡¯s study sh office.


    "Second brother." She greeted as soon as she entered the room. Xiu Mo Ruo shed a smile at his younger sister and stood up to give her a hug.


    "Princess."


    The two of them sat on the couch that was in the middle of the room.


    "Are you okay now?" Xiu Mo Ruo asked.


    Xiu Mei nodded, assuring him that she was truly fine already.


    "I am very much okay now, brother. Lu Chen and Lu Qiang helped me a lot at home during the recovery period."


    Xiu Mei paused for a second before smiling. Somehow, she was already unconsciously calling Lu Chen¡¯s home ¡¯her home¡¯ now. Even though it¡¯s only been a few weeks, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of belonging at their home now.


    "Well, just tell me if that guy bullies you okay?"


    "If he bullies me, do you think he would get away unscathed?"


    Xiu Mo Ruo paused to think before replying, "That guy is very sly so he would surely outwit you and get away with it."


    "..."


    Fine, Lu Chen really is way sneakier and more intelligent than her. In front of that husband of hers, she is just a paper tiger ah.


    "Anyways brother, that¡¯s not why I¡¯m here." She said.


    "Can I see all the information we have from my kidnapping ten years ago?" Xiu Mei added.


    As soon as those words escaped her mouth, she noticed Xiu Mo Ruo stiffened for a second after being caught off guard.


    He cleared his throat, feeling suddenly uneasy about her request. The kidnapping incident is a taboo topic every time Xiu Mei is around so their family would always avoid mentioning any rted topic about that. But now... she was asking about it from him.


    Xiu Mo Ruo knew that he wouldn¡¯t like whatever her next words would be.


    "W-why are you suddenly asking about that?"


    Xi Mei bit her lip as if she was still hesitating. After thinking about it for a few more seconds, she raised her head and steeled her gaze towards her brother.


    "Brother, I... I want to stop running away from it anymore."


    Xiu Mei took a deep breath while bowing her head and ying with her fingers.


    "All these years, I thought that I only needed ¡¯time¡¯ and then the wound would heal itself. But I realized that I was just fooling myself for the past ten years."


    "That no matter how much time had already passed, the wound never healed and scarred. It still feels fresh, as if all that nightmare just happened yesterday. I... I never got better because I was running away from it."


    She raised her head again to look at her brother.


    "I was running away from the pain, denying eptance and just keeping everything inside my mind and heart. And that made me feel worse. Because I never chose to face that fear, I only became a coward in each passing day."


    Tears were pooling in her eyes and noticing this, her brother pulled her for a hug. He patted her back gently, trying tofort her.


    "So now, I want to change my choice, brother. Let me remember it, every piece of detail that I¡¯ve already buried somewhere in my memories, all details from that night. I want it all back. Then maybe, in the future, we can finally close this case and move on for the better."


    Her voice kept trembling when she was saying that. Despite that, her eyes were resolute on her decision. Xiu Mo Ruo read her younger sister¡¯s face and even if he wanted to persuade her to not look at the files, seeing that resolution in her eyes made him waver.


    He couldn¡¯t deny his younger sister what she wanted. Even if what she wanted was something that would hurt her again and again.


    "Are you sure?"


    "I¡¯ve already made up my mind, brother. And that will not change.???


    Her second brother stared at her for a little longer when he heard him sighing deeply.


    "I understand. I¡¯ll send you the files to your email so you could take a look at them."


    Because all the hard copies of the files they had about the incident are at his father¡¯s office, he couldn¡¯t just carelessly take it out from the vault. He would still need to inform first his parents about Xiu Mei¡¯s decision before he could give her the printed files. For now, all he could provide is the encrypted folders that they had about the incident.


    "If ever you need someone, we¡¯re just one call away okay?" Xiu Mo Ruo smoothed her hair while reminding her that. Xiu Mei nodded and promised him.


    After chatting with him for a little while longer, Xiu Mei finally decided to go back home. She bid goodbye to her brother and their butler before returning back to her new home.


    That night, after tucking in Lu Qiang to bed, she opened her emails and saw the encrypted file that her brother sent her.


    Her mouse pointer hovered over the file, still a bit hesitant whether she was really ready to open that file and remember all those memories again.


    While she was still hesitating, she received a sudden call from Lu Chen.


    "Hello?"


    "Wife, it¡¯s me."


    "Hmm. I know."


    "...are you okay?" Lu Chen quickly caught up on her weird tone at the end of the line.


    "I am. I think."


    "Did something happen?" He worriedly asked. Lu Chen faintly nced at the people in the conference room before signaling to them to take a quick short break for now.


    He hurried back to his office and focused on his conversation with Xiu Mei.


    "...Chen."


    "Hmm?"


    "How I wish that you¡¯re here with me right now."


    As soon as Lu Chen heard that, his heart grew warm yet he was filled with more worry after noticing the gloom in her voice. He was clueless as to why Xiu Mei was like that and now, all he wanted to do was to fly back and give her a tight hug tofort her.


    But no matter how much he wants to question her right now, he still chose to wait and listened to her next words.


    "Chen."


    "Hmm?"


    "Can you stay with me on the line for a little longer?" She requested, her grip on her phone tightening while her eyes are still glued on herptop.


    "Of course, my wife."


    "Okay. Then, just stay with me like this for a minute."


    As soon as she said that, Xiu Mei reached out for the mouse and clicked on the file. She watched it getting downloaded and opening the doc.u.ment.


    And the very first thing that she saw when she opened it was the date.


    The date when it all started.

 Chapter 110 - That Night - Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 110 - That Night - Part 1</h4>


    (Author¡¯s note: The first half of the chapter may seem somewhat familiar to you since it was copied from the early chapters I wrote in the story. It¡¯ll be easier for you to follow the flow of what transpired that night.)


    Xiu Mei continued reading her statement from ten years ago. In this file, she recounted all the events that happened that day. It was the hardest interview she had been through in her entire life.


    10 years ago.


    After Zhu Lin fled on his own after sacrificing Ying Yue, the two girls were immediately captured by the men and knocked out. Before Xiu Mei lost her consciousness, she could hear someone screaming to chase after Zhu Lin as well. Then, shepletely cked out.


    Hourster, Xiu Mei woke up from the pain she was feeling on her cheek. Her head kept hitting the cold floor of the truck they were in because of the uneven ground. As soon as she woke up, Xiu Mei felt a sense of panic after realizing that she couldn¡¯t see anything at all.


    Where was she?!


    "Ying Yue?" She murmured, trying to find Ying Yue¡¯s presence inside the vehicle.


    "Mei Mei, are you awake?"


    As soon as she heard her voice, the panic in her heart lessened.


    At least Ying Yue is still safe.


    "How long have you been awake?"


    "I¡¯m not sure. Probably half an hour now?"


    "So there¡¯s no one but us here in the back of the truck?"


    "Yeah."


    The rhythmic sounds of raindrops hitting the car roof was all the two girls could hear from the truck. Both of their hands and legs bound, and their eyes blindfolded by a piece of cloth, they could only stay put and reserved their energy.


    Since their freedom of movement was taken away, they really couldn¡¯t do anything.


    "Ouch." Ying Yue lightly reacted as she hit her head on the surface. Xiu Mei hissed a bit when her forehead bumped onto something hard as well.


    The driver seemed to be driving on a rocky and bumpy grounds causing the truck to shake back and forth while moving forward in an unsteady manner. The random eleration and halt would often cause them to hit onto somewhere inside the enclosed truck.


    For the rest of the ride, Xiu Mei continuously cursed herself for leaving all the tracking devices she had on her body. Aside from the phone, her parents also added some tracking devices on her ne and watch that she removed when she skipped her sses earlier.


    Damn it! If she had just kept them on, her parents could immediately find her location and save them.


    Her inner turmoil continued like that. She was regretting it. She was regretting all her actions now that could¡¯ve prevented this from happening. And now, even she wasn¡¯t sure whether they could really survive or not.


    An hourter, the truck went into aplete stop. Before they could absorb what¡¯s currently happening, both girls heard the door of the truck opening as it made a loud creaking sound.


    Few pairs of steps resounded as one of them spoke.


    "Bring them out."


    They weren¡¯t able to struggle as they were roughly manhandled as they pulled them up to stand up.


    "Let me go!" She heard Ying Yue say while she was being pushed to get off the truck. Xiu Mei also tried struggling to free from the hands of their kidnappers but ultimately failed in the end.


    "Silence!"


    What she heard next was a light sound. Xiu Mei grew worried as she realized that Ying Yue was pped by the kidnapper just so she could shut up. Seeing that putting up a fight would not bring them any good, both of them remained quiet for the rest of the time.


    They finally dragged them by their arms while climbing out of the truck.


    Due to the uneven ground, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but trip every now and then while her body was continuously being dragged forward.


    A few minutester, they were carelessly thrown to the ground making both girlsnd on their faces as they crashed to the ground. Before they could even speak toin, they felt the cloths on their eyes loosened. What they heard next was the sound of the doors closing and some sound of metals clinking before it went silent.


    Xiu Mei took a full minute of blinking continuously before she could make clear of her surroundings. Since it was dark, her eyes haven¡¯t fully adjusted to the darkness so she couldn¡¯t figure out what was in front of her.


    "Mei Mei, where are we?" Ying Yue¡¯s voice trembled as she asked her. She turned to where the source of the voice was and blinked twice until she could finally make out her outline. She saw her struggling trying to sit up from her lying down position.


    "Away from the city, definitely." Xiu Mei realized this fact. Her eyes trailed onto the outlines of boxes on the other side of the room.


    She was very sure of the fact that their kidnappers had brought them outside the city.


    "A mountain, or a ntation, probably."


    An uneven and rocky ground, how could you possibly find it inside a city? The probability of them being imprisoned in the mountains is high and she felt that the truck climbed in an elevated ground in a continuous manner for more than half an hour.


    "Mei Mei, I¡¯m scared." Ying Yue cried out in fear, as she pulled her knees closer to her. Her stancepletely showing that she waspletely confused and helpless to what was happening to both of them.


    "Don¡¯t be afraid. Help wille." Xiu Mei tried to give a reassuring gaze to Ying Yue as she responded to her. Though, she herself didn¡¯t know whether she was speaking it to Ying Yue or to herself instead.


    Hours passed when the door was pulled open again. Instantly, the two of them became on high alert. Ying Yue and Xiu Mei back away towards the wall as they fiercely red at the two men who were smiling so smugly at them. The men looked very unkempt and they could smell the strong smell of alcohol from their bodies.


    The two girls grew more nervous after realizing the two people didn¡¯t seem to be in their right minds.


    Xiu Mei grew more apprehensive when she realized that these guys weren¡¯t only drinking but they seemed to be inhaling some drugs just a while ago. She could smell in the air something different and unfamiliar so she wasn¡¯t sure if it was really drugs.


    "Since both of you are already here, why don¡¯t you y with us?" One of the two men remarked, sounding very excited.


    The two men pulled them up and dragged them outside the room. Since the room they were in was dark, she was momentarily blinded by the brightness of the room they were dragged into.


    Xiu Mei trembled in fear when she saw what was in front of her. She couldn¡¯t count how many men were in the room but she saw four tables were upied by them and the bottles of beer piling up around the area. Some were smoking and inhaling some white stuff too.


    "Here are our desserts!" The two men announced making everyone in the room turn to their direction. Ying Yue and Xiu Mei were scared of the gazes they were making when all the men in the room looked at them.


    "Since the agreement did not say that we can¡¯t touch them, we can at least take the interest first then the ransomter." One of the drunk men said. He staggered while walking towards Xiu Mei but since they were being held down by the two men, she couldn¡¯t avoid his disgusting touch when he caressed her face.


    "Then we can start the party then!"


    Suddenly, Ying Yue was dragged to a different part of the room.


    Ying Yue looked at Xiu Mei in panic, fearful of what was going to happen for the next minute. The two girls knew what the men were nning to do to them so they put up a fight. Ying Yue struggled while being dragged and Xiu Mei also did the same.


    "Oh, feisty ones. Isn¡¯t this more interesting?"


    Xiu Mei was startled when she felt someone licking her behind her neck. She reflexively tried to push away the man behind her.


    Xiu Mei was then dragged towards a table and was forced to lie down. They held her bound arms above her head while someone was touching the different parts of her body. She continued to struggle until she felt that she felt her feet being loosened from being bound. As soon as her feet werepletely freed, she took the opportunity to kick and attack the men around her before they could climb on her body.


    Xiu Mei pulled her arms away forcefully from the one holding down her arms. She grabbed the nearest bottle she could reach and smashed it to one of them. She kicked and attacked like that when she heard Ying Yue¡¯s scream and the sound of something being torn apart.

 Chapter 111 - That Night - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 111 - That Night - Part 2</h4>


    (Author¡¯s note: Warning! I know a lot of us do not want to read r.a.p.e, so if you¡¯re someone who hates that, do skip this chapter. Thank you!)


    Xiu Mei got distracted hence the men were able to tie her down immediately.


    "Ying Yue!" She called out her friend¡¯s name while struggling. She tried to struggle against them by continuously kicking and trying to bite anyone who attempted to go near her. She tried her best to apply whatever self-defense she learned from her brothers.


    She panicked even more when she started hearing Ying Yue¡¯s pleas and cry. She trembled with fear and even though there are people obstructing her view of what was happening on the other side, she didn¡¯t dare imagine what was happening at all.


    Xiu Mei knew that once she tried to picture that, she won¡¯t be able to take it.


    "Mei Mei! H-help me... ahh!.. No!"


    What she heard next were Ying Yue¡¯s cries and someone¡¯s m.o.a.ns in the background.


    ???No!....ahhh...s-stop!...g-get o-ah!....Mei...hnnn!"


    "Hn~ aah~" That was the sound of a man m.o.a.ning.


    Then she faintly heard Ying Yue¡¯s muffled screams. Despair and dread filled her at that exact moment.


    Even though she couldn¡¯t see Ying Yue, even though she couldn¡¯t see what was happening, the noise resounded in her ears like a heavy drum.


    It sounded very ominous as if it was a sign that her ending is already sealed. That no matter how much she tried to fight them, she¡¯ll still be vited and be left at their kidnapper¡¯s mercy.


    Xiu Mei was too stunned to realize that she unconsciously paused on her actions. Seeing this, the men surrounding her took this an opportunity to hold her down properly.


    "Sh--" Before she could even react, a rag was jammed into her mouth, silencing her cries. Xiu Mei whimpered, feeling someone touching both her feet to hold her down. Her arm was pinned above her head again.


    She felt another hand touching her thighs and someone licking her leg. The man that was holding her shoulders jumped and hovered above her.


    Seeing the intense l.u.s.t in their eyes, Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze trembled as she tried struggling again.


    ¡¯No! No!! They¡¯re disgusting! Go away! Go away! No! I wanna go home!!¡¯ Is what Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts were at that moment. Since her mouth was blocked by a rag, she couldn¡¯t scream for help at all.


    At that very moment, the courage she had before shattered into pieces. In her mind, she was immensely regretful and it felt like the darkness was consuming her so slowly. She was filled with anguish thinking that no matter how much she tries to struggle tonight, she would fall in their hands and be at their mercy.


    Half of her soul was already screaming at her to just give up. That struggling would just prolong the pain and torture. That it would be better to just get this over with instead of being continuously torture by the pain.


    Xiu Mei felt someone attacking her neck. She only knew that her uniform was now being torn apart by these men assaulting her. The man bit her skin from her neck up to her corbone. She even felt someone pulling up her top and touching her skin underneath it. The hand was slowly climbing upwards until itnded on her not yet developed chest.


    As they continuously attacked different parts of her body, Xiu Mei¡¯s mental state was in shambles. She felt disgusted when the men kept touching her body but no matter how much she wanted to push them away, the number of hands holding down her limbs and body isn¡¯t something she could overpower with her body.


    The cold crept in her body, with most of her uniform now torn apart. Her sanity was slowly shattering. A minute ago, she was still struggling but right now, she felt like a lifeless doll that won¡¯t move anymore.


    She wanted to fight, but the shame and despair were breaking her soul. She felt lost, and at the back of her wind, she was thinking when will this be over?


    She couldn¡¯t hear Ying Yue¡¯s cries and the m.o.a.ning sounds anymore. Maybe it¡¯s because her body was finally closing off her senses due to the intense anguish she was feeling.


    Her sight was slowly darkening as if she was now sinking into darkness.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know how long she stayed like that, but somehow, the pain she was expecting did note.


    With a nk gaze, she watched the men trying to assault her bleed to death in front of her. Even when their blood sprayed on her face or when the dead body pressed on her, Xiu Mei did not react at all. Her gaze stayed on the ceiling, staring at nowhere at all. Her mind nked outpletely. She was numb.


    Then someone finally pushed away the dead body that was pressing on her. She couldn¡¯t recognize that person¡¯s face, but she smelled the familiar scent that her uncle usually wore. A piece of cloth was quickly wrapped around her, but Xiu Mei did not feel warm at all. Instead, she felt colder.


    She unconsciously traveled her eyes towards the opposite side of the room. Her eyes paused on the area where some people were gathering around. Because a lot of them are moving around, she could see a white hand outstretched out on the ground.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze trembled. She didn¡¯t see the medics trying to revive her, she didn¡¯t see the blood that was pooling around her body.


    Her eyes were only glued on the arm that wasn¡¯t hidden in her sight. Her body moved absentmindedly. She couldn¡¯t hear her uncle¡¯s calling her out, and she unconsciously fought back the people who were trying to stop her from approaching the owner of the arm.


    Barefooted, she approached that area. She stopped in front of the arm that wasn¡¯t moving and stared at it for a long time.


    She crouched down and wrapped her hand around it. It was a bit cold but still warm. Her gaze shifted from the hand, then to the arm, and then to the owner of the outstretched arm.


    She felt someone grabbing her by the shoulders but she quickly pushed him away.


    As soon as her gazended on that person¡¯s face, Xiu Mei slightly regained her senses. Her hand trembled, reaching out to touch the face of that person.


    This person...


    "Ying...Yue..." She mumbled, caressing the face of that person.


    After uttering her name, all the memories flooded back into her brain. Her memories with her best friend when they were young, Ying Yue¡¯s face when she won her first award in the balletpetition, the expressions she would make when she sees a handsome person, Ying Yue¡¯s frustrated expression every time she beats her when they y in the arcade, how much the two of them enjoy eating street foods after sneaking out from school, then when they went to Italy to celebrate her birthday, and many many more.


    A minute ago, she felt very empty. But now, the pain and torment were haunting the depth of her soul.


    "Ying Yue?" With thest piece of sanity she has left, Xiu Mei called out her name.


    But the person she was calling out did not respond at all. Xiu Mei stared at the brown lifeless eyes that were staring back at her.


    "Ying Yue?" She called out again. Can¡¯t she hear her voice? Why is she just looking at her?


    "Yue..." Then her sight moved downwards. There, she saw a piece of ss embedded on her stomach.


    She quickly tried to cover it, attempting to stop her bleeding when a hand stopped her movements.


    "Mei¡¯er, no." A voice sounded behind her. But she didn¡¯t listen at all and tried moving that hand away. Eventually, that person hugged her from behind, stopping her movements.


    "Ying Yue!"


    "Mei¡¯er, stop!"


    "No!"


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know how she managed to push that person away but she returned to Ying Yue¡¯s side and cupped her face.


    "Wake up! Ying Yue, wake up!" She desperately called her name yet, she didn¡¯t get any response.


    Xiu Mei was clearly not in her right mind. She did not even notice the slight change in the color of the skin around Ying Yue???s neck.


    She repeated her name multiple times. She was desperately clinging into Ying Yue¡¯s lifeless body while repeating her name like it was some kind of chant. Because of that, Xiu Mei was now also covered with Ying Yue¡¯s blood.


    Her uncle pulled her away again from Ying Yue, and with the help of the other soldiers, they quickly blocked her line of sight of Ying Yue¡¯s dead body.


    "No! Don¡¯t take her away! Ying Yue!!" She pleaded.


    "Give her some tranquilizer." Xiu Mei¡¯s uncle ordered to the nearby medic that checked Ying Yue¡¯s pulse awhile ago.


    Xiu Mei continued struggling in his arms until she felt a sting on her arm. She didn¡¯t know what happened but her feet suddenly felt like jelly, and her body felt weaker and weaker. Despite that, she whimpered and called out Ying Yue¡¯s name until she finally cked out in her uncle¡¯s arms.

 Chapter 112 - That Night - Part 3

    <h4>Chapter 112 - That Night - Part 3</h4>


    (Author¡¯s Note: Just a heads up before youin in unlocking this chapter, this isn¡¯t mentioned anymore in the previous chapters. And I¡¯m dropping hints about the suspects for the kidnapping!)


    After Xiu Mei was put to sleep, she was quickly brought out by her uncle to the ambnce for tests. Xiu Mei¡¯s Uncle, Yu Shi Jin, returned to the room where Xiu Mei¡¯s friend, Ying Yue,y dead.


    "What¡¯s her status?" He asked the medics present on the scene.


    "Apologies, we tried reviving her by administering epinephrine and doing defibrition but we did not receive any response. I¡¯m sorry."


    "..."


    Yu Shi Jin¡¯s heart turned heavy after hearing that. He looked at the body of the girl lying on the ground. He can see the severity of abuse that the girl experienced just by looking at her.


    Her body would¡¯ve been fully n.a.k.e.d if the medics did not cover her up with a white cloth. Her hair was disheveled, and around her neck, you can see the traces of the abuse she went through. There are scratches in the different parts of her body, aside from the stabbed wound on her stomach.


    But most of all, it was the expression on the girl¡¯s face when she died. Her dted eyes were wide open, depicting the anguish and torment that the girl went through.


    Yu Shi Jin heaved a sigh and knelt. After chanting his prayers in his head, he covered the eyes of the girl to close it. He felt deep regret that he arrived toote. If he had arrived earlier, would this girl still be alive?


    He can already imagine the shadow that would be left on Xiu Mei after this. As a soldier who already faced death multiple times, a lot of hisrades left their posts because they couldn¡¯t get over the traumatic experience they had in the field or the death of their fellowrades.


    But facing his niece and to tell her this news, she would definitely be devastated.


    "Don¡¯t miss any evidence. Take all the alive ones for questioning. I want to know who is the one behind all of this." He coldly ordered, before leaving the room to check on his niece.


    Xiu Mei was quickly confined in the military hospital and was undergoing some tests. As soon as her family arrived in the hospital, Xiu Mei¡¯s mother broke down in tears after being told of the initial status of her daughter.


    There were a lot of bruises and marks left on her body due to the attempted s.e.x.u.a.l assault that she had gone through. She didn¡¯t seem to have any major physical injuries aside from those but the doctor already advised her parents to prepare themselves.


    For victims of kidnapping that was s.e.x.u.a.lly assaulted, the possibility of them having physiological and psychological effects are high. In this case, after Yu Shi Jin said his statement on how Xiu Mei acted back in the room where they rescued her, the doctor was 80% sure that Xiu Mei would need the help of a psychiatrist at this rate.


    "Mr. Xiu, the Zhu family are calling on the phone."


    "Do we look like we have time to waste on them?!" Xiu Gu Ren roared in anger. Prior to the rescue of Xiu Mei, he was already aware of what happened beforehand.


    Half a dayter, the family was finally allowed to see Xiu Mei. Xiu Mei¡¯s brothers stood stiffly at the side after seeing their younger sister. From afar, they could see the bruises on their sister¡¯s face. Some of it was even covered with a bandage.


    The noticeable part is that her wrists are bound on the bed with a cloth.


    "What¡¯s wrong with our daughter?" Xiu Gu Ren asked after seeing his daughter.


    "Ms.Xiu Mei didn¡¯t have any major injuries after further inspection. She twisted her left ankle and bruises in different parts of her body due to being dragged around. About why we have to bind her on the bed, Ms.Xiu woke up two hours ago during the inspection and she went hysterical so we had to inject her some tranquilizer to calm her down. So this is just a preventive measure so she won¡¯t hurt herself in the process when she wakes up." The doctor dered.


    As soon as the doctor left the room to give the family their space, Xiu Mei¡¯s mother, Yu Shi Huang approached her daughter on the bed.


    With trembling hands, she lightly caressed Xiu Mei¡¯s face and smoothened her hair. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore and broke down to tears after finally seeing Xiu Mei¡¯s condition.


    Xiu Gu Ren quickly hugged his wife tofort her, but he couldn¡¯t hide his emotions either. He was on the verge of tearing up but he was also filled with anger. His brother-inw is still questioning the people who kidnapped Xiu Mei and Ying Yue but they were very determined to shut their mouths.


    Xiu Mei eventually woke up after a few hours. Fortunately this time, she didn¡¯t turn hysterical. Xiu Mei saw her mother¡¯s face as soon as she opened her eyes, and seeing her mom¡¯s red and swelling eyes, all her memories from the day before came rushing back again. But what the family didn¡¯t expect was, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t remember how she was even rescued from that ce at all. Her memories stopped before she was forcefully pinned down on the table and almost got s.e.x.u.a.lly assaulted.


    But she remembered the most important thing. Xiu Mei spoke with a weakened voice,


    "Mom, how about Ying Yue? Where is she?"


    Her parents fell into silence as soon as they heard the question so Xiu Mei got even more nervous. She repeated her question.


    "Where is she? Is she okay? Can I see her?"


    Xiu Gu Ren clenched his fist and took a deep breath. He hesitated to tell the news to his daughter with her current condition but he knew that lying wouldn¡¯t do any better. He was just about to open his mouth when his wife beat him to it.


    "Don¡¯t worry. Ying Yue¡¯s fine and is recuperating now in a different hospital. She¡¯s with her parents so she¡¯ll be okay."


    In the interrogation room.


    Yu Shi Jin barely controlled himself from torturing the kidnappers to pry open their mouths. Finally, after severely threatening one of the weakest willed people, they were able to gather some information.


    As he expected, someone paid them to kidnap Xiu Mei which is the very opposite of their first statement that they kidnapped the two girls for ransom after recognizing their uniform. The person who hired them paid them in cash, leaving no paper trail. They were only told to kidnap them and hold them for a few days before finally letting them go after they receive the ransom.


    Reading the short report, Yu Shi Jin frowned. If that person aimed to kill his niece, he would¡¯ve hired an assassin instead so at least, they know that the person didn¡¯t n to kill from the start.


    But to specifically target his niece, that is very rming. Given the number of enemies the Yu family and Xiu family alone, they can understand that Xiu Mei was definitely the easiest target since she is the weakest among both families. The thing is, Yu Shi Jin couldn¡¯t figure out the motive behind the kidnapping.


    After hiring and paying the kidnappers, that person did notmunicate with them anymore after receiving the word that they¡¯ve kidnapped Xiu Mei. He even allowed to let them free once the kidnappers receive the ransom. Either way, Yu Shi Jin couldn¡¯t find the benefit that person would gain after kidnapping Xiu Mei aside from bluntly dering to the two families that he won¡¯t be scared by them.


    He ordered his men to investigate where the paper bills came from but the investigation got stuck after finding out that it was an embezzled money that was stolen from a person that¡¯s currently in jail.


    They even had it tested for fingerprints or DNA that could be used, but only the kidnappers¡¯ DNA could be found all over them. That person¡¯s style was so clean that he didn¡¯t leave any trace behind.


    They tried tracking the number but was left with a dead-end since the owner has already been dead for two years.


    From those, Yu Shi Jin can conclude that the mastermind behind this is very intelligent, and cautious. This kidnapping is something he carefully nned, making sure leaving no evidence that will trace back to him at all.


    After delivering this initial report to his father and other members of the family, the Yu and Xiu family mobilized their men to investigate and dig deeper about the case. They couldn¡¯t trace the call but they can at least identify which ce the signal came from.


    And the thing is, it pinged back to S city, the city where the military headquarters are located in.


    The Yu family narrowed down their list of enemies within the city, including the military personnel are under suspicion.


    After investigating each of the families on the list, they couldn¡¯t find an exact person to investigate but they are able to connect some of the unconfirmed pieces of evidence to three families.


    The Xiu family. The Ying family. And the Fan family.

 Chapter 113 - That Night - Part 4

    <h4>Chapter 113 - That Night - Part 4</h4>


    The Xiu family. The Ying family. And the Fan family.


    After discovering this information, the Xiu and Yu family became even more high alert. They inform the Ying family of this information, but they did not receive any response from them. More like, the Ying familypletely severed their rtionship with the Xiu family after this incident. Though they did not reveal the true target of the kidnapping, somehow, the Ying family must¡¯ve found out this truth that¡¯s why they¡¯re ming their family now for the death of their child.


    As for the Fan family, they are also one of the popr families in the circle. They¡¯ve been around as long as the Xiu family, but the difference is that their family is famous in literature. That¡¯s why to be involved in the kidnapping case, they¡¯re still figuring out the possible motive the Fan family have if they really are the ones behind the kidnapping.


    They did more digging and found out some relevant information to link them back to the Xiu family.


    One member of the Fan family was supposed to be married into one of the branches of the Xiu family. But apparently, the bride died in an ident hence the marriage did not happen. ording to Xiu Mei¡¯s grandfather, the rumored bride was actually a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e so the whole family was very against the marriage back then. It was only when the bride announced she was pregnant that the marriage was approved.


    As for the Ying family, aside from the fact that Xiu Mei and Ying Yue are friends from childhood, there¡¯s really nothing to link the two families together. The current Xiu family is focused on military and politics, while the Ying family are businessmen.


    Though, the turmoil in the Ying family is something that¡¯s hidden in the public. And one of the men the Xiu family nted inside reported that a lot of the members of the Ying family was eyeing for marriage and partnership with the Xiu family.


    For the Xiu family, Xiu Gu Ren did his own investigation and knew that there are some branches inside the family who are harboring bad motives. One is definitely the power as the head of the Xiu family, then second would be the influence in politics. After Xiu Gu Ren married Yu Shi Huang, itpletely solidified his position as the head of the Xiu family. But their marriage brought a lot of threat to the family as well, not only externally but internally.


    Xiu Gu Ren and Yu Shi Huang read the report with heavy hearts. Despite having this much information, they still couldn¡¯t find the benefit that would be gained from Xiu Mei¡¯s kidnapping. Revenge? Envy? Hidden Intentions?


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t fooled for long by her mother.


    She noticed that every time she asks about Ying Yue, her family members¡¯ expressions would turn stiff as if they were hiding something. It was only after she asked one of the nurses around by paraphrasing the question into something different that she was finally informed of the truth.


    Even with her weakened body, Xiu Mei escaped from the military hospital. Barefooted, she slipped into one of the vehicles and climbed off as soon as she was already far enough from the hospital. From the highway, she walked barefooted until she reached the ce where Ying Yue¡¯s funeral was held.


    As expected, she was forcefully kicked out by Ying Yue¡¯s mom and was even condemned in public. If it wasn¡¯t for her elder brothering for her on time, she would surely get injured after getting smashed on with a ss.


    She was quickly taken back to the hospital and was put into strict surveince after that.


    Throughout her stay in the hospital, Xiu Mei was out of control. The nurses had to force her to take the medicines with her family¡¯s help, and she would often have to be put to sleep with a tranquilizer.


    She rejected eating foods and liquids, causing her to lose so much weight she was almost skin and bones. In summary, Xiu Mei was at the very worse state physically and mentally.


    Xiu Mei was in so much despair she had given up on living. She recovered a piece of her memory when she was almost s.e.x.u.a.lly assaulted, and she remembered seeing Ying Yue¡¯s lifeless body. Then the words that Ying Yue¡¯s parents¡¯ screamed at her kept echoing in her mind. Even Ying Yue¡¯s cries before dying were following her in her dreams, rather, nightmares.


    It was all too much. All too much.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t take it any longer. Her heart feels so heavy that she was desperate to just make it stop beating altogether. The whispers in her ears won¡¯t stop at all. She felt like her being rescued from that night was a big mistake.


    Why did she live? Why did she not die? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just die? Then wouldn¡¯t she be in so much pain?


    Xiu Mei scanned the room. Ever since she was caged in this room, all the sharp objects have been taken away. Even the windows are grilled just so she wouldn¡¯t escape through the window. The window. The ss window.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes lingered there for a full minute. Since she became weaker, the nurses stopped bounding her on the bed. In the normal days, she couldn¡¯t even find the energy to stand up at all due to theck of nutrition and stamina.


    But right now, Xiu Mei uneasily climbed off from her bed. She put most of her weight on the wall and table that she was holding onto while approaching the window.


    She admired the ss window, even running her finger on the smooth surface. Then, grabbing the empty cup at the side, she shattered the window without even faltering. Quickly grabbing the sharpest andrgest piece she could find, she slit her wrist.


    Her body became weaker as blood continue to spill from her wrist. Letting out a hollowugh, she watched herself bleed to death. It was then the door mmed open making her turn to look at the door.


    Then Xiu Mei saw her mom. She paused fromughing after seeing her mother¡¯s expression change. After that, she cked out.


    After that attempted suicide that day, Xiu Mei slightly returned to her senses. She realized that it wasn¡¯t just her who was in pain at all. Because of her, the entire family plunged into anguish because of her actions.


    Gradually, she cooperated with her doctors. She took the medicines with difficulty, ate a little bit more than what she ate yesterday, and from time to time, she would talk with her parents or brothers or whoever would apany her in the room that day.


    Small steps. Slowly, she was able to control her emotions a little bit and eventually, she was able to finally give her statement about her kidnapping. Even though it was already months ago, her statement was still an important piece of information for the investigation.


    She recounted it to them with all she could remember with difficulty.


    She was dyed for a year in school after that. She took a year off to focus on recuperating and at least, cured enough to be able to return to school. Her family wanted to transfer her to a different school but Xiu Mei was against it.


    Kei transferred to her school to apany her throughout her secondary education. After that, she decided to go independent and move out of her parents¡¯ home to study in her chosen university.


    As for the investigation of the three families, they continued the investigation but it became a dead-end since they couldn¡¯t find any more evidence to link to anyone from the three families. Even after investigating the different branches of the Xiu family, they couldn¡¯t find any piece of evidence that would allow them to question the people under suspicion. However, because of this piece of a clue about the three families, they were able to nt their own men inside the Ying¡¯s and Fan¡¯s for under surveince.


    Even if it takes years, they will catch the mastermind of the kidnapping and discover the real motive of that person.


    Back to the present.


    Xiu Mei reached the end of the file. Reading all the information in it caused her emotions to be slightly unstable again. She started breathing heavily, which Lu Chen quickly noticed.


    He immediately told her to slowly breathe in and out again, even counting slowly for her.


    With his help, she became a bit stable than before.


    "What are you doing?" He asked. Xiu Mei quickly fell into silence after requesting him to stay on the line a little longer, which he did.


    "Reading something." Xiu Mei replied.


    "About?"


    Xiu Mei took a deep breath before replying. "Myself."


    "..."


    "I¡¯m reading about my kidnapping case from ten years ago."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "I¡¯ll book the earliest flight tomorrow after the contract signing."


    "No, it¡¯s fine! I mean, I... I¡¯ll be fine. We can just talk once you return the day after tomorrow."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Hmm. I¡¯m sure."


    "If you say so." Lu Chen responded, but his other hand was already typing on hisptop andmunicating with Lu Shao through the chatbox to tell him to book him a flight tomorrow morning.


    After the call, Xiu Meiid down on the bed. Staring at the ceiling, her thoughts are stuck on three facts.


    One, just like her hunch, she really was the target of the kidnapping.


    Two, the possibility of the person being within the family is quite high. And if it is from within the two other families, aside from Ying Yue, she hasn¡¯t really contacted anyone rted to them.


    Three, the man she saw in the hospital is definitely rted to her kidnapping. Otherwise, if she wasn¡¯t the target back then at all, why would that person bother showing up again to her after ten years?

 Chapter 114 - The Party - Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 114 - The Party - Part 1</h4>


    "May I have your invitation please?"


    Xiu Mei showed her white invitation to the guard at the door before they finally let her in.


    To dress up for the party, she wore a two-toned asymmetrical shirt dress coupled with an Alexander Mcqueen corset belt. Her 3-inch leather sandals clicked and echoed as she walked across the floor.


    "Xiu Mei, it¡¯s been a while!" A girl in a short wine dress called out to her. She gracefully ced the wine ss back on the table and gave her a friendly hug.


    "It¡¯s nice to see you back, Lia." Xiu Mei greeted, returning her hug.


    "Come here, we reserved you a table." She said, immediately hugging her arm.


    Lia dragged her to a table where she saw a couple of familiar faces. They were her closest friends back in middle school, but she hasn¡¯t gotten in touch with them ever since she entered the university. Since she had to work, she couldn¡¯t find time to meet or hang out with them, especially that she went straight to work after graduation.


    "Look at Xiu Mei, doing so well in career and love then look at me, I just get fat every time I taste a little bit the food I make." Li Jing Yan quipped while eating a slice of the mousse cake. She is currently a baker and owner of her own shop.


    "At least you get to eat ah. My manager started forcing me to abstain from meat for one month for a drama." Bei Jia Ying said while eating her sd. She¡¯s currently an A-list actress under her family¡¯s entertainmentpany.


    "Oh, but among all of us, isn¡¯t Lia the one living the happiest?" Huan Qiao Qingmented. She¡¯s currently working as a doctor in the hospital her family owns.


    Except for Lia, the other four in the table nodded in agreement.


    "She married well and now has a daughter of her own. She¡¯s a shareholder of a multinationalpany. But most of all, this married couple has been in their honeymoon phase for three years now. At this rate, won??t your daughter get a sibling soon?" Jia Ying remarked.


    "I can¡¯t deny that I¡¯m happy but it¡¯s really hard to be a mother ah. I don¡¯t know how many times I have to wake up in the middle of the night coaxing that little princess from crying. She won¡¯t stop crying if it¡¯s just the nanny." Lia whined.


    "But that¡¯s the best part, isn¡¯t it? You won¡¯t even notice how fast children grow up and all until they¡¯re finally getting married." Xiu Mei said, smiling at Lia.


    "Ohhhhh! Hey, what was that? Yah, Xiu Mei. Did you get married without us knowing? Are you and Mr.Lu at that level now? Your dating scandal was just a few weeks ago ah." Jing Yan teased after hearing that.


    "You¡¯re bbering nonsense ah. Do you think I have time to get married?"


    "If it¡¯s CEO Lu, anyone would surely make time ah. Didn¡¯t he rank 4th in the most ideal husband survey this year?"


    "You even read that kind of nonsense?"


    "Forget about Jing Yan. She¡¯s just looking for another boyfriend ah so she must be targeting the people on that list."


    "So she¡¯s over Kei now?"


    "Xiu Mei ah, it¡¯s been so long. I¡¯ve gotten over that jerk since graduation ah."


    "You cried like you¡¯ll die if he didn¡¯t marry you then."


    "I was just a normal teenage girl that is heartbroken, okay? Tsk. What kind of friends are you?"


    The five of them chatted excitedly while waiting for their other batchmates to arrive. Since it¡¯s been so long they¡¯ve gotten together like this, they took this as an opportunity to catch up.


    Shortly after, gasps of surprise echoed inside the ballroom hall. Even the five friends turned to see who entered the floor that made the people inside react like that.


    "Waaaa... I can¡¯t believe she really came ah." Lia murmured.


    Standing by the door was the daughter of the prime minister, Yu Zhenzhen and her husband Pei Ji Huang, CEO of PZ Conglomerate.


    Their backgrounds alone were enough to intimidate everyone inside the room but Yu Zhenzhen really took the effort to make sure that all eyes would be on her that night. d in a low cut short dress embedded with diamonds, she entered the room as if she was the queen of that ce.


    Xiu Mei scooted a little closer to Qiao Qing and whispered, "Isn¡¯t she pregnant?"


    "I¡¯m curious about that myself. I¡¯m pretty sure that she is pregnant and... she¡¯s wearing something like that?"


    "Well, she¡¯s always been like that even back then so I¡¯m not surprised at all."


    "A queen bee even now ah."


    "Sssh. She¡¯sing this way."


    Yu Zhenzhen arrogantly scanned the people in the room, enjoying the looks of admirations and envy on their faces. Her eyes paused on the table and after recognizing a familiar face, she smiled contemptuously while approaching the table. Hugging her husband by arm, she stopped in front of her archenemy since her primary school days, Xiu Mei.


    "It¡¯s been a long time, Xiu Mei." Xiu Mei clearly felt the contempt in her tone. Pulling out her business smile, she returned the greeting.


    "It is, Yu Zhenzhen. It¡¯s been a while too, Mr.Pei." As Lu Corporation¡¯s secretary, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t forget to greet one of the important partners that they¡¯ve coborated with before.


    Yu Zhenzhen examined her from head to toe while giving her a look like she was degrading her in her mind or something.


    "You look like you¡¯re living well ah. I heard you¡¯re dating the CEO of thepany you¡¯re working for?"


    Trantion: Aren¡¯t you ashamed of flirting with your boss?


    "Your habit of gossiping hasn¡¯t changed at all, Yu Zhenzhen."


    Trantion: Mind your own business.


    "Everyone is curious, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m just helping you out in rifying the truth. Also, we¡¯re all a.d.u.l.ts here. Isn¡¯t it the time for you to get married?"


    "It seems like my life events are making you worry for me?"


    "Not at all, Xiu Mei. I¡¯m just curious because you are very lucky to be living so well throughout these years."


    Xiu Mei understood her message between the lines. She was poking at her sore spot about Ying Yue and her family. She tried her best to act as if it didn¡¯t bother her.


    "I am. After all, at some point in our lives we should stop dwelling on the past isn¡¯t it?"


    "That depends if they deserve it ah."


    "Oh, it seems like Ms.Yu can judge who deserves it and those who do not ah. Why don¡¯t you try applying to be a judge in the court next time?"


    "Do I even need to stress myself and be a judge? Just a word from my father is enough to settle anything."


    "You still like to rely on your father¡¯s power ah."


    Before they could even continue their sh of words, Pei Ji Huang and the other girls finally stepped in between their conversation.


    "Ms.Xiu, I¡¯ll take my wife first to rest ah. We don¡¯t want the baby to be stressed out, right baby?" He politely said, while hugging his wife by her shoulder and signaling her to stop trying to make a scene.


    Yu Zhenzhen red at her husband. "Are you siding with her?"


    "Ms.Yu, we¡¯re just concerned about the fetus in your stomach. It¡¯s better to have pretty thoughts during this time, right? Else it might affect the fetus negatively. That¡¯s what my doctor advised when I was pregnant ah." Lia replied aiming to stop their conversation from turning serious.


    The other three girls added in a few words before Yu Zhenzhen and Pei Ji Huang sessfully left them alone and walked to their table.


    "Are you alright?" Jia Ying worriedly asked.


    "Of course, when did I ever back down in front of Yu Zhenzhen?" (Xiu Mei)


    "Like duh. If Yu Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t pregnant, I¡¯m pretty sure Xiu Mei would have fend her off immediately after giving her that look of contempt at the start." (Lia)


    "You should have just cursed her right then and there ah!" (Qiao Qing)


    "Then make a scene here? No thanks. And surely, she¡¯ll find an opportunityter to attack me again ah. I¡¯d rather stay put and watch her embarrass herself if that happens." (Xiu Mei)


    "But damn, it¡¯s been seven years and her queen attitude is still the same. Don¡¯t she experience like the enlightenment phase or something? I had mine with getting addicted to alcohol then getting alcohol poisoning ah." (Qiao Qing)


    Lia sighed, pitifully looking at Pei Ji Huang¡¯s figure. "Too bad for Mr.Pei ah. How much bad luck does he have to get stuck with Yu Zhenzhen?"


    "Wasn¡¯t it a shotgun marriage?" (Jia Ying)


    "Really?"


    After that short encounter with the queen bee of their batch, the five of them resumed with their chat sh gossiping. In the middle of having her dinner, Xiu Mei temporarily walked out to answer a call.


    Before she could return back to the hall, she bumped into someone again. She quickly apologized to that person but before she could turn back, that person called her name.


    "Ms. Xiu?"


    "?"


    Xiu Mei looked at the man in front of her. It was a tall blonde man and he looks like a foreigner. She blinked twice wondering who he is. Has she met him before?


    "Oh, I¡¯m so sorry. I haven¡¯t introduced myself, aren¡¯t I? My name is Albert Chen. And I¡¯ll be working as the Assistant Director for the Marketing team at Lu Corporation starting next week."

 Chapter 115 - The Party - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 115 - The Party - Part 2</h4>


    Xiu Mei squinted her eyes a little bit, trying to get a good look at the guy. At that time, she was already a bit tipsy with all the mixed drinks she¡¯s been drinking with her friends so her mind wasn¡¯t at her best state at all.


    But looking at this stranger introducing himself to her as a new employee in theirpany, she couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    ¡¯Why the hell is this guy abruptly introducing himself to her?¡¯ is what she thought.


    It¡¯s not like she¡¯s even aware of the changes in employees in the different departments. The people she usually talks with are the heads of the department and if needed, the team captains.


    But not to make it so awkward for the guy, she dryly responded to his introduction.


    "Oh. Nice to meet you."


    She wanted to return to her table quickly but before she could even take her first step, another voice called her out.


    "Well, if you look at that. Hanging out with some random man. I didn¡¯t take you to be the type to pedal on two boats ah, Xiu Mei." Yu Zhenzhen uttered.


    Xiu Mei frowned and turned to look behind her. Yu Zhenzhen looked at her in a very condescending manner while crossing her arms.


    "Yu Zhenzhen, aren¡¯t you getting tired of trying to pick a fight with me?"


    "Oh my, is Xiu Mei getting offended?"


    "Are you blind? I¡¯m just saying that I¡¯m getting tired of wasting my energy on you ah. But recalling yourprehension score back in middle school, I¡¯ll be kind and understand that you simply don¡¯t understand all that I¡¯m saying."


    "You¡ª!"


    "Ah, and before I forgot. I think you should really get your ears and eyes checked. Where did you see me flirting with another man ah? Or..." Xiu Mei narrowed her eyes. "...is it that you¡¯re the one who hired this man so you could frame me?"


    "Do you think I¡¯d resort to such petty methods?!"


    Xiu Mei shrugged while looking veryidback. "I mean you did do that a lot back in the days. Don¡¯t you remember getting scolded by your Dad because of it?"


    "I¡ª"


    Xiu Mei patted her shoulder lightly while speaking to her, "Yu Zhenzhen, you should be careful ah. Your Dad¡¯s currently the Prime Minister, and if the media gets a wind how his daughter acts in public, do you think you¡¯ll still be able to get away with it?"


    "..."


    With the mention of the Prime Minister, Yu Zhenzhen fell silent. No one knows better than her how much her Dad gives importance to his image in public. If she really dared to act out right here, her Dad would surely teach her a lesson and keep her locked up in the mansion for a while.


    Thinking that Yu Zhenzhen was backing down now, Xiu Mei started walking back to the ball hall. She paused when Yu Zhenzhen called her out again for the second time.


    "Xiu Mei, now that you¡¯re back, do you think I¡¯ll back down like this?" Yu Zhenzhen red fiercely at her this time.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t give her a response and just looked at her as if she doesn¡¯t care at all what she was going to say next.


    "Do you think you¡¯ll still be fine once the whole world finds out what happened ten years ago?"


    Xiu Mei stiffened, clenching her fists as anger slowly rose within her.


    "Do you think I¡¯ll still be scared if you threaten me with that?" She retorted. Xiu Mei snorted continuing her statement, "You¡¯re making meugh, Yu Zhenzhen. How many years do you think have passed ah? Besides, you think you know everything so well but in reality, you only know what¡¯s on the surface ah."


    "Doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s the truth or not. Once it goes public, do you think you can still keep your career and your image as the good daughter of the Xiu family?"


    "You¡¯re taking me as a littlemb ah." Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes quickly changed to a cold stare, as if she was trying to stab daggers at Yu Zhenzhen with her gaze. "Yu Zhenzhen, if you continue testing me like this, I don¡¯t think you can even hide under the umbre of your father ah."


    Xiu Mei picked some strands of Yu Zhenzhen¡¯s hair and twirled it around her fingers.


    "I¡¯m not the same Xiu Mei that you could still easily pick on ah. And I¡¯m not nning to hide anymore. So don¡¯t waste your time on threatening me like this because it¡¯s not gonna work at all."


    And with that, she returned back to the ball hall,pletely forgetting the presence of Albert Chen who was listening in on their conversation.


    After witnessing that scene, Albert Chen snorted. Yu Zhenzhen thought that the man wasughing at her so she was just about to burst a tantrum and roar at the stranger.


    Before she could utter any word, in the blink of an eye, the man was already standing in front of her while pointing a gun at her head.


    "Y-You..." Yu Zhenzhen stammered in fear and panic, afraid that this guy will suddenly slip and pull the trigger.


    ??Shut the f.u.c.k up." Albert Chen threateningly remarked while looking coldly at the stupid woman in front of him. He threatened her with the gun for a few more seconds before finally putting down his gun.


    Then he exited the hotel while avoiding all the CCTV around the hotel. He pulled out his phone and made a call.


    "Miss, the target doesn¡¯t seem to recognize me at all." He reported to the other line.


    "Good. Then continue with the n. Make sure to get close to that bitch and don¡¯t alert anyone for now."


    "Roger that."


    Back at the party.


    Xiu Mei was back to hanging out with her other batchmates while continuously sipping some champagne.


    She mingled with them for some idle chat and tried picking up some news in some of thepanies they¡¯re working for. Right now, Xiu Mei was half-working by keeping tabs on somepanies that could potentially be a good partner or someone that they should be wary of.


    She was too absorbed in talking with other people plus the multiple sses of alcohol that she already drunk throughout the night that she didn¡¯t hear that someone was calling on her phone.


    Half an hourter, Lu Chen arrived at the hotel where the party is at. Luckily, he was still in his suit and tie so he can still go in. After making a call to the owner of the hotel, he did not need an invitation to be allowed inside the hall.


    Lu Chen nonchntly entered the hall, ignoring the gazes of the people who saw him suddenly intruding the party. He was immediately recognized by the people making them buzz curiously with gossip as to why the famous President and CEO of Lu Corporation is at the party.


    "Are you looking for Xiu Mei?" Jia Ying approached Lu Chen. Since he doesn¡¯t know her at all, he looked at her indifferently before looking away to look for Xiu Mei¡¯s figure again.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m her friend." Then she pointed at her left. "Xiu Mei¡¯s at that table over there near the pir, chatting with some of our ssmates."


    Following her line of sight, Lu Chen finally spotted Xiu Mei drinking with some men and women on that table. He nodded at the woman as an appreciation for the gestured before walking towards Xiu Mei.


    Xiu Mei was still too absorbed with her chat she didn¡¯t notice the some of the people around her turning silent. It was only when she felt something heavy and warm being ced on her shoulders that she turned to look behind her and saw Lu Chen.


    She almost jumped in surprise in her seat after being startled by his sudden appearance. She looked at him, clearly very baffled.


    Why is he suddenly here? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to leave Washington tomorrow?


    "When did you arrive back here?" She asked.


    "Just an hour ago. I drove here immediately as soon as the nended."


    "?"


    Why is Lu Chen suddenly looking for her?


    Lu Chen nced at his watch before finally greeting the people who were chatting with Xiu Mei just now.


    "Hello, apologies for disturbing your chat. Unfortunately, I would have to cut your conversation short with my girlfriend since we have to go home now." Lu Chen smoothly eximed, earning some gasps from the people who heard his statement.


    After all, they haven¡¯t really publicly confirmed their rtionship since the news from weeks ago. And now, he was inly announcing to the world that he and Xiu Mei are in a rtionship.


    "The party¡¯s still not over though."


    Xiu Mei pouted, wanting to stay throughout the party.


    Lu Chen lowered his head and whispered to Xiu Mei¡¯s ear.


    "Lu Qiang is still awake and waiting for you at home."


    "What?"


    Didn¡¯t she tell the kid not to wait for her? And she also asked the nanny to put him to bed if he couldn¡¯t sleep ah. Why¡¯s the kid still awake thiste?


    Because of that Xiu Mei finally gave in and decided to call it a night.

 Chapter 116 - Acceptance and Gift

    <h4>Chapter 116 - eptance and Gift</h4>


    "Let me just grab my purse real quick. Excuse me."


    Holding the coat firmly on her shoulder, Xiu Mei stood up from her seat to walk back to her friends¡¯ table. Lu Chen followed behind her.


    "Are you going?" Lia asked, returning to their table as well.


    "Mm. Ah, before I leave." Xiu Mei turned to look at Lu Chen and started introducing her middle school friends.


    "This is Lia, Jing Yan, Qiao Qing, and Jia Ying. They¡¯re my friends from middle school." She introduced her four friends to Lu Chen respectively. Then she turned to her friends.


    "I know you already know him so, I¡¯ll just make it short. Lu Chen, um, my boyfriend."


    Somehow, the word ¡¯boyfriend¡¯ rolled awkwardly in her mouth. Since she was used to introducing Lu Chen as either her boss or the CEO so introducing him as her boyfriend felt a bit awkward.


    "Ooooohhhhh!!!!" Xiu Mei¡¯s friends reacted in chorus. All threw a teasing look at her while Lia was nudging her ribs with her elbow.


    "Mr.Lu, we¡¯ll be very generous with the red packet so don¡¯t forget to invite us to your wedding ah!" Qiao Qing quipped.


    "Of course, that¡¯s not a problem. I¡¯ll make sure you all receive one very soon."Lu Chen replied, his stiff expression softening a little bit.


    "..."


    Xiu Mei gave him a side-eye with a look of suspicion on her face.


    Somehow, her guts are telling her that he was happier to hear that they¡¯ll be generously giving a red packet instead of the wedding. Or is she just thinking too much?


    Xiu Mei ignored Qiao Qing¡¯sment and just grabbed her bag from her seat.


    "Anyways, we gotta go. I¡¯ll keep in touch."


    "Liar. You said that after graduation too but you didn¡¯t contact us at all."


    "I was too busy."


    "So now you¡¯re not?"


    Xiu Mei paused to think. That...


    "See!"


    "Just message me from time to time. Don¡¯t bombard me with your chain messages, especially you Jia Ying!"


    "Eh, but that¡¯s fun to pass around."


    "What are you, a kid?"


    "..."


    "Anyways, Lu Chen and I really need to go now. So, see you around." Xiu Mei hugged them for thest time then left the ball hall with Lu Chen while holding hands.


    As they made their way to the parking lot, she bumped into Kei who was going in the opposite direction.


    "Mei! Oh, and you brought your husband to the party too?" Kei stopped in front of them. Xiu Mei quickly pped shut his mouth.


    "You and your big mouth! What if someone hears you?"


    "Oh, sorry. Anyways, are you two really leaving? The party just started two hours ago though."


    "Lu Qiang¡¯s waiting alone at home so we need to go. And I already did what I need to do so staying longer doesn¡¯t make any difference for me."


    "Oh, that¡¯s too bad. I was going to watch you get drunk though then take drunk pictures of you." Kei joked around earning a re from Lu Chen. He unconsciously stepped closer beside Xiu Mei to put her in between them. Xiu Mei, on the other hand, hit him on the head.


    "Do you wanna die? And I¡¯m already tipsy enough as it is. Your ex kept pushing drinks onto me ah!"


    "Jing Yan?"


    "Did you have another girlfriend that I wasn¡¯t aware of back in middle school?"


    "No."


    She looked pitifully at her childhood friend who evidently dressed up for this evening. How can he chase her back if he¡¯s this slow ah?


    "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Just... praying for your sess ah. You have a long road ahead of you, pal." She patted him on his shoulder before leaving. Kei looked at her with a baffled expression.


    Is she drunk talking ah?


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei finally reached his car. She was about to open the door to the front door opposite the driver¡¯s seat when she paused her movements. Taking onest look at the hotel building, she took a deep sigh and climbed inside the car. She let out a sigh again that was immediately noticed by Lu Chen.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" He worriedly asked.


    Xiu Mei shook her head. "Nothing. It¡¯s just... I thought that it would be very difficult for me to face all of them tonight since the only thing that left an impression during my middle school was when I skipped sses and getting kidnapped and all. But weirdly, this thing right here,"


    She ced her hand on her chest. "It didn¡¯t feel heavy like it used to be when I think of all those people. Somehow, I was able to face them all again without remembering my nightmare at all. Because my memories were filled with them giving me their sympathies. Instead of feeling better, those words felt heavier for me before. But now... it seems that it was only me who thought that nothing healed from that time."


    She looked at Lu Chen and continued. "I¡¯m not sure if I should be d that I¡¯m actually feeling better or should I feel scared instead."


    Listening to her worries, Lu Chen pulled Xiu Mei into a hug and rubbed her back.


    "Why do you feel scared?"


    "...I¡¯m scared of forgetting my friend. It feels like if I forget about her, it¡¯s the most unforgivable sin that I¡¯d do in my life. After all, just like what her parents said, she did die because of me."


    "Xiu Mei, listen to me." Cupping her face, Lu Chen pulled her face closer to him making their foreheads touch.


    ¡¯Moving on doesn¡¯t mean that you will forget about that person. It just means that you finally chose to live for happiness instead of living in pain. It is the eptance and not the denial of reality anymore. So don¡¯t be afraid."


    "But eptance is difficult."


    "It is and will always be. But what can we do? We can only choose to ept in order to move forward."


    "But what if eptance means more pain? epting the truth that Ying Yue died because of me is torture enough for me. So how can I even ept the whole truth behind all of this?"


    Xiu Mei was scared. She was scared. What if knowing the truth is more painful? Would her heart and mind really be able to take it?


    "Then I¡¯ll be there. Didn¡¯t I promise you? I¡¯ll protect you and make you happy."


    Lu Chen caressed her cheeks ever so gently as he continued, "No matter where your fate takes you, I promise that I will always be there. I¡¯ll be your husband, your knight, and your savior that will take away your pain."


    "Just like what you told me before, I won¡¯t let you feel scared as long I stay by your side. That¡¯s why my wife, I promise to always stay beside so don¡¯t feel scared anymore, okay?"


    Xiu Mei suppressed the giggle that was trying to escape from her mouth.


    This guy... he really remembered that.


    But it does feel good hearing that. His sincerity and reassurance that he will always be with her are what pushes her to move forward and face the fears she kept running away from.


    Instead of keeping her away from pain, he reassures her that he will always be right beside her every time she stumbles. His protection is not sheltering her, but rather, encouraging her to face the truth and get over it.


    "Then my wonderful knight, do you want me to give you a gift?"


    "A gift?"


    "Mm."


    "Shouldn¡¯t I be the one giving you a gift instead?"


    "Why you?"


    "Because I was the one who went on a business trip."


    "Pfft¡ªstupid, that¡¯s not what I meant."


    "?"


    "I mean this."


    Plucking up all her courage, Xiu Mei closed her eyes and pressed her soft lips in his.


    Lu Chen momentarily froze in shock. He stared wide-eyed at Xiu Mei, suddenly caught off guard by her actions. His mind nked out and whatever thoughts he had a while ago was thrown out of the window.


    He was just starting to enjoy the kiss when Xiu Mei quickly pulled away, grinning at him.


    "Do you like it?" Her smile looked very much like a spell that was hypnotizing him right now.


    He felt a sense of loss when she suddenly pulled away and right now, all his thoughts are now focused on having that warm feeling back again.


    And so that¡¯s what he did.


    Lu Chen firmly held her the back of her head and this time, he was the one who initiated the kiss. He nibbled and sucked on her lower lip hungrily, making it swell and feel plumper than before.


    In contrast with Xiu Mei¡¯s fleeting kiss, his was fiercer and a bit more desperate yet gentle. He slowly and carefully tasted her lips. As if it was the most delicious dessert in the world that should be tasted and chewed on very carefully.

 Chapter 117 - Their Kiss

    <h4>Chapter 117 - Their Kiss</h4>


    In contrast with the cold and low temperature of the night in the parking lot, the temperature inside Lu Chen¡¯s car was slowly rising as things continue to heat up.


    Despitecking experience in that area, Lu Chen continued pecking and nibbling on her lower lip. He tried to be gentle, but for him, Xiu Mei¡¯s lips were like a drug that he couldn¡¯t get enough of. His fingers tangled in her hair, as he kept her closer to him.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei who was overwhelmed by the kids awkwardly clung onto Lu Chen¡¯s clothes. As soon as their lips touched again, she felt like the air in her lungs waspletely knocked out. Her heart pounded so loudly as if it was threatening to escape from her chest.


    Even though she was a bit startled at first, she gradually got into the kiss and responded to Lu Chen¡¯s kisses.


    With her response, Lu Chen became fiercer. His other hand sn.a.k.e.d behind her waist, trying to pull her closer to his body. He grazed his tongue between her lips. Slowly, his tongue inched forward and gently parted her lips.


    He started slow, trying to make her ustomed to this new experience by gently touching her tongue with his. From her mouth, he could taste a hint of alcohol she had been drinking a while ago which made him lose his control even more. He tenderly tasted the inside of her mouth, running his tongue over her teeth, the roof her mouth and gently sucking her tongue.


    A full minuteter, Lu Chen paused. He briefly separated from Xiu Mei¡¯s lips, leaving a string of saliva in between them. He did not move away but instead, he paused just to look at Xiu Mei¡¯s expression.


    Xiu Mei also opened her eyes and returned Lu Chen¡¯s stare. While falling deep in his eyes, she could feel an indescribable attraction that was pulling her towards him. Her breathing turned heavier, while Lu Chen engraved her current expression in his mind. And then his lips fell on her once again.


    This time, this contact didn¡¯tst as long as the previous one. Lu Chen eventually regained his self-control and ended their kiss by pecking her lightly on the lips.


    "..."


    "..."


    The two of them fell into a brief silence after that sudden first kiss. The two of them were staring at each other¡¯s eyes at first when everything that happened finally dawned on them.


    Xiu Mei was the first one to look away and blushed.


    Oh my gawd! What did just happen?!


    She fumbled around awkwardly and acted as if she was looking for something inside her purse.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen cleared his throat in an attempt to shake off his fl.u.s.ter. He tried distracting himself by starting the vehicle and driving back to their home.


    Basically, the entire ride home was filled with awkward silence. Xiu Mei kept looking out the window since she couldn¡¯t muster herself to look at Lu Chen. Her inner mind was having a turmoil with fl.u.s.ter.


    My gawd, she couldn¡¯t believe it.


    She really couldn¡¯t believe it. That she was the one who initiated that kiss first.


    Was it because of the alcohol? Was she that drunk that she delivered herself to him on her own volition? My god. She is definitely not touching any alcohol anymore for the next few months!


    Damn it. Because of her momentarily recklessness, she indirectly permitted him to kiss her from now on based on their contract. Oh my god. My god. She was getting crazy ah!


    Omg. What kind of spirit possessed her to do that?! Did she get too engrossed into their conversation and suddenly became yful so she teased him like that? Aaaaahhhh!


    Xiu Mei¡¯s hand flew over her mouth in an attempt to suppress herself getting even more fl.u.s.tered. Lu Chen¡¯s touches and kiss, she couldn¡¯t get it off in her mind at all. It almost felt like his hands were still there and intimately and tenderly touching her.


    Damn it! Xiu Mei, get a grip on yourself already!!


    As soon as Lu Chen stopped the car in the garage, Xiu Mei swiftly climbed off the vehicle and ran back inside the house.


    Lu Chen who was caught off guard by her movements at first couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her reaction. He didn¡¯t suppress the smile that was now stered on his face as he remembered their kiss before this. He touched his lips and smiled, recalling that memory.


    Well, it seems like he¡¯ll be catching her sooner than what he thought ah.


    Xiu Mei who ran back quickly inside the house went straight to Lu Qiang¡¯s room instead of her room. She hastily locked the door as soon as she entered the kid¡¯s room, making Lu Qiang look at her with a baffled expression.


    "Mom?" The nanny was the one who tucked him to bed one and a half hours ago but he couldn¡¯t fall asleep so right now, he was just doing some advanced readings on his lessons.


    He was a bit startled when his mother suddenly dashed inside his room without knocking, which she usually does before entering. But now, his mother looked a bit anxious and red while standing in front of his door. It was as if she was wary of something.


    "Mom, are you okay?" Lu Qiang worriedly asked.


    He climbed off the bed and hugged her waist,forting her.


    "Hm? Ah, sorry baby. Did I wake you up?"


    "No, I was reading something. But mommy, are you okay? You look red. Do you have a fever?" He innocently asked.


    But when Xiu Mei heard his questions, she grew even more fl.u.s.tered.


    Damn it, her son is so sharp ah! Was she blushing so much that she looked like she has a fever?


    "Mommy¡¯s fine. Then baby, should we go to sleep?"


    "But Mom, are you going to sleep in that dress? Are you not going to change?"


    Xiu Mei looked at herself. She blinked twice, remembering that she didn¡¯t look ready to sleep at all ah.


    She was still in sandals too. Dang it, she was too busy running away she even forgot to remove her sandals.


    "Hmm, then Mommy¡¯s gonna tell you stories first then I¡¯ll sleep, okay?"


    "Mhm, ¡¯kay."


    Lu Qiang nodded. Xiu Mei carried him back to the bed and started telling him stories to put him to sleep. After finally getting him to sleep, she cleaned up the books that he was reading off his bed and ced them on his study table. She kissed him on his forehead as a goodnight kiss and walked towards the door.


    Her hands paused when she reached the door. She hesitated for a bit before finally mustering enough courage to step out of the room.


    Peeking her head out along the hallway, she checked if Lu Chen was around the area and thankfully, he wasn¡¯t there at all.


    Holding her sandals in her hands, she tiptoed back to her room. She let out a deep sighed of relief after finally returning to her safe zone.


    That was really nervewracking ah!


    She held her face as she worried about how she was gonna face him tomorrow for breakfast again.


    ...Can she really face him ah?


    After that, Xiu Mei promptly did her night routine. She took a quick shower to sober herself up and wash off the smell of alcohol on her body.


    She was busily applying some toner on her face when someone knocked on her door.


    Xiu Mei was puzzled and checked the time shing on the digital clock just beside her bed. It was already past midnight and someone was visiting her room at this hour?


    She hesitated to open the door at first so she decided to ask who it was before opening it.


    "Who is it?"


    "It¡¯s me."


    "!!!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s heart jumped in alert after hearing Lu Chen¡¯s voice.


    Oh my god! Oh my gawd!


    Her mind turned into a mess as she became more hesitant to open the door.


    Damn it, she wasn¡¯t prepared to face him yet ah!! Isn¡¯t this too fast? Can¡¯t she just see him tomorrow instead?


    But even though she wasn¡¯t ready yet, Xiu Mei still opened the door for him.


    "I brought you some water."


    There, Lu Chen stood in front of her door with a ss of water. The first few buttons of his dress shirt are unbuttoned revealing his corbone and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows revealing the slight muscles of his arm.


    This isn¡¯t the first time that Xiu Mei saw Lu Chen look like this. However, weird enough, Xiu Mei thought that this time, he looked so attractive right now that she really wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and stick to him.


    Xiu Mei immediately removed her perverted thoughts on her head. Damn it, why is she suddenly being like this ah?!


    "Thanks." She epted the ss of water he handed over to her.


    "It seems like you had a lot of champagne and c.o.c.ktail at the party so drink a lot more water, okay?"


    "Oh."


    "Then, goodnight." And with that, Lu Chen turned his back to her and entered his room.


    "..."


    Xiu Mei looked at the ss of water she was holding and then the door of Lu Chen¡¯s room.


    "...how did he know I drank some c.o.c.ktails?"


    If it was the champagne, she was pretty sure that she was drinking that when Lu Chen picked her up so that¡¯s understandable. But how did he know that she drank c.o.c.ktail...?


    Then the memory of their french kiss shed before her eyes again.


    "...."


    Oh.

 Chapter 118 - Morning Sweetness

    <h4>Chapter 118 - Morning Sweetness</h4>


    Since it was the weekend, Xiu Mei decided to sleep in. She barely slept the night before while thinking about a lot of things. So even with the sunlight filling in her room, Xiu Meifortably hid under the covers while hugging a pillow.


    Unfortunately for her, this peace didn¡¯tst that long.


    She was woken up by the sound of her phone ringing. She rose from her bed, groggy and frustrated that her sleep had been disturbed. She hesitantly answered her phone instead of throwing it away.


    "Hello?"


    "Ms.Xiu, something came up." It was her assistant secretary¡¯s voice.


    She yawned and scratched her head. "What is it?"


    "You and Mr.Lu are on the news again."


    "..."


    Her mind instantly cleared up upon hearing that. She climbed off her bed and walked toward her table.


    "I¡¯ll call you back."


    Xiu Mei started up herptop and opened the news website. Instantly, she saw a photo of her and Lu Chen again with a matching headline that reveals their dating rtionship. She clicked on that article and scrolled down.


    She could see some images from the hospital and the images fromst night of them going out of the hotel.


    Seeing this, she quickly got up and went out of her room to find Lu Chen. He knocked on the door if his room but received no response so she went to check on the study but he wasn¡¯t there too.


    She even asked a couple of maids that passed by her and they said they haven¡¯t seen him either.


    "Qiang Qiang, have you seen your Dad?" Xiu Mei asked as soon as she saw Lu Qiang watching the television in the living room.


    The little kid tilted his head as if he was thinking before saying, "Hmmmm... I think he went to the yroom."


    "yroom?"


    "Oh, Dad¡¯s yroom. It¡¯s a separate room just outside this house, Mom."


    Then Lu Qiang walked to a window and pointed the direction to the small room. There, she saw meters from the house, there really was a small room that looked like a warehouse.


    She wondered. Is it a storage room? But Lu Qiang said it¡¯s Lu Chen¡¯s yroom ah.


    A few minutester, Xiu Mei stood in front of the door and knocked on it.


    "Chen, are you in there?"


    "Wife?"


    "It¡¯s me."


    She heard a few things cling inside before the door finally opened revealing Lu Chen with unkempt hair. He looked very messy with all the ck stuff smudged on his arm and face along with his white shirt that was already dirtied with whatever ck stuff that is.


    "What are you doing?"


    She asked in confusion. Was he doing some painting inside?


    Lu Chen moved to the side, gesturing for her to step inside.


    "I was fixing some stuff and repainting some stuff." He casually answered her question. He pointed at the wooden shelf he was repainting.


    Xiu Mei walked over to where he was pointing at and examined it. It was arge wooden shelf that looked simr to the shelves in his study.


    Then she scanned the inside of the room and saw some cut wood and tools that looked like for building something. She even saw some chairs and a small table sitting at the corner that almost finished.


    "...You did all these?"


    "Mhm. I¡¯ve been creating and repainting the shelf for Lu Qiang¡¯s use since he¡¯ll be starting school in a few months. I wanted to add it inside his room."


    "When did you even learn all this?"


    Xiu Mei thought that he was only thinking about work all day aside from his family. But seeing him have hobbies like this is quite a new experience. She didn¡¯t even expect him to be able to know how to build stuff like these.


    "Back when I started living with my cousin, Uncle was a carpenter so I started helping him out when I stayed there. He taught me a lot of stuff like building things from scratch. Though since I¡¯ve be busy with thepany, I do this as a hobby."


    "Wah... that¡¯s really interesting." Xiu Mei admired the furniture that Lu Chen said he did. She looked closely and even saw someplicated designs sculpted on it.


    She turned and wanted to walk over on the other side of the room when she slipped backward from the wood dust that was all over the floor.


    "Whoa!"


    She unconsciously grabbed whatever was near her and clung onto it.


    "Wife, are you alright?"


    Hearing that the voice seemed closer to her, she unconsciously looked up and saw Lu Chen¡¯s worried face above her. His arms were supporting her body so she wouldn¡¯t fall on the floor.


    Before she could even answer him, Lu Chen moved his arm under her knees then he lifted her off the ground. She shrieked in surprise, clinging to his neck while Lu Chen set her down just above the wide table behind him.


    "What are you doing?!"


    "You¡¯re too clumsy."


    "I¡¯m not. It was the floor that is too slippery."


    "You shouldn¡¯t be wearing slippers in here."


    "It¡¯s not like I knew you¡¯d be here in the first ce. I was looking all over the house for you."


    "For me?"


    Ah! She almost forgot why she was looking for him in the first ce.


    "Yeah, I just received a report that our dating rtionship seems to be on the headlines right now."


    Lu Chen tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears. "Oh."


    "Should we send a statement to the PR team for the announcement?"


    "What about doing an interview?"


    "An interview? Isn¡¯t that too much?"


    A simple statement of confirmation would be enough to pacify the reporters though. Why does he want to do an interview too? It¡¯s not even like him to do interviews too. He barely allowed the business magazine before when they interviewed him.


    "To make it more believable. Besides, we need to send a message to the person who tried to kidnap you."


    Xiu Mei frowned in confusion. How does this rte to the announcement of their rtionship?


    Lu Chen cupped her face and looked straight in her eyes.


    "That if they try to move you again, that they¡¯ll be facing me, Lu Chen, as well."


    "...But they didn¡¯t stop even if the knew that I¡¯m from a military family and that my father and brother have high positions in the government though. Why would they stop if it¡¯s you?"


    Lu Chen smirked and pinched her nose. "That¡¯s a secret."


    "Aw!"


    She pped his annoying hand away from pinching her nose and red. She pouted while wondering what Lu Chen meant that it was a secret.


    Does he have some other way of intimidating him aside from having lots of money and influence in business?


    "Let¡¯s put that aside for now, Wife. Let¡¯s talk about a different thing."


    "?"


    "Let¡¯s talk about what happenedst night."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei blinked.


    Oh shit, she almost forgot about that. Should she act like she doesn¡¯t remember what happenedst night? Since she was drunk and all...


    "I know you remember everything even if you¡¯re drunk."


    "..."


    Damn it.


    Xiu Mei bit on her lip and sheepishly smiled at him.


    "...Last night, I got a bit confused because of the alcohol ah."


    "..."


    Instead of responding, Lu Chen trapped Xiu Mei in between his arms. He leaned closer to her and since she was sitting on the table, Xiu Mei leaned backward in an attempt to maintain a distance between the two of them.


    She grew nervous as her heart raced faster.


    "I-It¡¯s really just because of the alcohol ah!"


    Lu Chen continued leaning closer to her while she stopped him from moving any closer by putting her and on his chest.


    "...Wife."


    "Mhm?"


    She replied nervously while blushing. She couldn¡¯t even look straight to him right now because she was being shy.


    "Goodmorning."


    "Ah?"


    Lu Chen immediately closed the distance between them and pecked her on the lips.


    Stunned, Xiu Mei froze in ce even if the kiss juststed for a second. Her breath hitched as she stared back at her husband¡¯s face that was still very close to hers.


    He smiled yfully as he continued teasing her.


    "Where¡¯s my good morning kiss?"


    "Ah?"


    Lu Chen puckered his lips as he pointed at his lips signaling her to kiss him on the lips.


    She stared at his lips for a full five seconds.


    Is he really asking for a morning kiss from her????


    She looked at him again and saw that he was being serious.


    In the end, Xiu Mei gulped and gave in.


    Since they¡¯ve already kissed, thrice at that, what difference would it make if she kiss him again right? And looking at Lu Chen, she highly doubts that he¡¯ll ever let her get away if she doesn¡¯t give in to his request.


    And with that, Xiu Mei finally leaned in and pressed her lips on Lu Chen¡¯s. As soon as their lips touched, she quickly moved away and leaned back while blushing madly.


    She continued blushing even more and felt a bit annoyed after seeing that smile on Lu Chen¡¯s face.


    "Wife."


    "?"


    "Wife."


    "What?"


    "Nothing. I just wanted to call you that."


    "..."


    Damn it.


    She looked away as she tried to hide her blushing face behind her hand.


    Somehow, what he said made her heart flutter even more.

 Chapter 119 - Potted Plant

    <h4>Chapter 119 - Potted nt</h4>


    "You¡¯re straying off the topic." Xiu Mei pushed him away to put more distance between them. Then she quickly took a chance to slip away by scooting to the side and jumped off the table.


    With her back facing him, she continued.


    "Then I¡¯ll call the PR team to prepare for the interview. Then I¡¯ll handle the statement for the initial announcement first. I...I¡¯m going to go now." And without even waiting for his response, she quickly escaped from the room without looking back. Though she did hear Lu Chen¡¯sugh behind her.


    She cursed under her breath, annoyed at Lu Chen¡¯s teasing


    Aside from the announcement made by the Lu Corporation in confirmation of their ¡¯dating¡¯ rtionship, the weekend flew by normally.


    "Our sales for the third quarter were 20% higher thanst year¡¯s. But with the acquisition of the power nt for our entry in the energy industry, the expenses are doubled."


    "The coboration deal with the international luxury brand, Balencia, have been finalizedst week. The MoU will be looked over by the marketing and legal team for final review."


    "All preparations have been finalized and double-checked for next week¡¯s Mango fashion lineunch. As of now, we¡¯re receiving positive reviews from the fans and we¡¯ll be promoting the limited-edition line in two days."


    Lu Chen and his two secretaries sat over the entire meeting for the quarterly reports and updates for the uing projects. Listening to the reports and sitting throughout the meeting with seven different departments in one day was stressful.


    "Sending only the Marketing Team 3 alone for the negotiation, isn¡¯t that a bit too risky? Their batting average for this year isn¡¯t quite high due to the change in staff. I¡¯d rather send the 1st team, instead." Xiu Mei voiced out her opinion while sipping her tea.


    She was looking at the reports and proposals that were submitted by the Marketing team for the projectunch and deals they¡¯ve been eyeing on.


    "Their batting average may be low but the projects they¡¯ve handled this year was a huge sess most especially in terms of ROI if wepare it to the five other teams." Lu Shao inserted who was reading the printed reports.


    "But that project deals were all closed by the previous ount Executive and Creative Director who resigned just a short while ago." (Xiu Mei)


    "Ah, about that. It seems that the new assistant Director will be handling their team temporarily as his first assignment." (Lu Shao)


    "New assistant Director?"


    Xiu Mei faintly remembered the strange man she met on the night of the party. He introduced himself as the new assistant director, isn¡¯t it? What was his name ah....?


    "...Is his name Albert Chen?"


    "Oh, you already know him?"


    "Ah... I just saw his resume once on my assistant¡¯s desk." She lied.


    "Yes, your assistant was the one who screened him when you were still in sick leave."


    "It¡¯s just an assistant Director position though? Why would my assistant be the one to screen him instead of the HR and the Marketing Director?"


    "Mr. Albert Chen is a very famous figure in the international industry so processing his doc.u.ments needed to be handled very carefully."


    "But if he¡¯s that famous, why would he choose to stay and work here as an Assistant Director? Isn¡¯t that too suspicious?"


    Lu Shao lifted his head and grinned at her.


    "Don¡¯t worry, if we¡¯ve confirmed he¡¯s nning something behind our backs against thepany, it¡¯ll be a piece of cake terminating him. For now, since he¡¯s very willing to work and ve here, we¡¯ll squeeze and use him at the utmost of his abilities right?"


    Xiu Mei fell speechless at Lu Shao¡¯s expression. His smile was clearly expressing his evil thoughts ah.


    She sighed and gave up. Fine, if Lu Shao said so then I guess there wouldn¡¯t be any problem. She¡¯s pretty sure that Lu Shao already had some eyes set on the guy if he ever makes a funny move. Besides, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s the first time that this happened ah.


    The two secretaries finished up all the work and submitted the summary report to the president.


    While Xiu Mei was doing some errands on the lower floor, she identally bumped into the person that she and Lu Shao was just talking about earlier.


    "Oh, Ms.Xiu! Hello." Albert Chen greeted her gleefully as he stood with a box in his hands.


    She paused and thought for a while before stepping inside the elevator.


    "Oh my, do you not remember me? I introduced myself to the partyst week."


    Xiu Mei looked at him through her peripheral vision as she nonchntly answered him.


    "I remember."


    Albert¡¯s face beamed in happiness as he scooted close to her. "Really?! Wow, that¡¯s great. I thought Ms.Xiu already forgot about me."


    Xiu Mei ignored him. She was already quite used to dealing with people like him. A lot of people would always kiss up to her, showering her with praises and acting as if they were close to her since they have their hidden agendas.


    Some do it to get a promotion, bragging, attempt to flirt with either Lu Shao or Lu Chen or sometimes, to dig dirt that they could use against anyone. It¡¯s pretty much a normal thing that happens in an office environment.


    As soon as the elevator stopped on the seventh floor, she quickly got off the lift without looking back at Albert.


    But it seems that fate was ying with her though since she bumped into him again in the elevator after finishing her errand on the seventh floor. This time, he was holding some potted nts and another box.


    Seeing those, she looked at the guy weirdly as if judging him.


    What the heck is with this guy? Is he seriously going to bring that to his office? Wait, is it even allowed to bring a potted nt in the office?


    "Oh,e in Ms.Xiu!" Albert quickly moved a potted nt to the side attempting to make space for her. After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally gave in and avoided the potted nt by standing on the free space.


    She looked at the several boxes of potted nts on the ground and stared.


    ....Is he nning to make his office a garden?


    "Ms.Xiu, here."


    Then a small potted nt suddenly appeared in front of her. She flinched back and turned to look at Albert, raising her eyebrow.


    "A small gift from me. Actually, I¡¯m nning to give these nts to my other co-workers as a gift." He exined while pointing at the other boxes.


    "Ah..."


    Finally understanding the reason behind the numerous potted nts, she unconsciously nodded as she held out her hand epting the gift.


    "You just have to water that once a day and keep it somewhere with sunlight then it???s going to be fine."


    "Mhm. Thanks." She replied. Since it is very rude to decline a gift, she readily epted the potted nt. And on their floor, they already have a row of potted nts that they take care of. Though it¡¯s mostly the janitors who water them in the morning most of the time.


    After Albert got off his floor, Xiu Mei went back directly to the president¡¯s floor. Holding a pile of folders on her other hand and a potted nt on the other, she strode back to her station and put down all the things on her table.


    "Ms.Xiu, did you buy another nt?" Her assistant asked her as soon as she saw the nt.


    Xiu Mei shook her head and grabbed to nt.


    "Nah, someone just gave it to me as a gift." She stood up and walked towards the shelf where a row of potted nts could be seen.


    "Someone?"


    "The new person in the marketing department."


    Xiu Mei meticulously ced the nt so that it would align with the other nts as well. She grabbed the water spray at the side and watered it.


    "Ah, you mean Mr.Albert?" Her assistant pped once after realizing who she was talking about.


    "Yup."


    Then her assistant¡¯s eyes sparkled as she suddenly leaned over to her side of the desk as she excitedly asked, "You already met him, Ms.Xiu?! Ah! Isn¡¯t he such a gentleman?"


    Her assistant dreamily looked at her as she continued describing Albert Chen in front of her.


    "He¡¯s such a nice guy ah! Back when I went to interview him, he was such a gentleman when he cut that steak for me for dinner! Oh! And that time when he carefully held my hand when I almost slipped because of the rain. Kyaaah!"


    "..."


    "..."


    Lu Shao and Xiu Mei fell speechless as they watched her assistant suddenly go crazy at a man she went to interview with. It was actually the first time that Xiu Mei saw her assistant go this crazy over a guy, squealing as if the man was an idol or something.


    "I thought you have a boyfriend?" Lu Shao asked in confusion.


    Xiu Mei and her assistant both looked at him at the same with disappointment written on their faces. He grew even more confused after seeing their reactions.


    "What? I was just saying the truth."


    The two girls sighed as they looked pitifully at Lu Shao.


    "Boys don¡¯t really understand girls ah." Her assistant eximed.


    Xiu Mei followed and agreed with her.


    "I second that."


    Lu Shao who was the cause of their disappointment: What????

 Chapter 120 - A Lead

    <h4>Chapter 120 - A Lead</h4>


    Lu Chen who was unaware that his wife received some other man¡¯s gift was busy with some other stuff.


    "We found a lead. My men already confirmed that Xiu Mei¡¯s recent kidnapping is somehow rted to the Ying family." Xiu Mo Ruo started.


    Lu Chen frowned as he delved into it further.


    "Somehow?"


    "The person is within the Ying family, but he¡¯s not a member of the Ying family."


    "So they work for the Ying family."


    "Yeah, but what¡¯s weird is that this person has some significant position within the Ying family but that person shouldn¡¯t have something to do with Xiu Mei."


    "Won¡¯t it be because of the order of the head of the Ying family?"


    "I doubt it. They have ten years to try to move Xiu Mei but they didn¡¯t try anything. What makes them decide to start doing these things now?"


    "Then something must¡¯ve changed within the Ying family."


    "Hmm... that could be possible. Or they had a reason to wait for ten years before taking action."


    "Then I¡¯ll offer another set of eyes."


    The second brother-inw fell silent as he thought about it.


    "Then I¡¯ll need those eyes on the Fan family."


    "The Fan family?"


    "Oh, has Xiu Mei not shown you the file?"


    "What file?"


    "The case file from her kidnapping."


    Hearing that, Lu Chen paused. His eyes drifted to the door of his office as if he could see through the wall and the people behind it.


    His wife read her kidnapping case file from ten years ago? Without telling him about it?


    ...And it seems that she looks fine?


    "...Not yet."


    "Then I¡¯ll hold up on that offer for now. Oh, and by the way. I received a word from my twin brother just this morning. He said that ¡¯To tread carefully and stop attracting attention¡¯. This must be a message to whatever your organization is doing ¡¯there¡¯."


    Lu Chen chuckled, quickly understanding the message. "Oh, then please send my thanks to my eldest brother-inw and say that I¡¯ll keep that in mind."


    "Mhm. Well, that¡¯s that."


    Then their call was immediately cut off. Lu Chen ced his phone back on the table and leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. He stared at his desktop for some time, thinking deeply.


    Xiu Mei... read her case file after ten years.


    His mind wandered back to the night a few days back when she fell silent for a long time during their call. He realized that it must have been that time when she read her case file. Her mood did felt weird afterward but she didn¡¯t breakdown and lost herself from PTSD even after reading that.


    He looked at the door again and wondered. Does that mean she¡¯s finally taking the first step of eptance now?


    After thinking that, Lu Chen sighed. Well, aside from that. He should still worry about the fact that Xiu Mei didn¡¯t even tell her that she already started reading her case file. He suddenly grew concerned about whether Xiu Mei didn¡¯t n on telling him in the first ce or if is she was nning to tell it to him one day.


    Obviously, she knows that he¡¯s well aware of what happened to her back then, but despite that, she actually never heard the story from her mouth. He thought that it must be because she wasn¡¯t ready to share it with others or she doesn¡¯t want to be reminded by it again but looking at it now, he wondered whether Xiu Mei will eventually share her story to him one day.


    He can¡¯t even probe to her about it even if he¡¯s the husband. Their rtionship just started to advance fairly recently and it¡¯s still very vulnerable. He didn¡¯t want to do anything that would break that good streak at all.


    Lu Chen heaved a deep sigh as he finally shrugged it off. Forget about it, Xiu Mei will probably tell him someday....somehow.


    He picked up his phone once again and called the Legion head to send his new instructions based on Xiu Min¡¯s message. Since the enemy is not creating movements, then they¡¯ll be the ones to make a move ah.


    On the other side of the wall.


    Xiu Mei received a folder containing some updates in regards with Lu Chen¡¯s requested interview.


    "Is this for finalization?" She asked without opening the folder.


    "Yes, we¡¯ve chosen the 3 best options to interview with. We have two for magazine interviews and one for a video interview." The PR team executive borated as he answered her question.


    Xiu Mei finally opened the said folder and examined the papers. She only read thepanies requesting the interviews before giving her feedback.


    "The ¡¯In! Magazine¡¯, aren¡¯t they an entertainment magazine? They¡¯re asking for an interview? From us?"


    She thought that it¡¯s either the news team or the business magazines who will ask for the interview. But to be featured in an entertainment magazine, that¡¯s a magazine for famous actors, actresses, and idols ah.


    "Yes, since both of you are famous figures in the industry with prominent backgrounds, they wanted to feature you for a magazine mainly targeted for young a.d.u.l.ts and teenagers for inspiration, is what they said when they requested for the interview."


    "...."


    Fine. It is what it is. They¡¯re still an option so it¡¯s not like the feature¡¯s gonna push through.


    "Thanks. You may go back." Xiu Mei said. The PR executive nodded before leaving.


    She looked at the file again when her assistant stood up from her seat to peek at the file she was reading.


    "Oohhhhhh, are you doing an interview with the president?" Her assistant asked, excitement clear in her tone. She was looking at her as if she was waiting for some juicy gossip or something that she would normally do whenever she finds something interesting.


    "Well, yeah. The president is the one who specifically requested it." Xiu Mei honestly replied.


    She heard her assistant squeal in delight from the news, almost jumping up and down while standing behind her.


    "Ms.Xiu,e on, tell me, since when did you start dating? You denied it thest time right? Then does that mean you just started dating fairly recently?"


    Xiu Mei was taken aback by the sudden barrage of questions being thrown at her by her assistant as if she was a reporter looking for a scoop. Instead of quelling her curiosity, ced the folder in between the two of them, and tapped her forehead with it.


    "Just get back to work, okay. You¡¯ll know the answer when the time is right." She uttered, standing up from her seat then she strode towards the door. Knocking first, she announced her presence and entered Lu Chen¡¯s office.


    She saw him looking at some papers while sitting on the couch and papers spread out on the coffee table. He looked so serious while looking at the papers or something.


    She tilted her head wondering. Are there some problems with the report that she missed?


    "What are you looking at so seriously? Are we having some problems with the report?" She probed, standing behind him to take a peek at the papers he was looking at.


    As soon as her eyesnded on the paper, she paused. She fell silent for a few seconds before giving Lu Chen a weird look.


    "Why are you looking at some rings?"


    "Of course, it¡¯s for our wedding rings."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei finally fell into a realization that Lu Chen was right. They... didn¡¯t have any rings ah. Heck, she didn¡¯t even receive an engagement ring when Lu Chen proposed to her back in the hospital. And then even after registering their marriage, both of them even forgot to get some wedding ring.


    Then her train of thoughts stopped after remembering something.


    Wait, that¡¯s not what she should be worried about right now. What she should be worried about is therge diamond ring that Lu Chen was currently looking at at this very moment. The stone looked so huge that it was very eye-catching if worn.


    She rested her arms on the sofa he was sitting at as she stood behind him.


    "Can¡¯t we just get something in and simple?"


    "Why? Don¡¯t girls like big and sparkly jewels?" Lu Chen responded very seriously.


    "...Not all girls. Besides, are you seriously nning to spend that much money on just a single ring? Don¡¯t you like spending so much money on expensive and useless stuff like this?"


    Lu Chen suddenly turned his face to meet her gaze. He looked serious when he replied to her words.


    "First of all, spending money like this for my wife isn¡¯t a waste. Second, I promised to pamper and spoil you so isn¡¯t this a given? I remember seeing you multiple times wearing earrings with stones this big ah."


    "..."


    Hey, it¡¯s just two times ah! And it¡¯s not like she wore it of her own volition. It was her mother who forced her to wear that heavy and big stone for parties while ckmailing her.

 Chapter 121 - Angry and worried wife

    <h4>Chapter 121 - Angry and worried wife</h4>


    Xiu Mei snatched the paper from his hands and held it behind her.


    "PLAIN. AND. SIMPLE." She pressed seriously, worried that Lu Chen would buy a wedding ring with arge diamond cut on it.


    That¡¯ll be too embarrassing to wear ah!


    She does not even wear jewelry that much. It¡¯s just that most of the time Lu Chen saw her wearing one was when her mother urging her to wear the one she bought.


    "Are you sure? Buying a big rare one is an investment too."


    "..."


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei narrowed her eyes at Lu Chen as she examined his expression.


    This guy... was he just using me liking big stones as an excuse to invest in a ring? Since rarer stones appreciate over time.


    This man is really a businessman ah! Even their wedding ring is an investment. He doesn¡¯t really n on losing any money ah.


    "Forget it. I don¡¯t care anymore." She huffed in annoyance as she threw the paper to his face.


    "Eh?"


    She ignored him and rounded up the couch to sit beside him. She opened the folder and showed it to him.


    "Here¡¯s the lis¡ª"


    "Wait, wife." He held her hand, stopping her movements in pushing the folder towards him. He turned her to look at him as he asked in somber.


    "Are you angry?"


    She just stared at him with a nk expression while ignoring his question.


    "Wife?"


    "..."


    "Sorry?" Then Lu Chen suddenly leaned forward, cupping her face stopping a few inches away from hers.


    Startled by the sudden closeness, she unconsciously leaned backward but was immediately held back when Lu Chen moved his other hand towards her back to pull her closer to him.


    "What are you doing?!"


    She blurted out in panic as she tried pushing him away. Unfortunately, Lu Chen didn¡¯t budge and just kept pulling her close.


    For god¡¯s sake, they¡¯re currently in the working ce! Why is this guy pulling his antics here in the office? What if someone suddenly enters the room and they get caught in this position?


    How would she dare to face all her co-workers ah?!


    "Wife..."


    Lu Chen sounded pitiful when he called her but Xiu Mei didn¡¯t get fazed by his pitiful act and rolled her eyes while avoiding his gaze.


    "Then I¡¯ll get you a simple one ah, a ring that you¡¯ll surely like."


    "..."


    "Wife..."


    She lifted the folder and ced it in between them. She did this just in case Lu Chen tried doing something funny again just to make her stop being angry at him. Seriously, why is she always easily swayed when ites to him?


    "Chen, let¡¯s just get back to work okay?"


    "Aren¡¯t you angry?"


    "Not exactly."


    "Then you¡¯re angry."


    "I said I¡¯m not."


    "You are though."


    Xiu Mei paused after realizing that she was increasingly getting annoyed with him. She finally red daggers at him then Lu Chen pointed out her action.


    "See, you¡¯re ring at me. You¡¯re angry!"


    Xiu Mei turned her head away, shutting her eyes. She took a deep breath in an attempt to concentrate and calm herself down.


    Goodness, she just realized right now that Lu Chen can be really annoying if he wanted to ah. Where¡¯s the cold Lu Chen everyone knows? Right now, all she could think about is smacking his head and beating him up.


    Without looking at him, she handed over the folder she was holding while speaking.


    "This is for the interview you requested."


    She heard the shuffling of papers beside her so she continued, "I prefer the one with the entertainment magazine. They suit our interview better than the business feature since we¡¯re not even gonna discuss about thepany at all."


    "If I were to choose, I¡¯d like to do the video interv¡ª"


    With that, Xiu Mei¡¯s head spun and looked at him in surprise.


    "The video interview?!"


    Heck, she hates doing video interviews ah. She¡¯s always awkward every time she stands in front of a camera.


    And the weird thing was, Lu Chen prefers the video interview? When he hates getting interviews himself?


    "Do you not like it?" He asked.


    "Personally, no. You know very well how awkward I get in the past video interviews I did right?"


    "Hm, I get the point. But wouldn¡¯t a video interview the best way to show how serious I am with you?"


    Xiu Mei seriously thought about it. She bit her lip in worry.


    "If you don¡¯t like that, then I won¡¯t push you to it." Lu Chen uttered, seeing her getting worried over it.


    "It¡¯s fine. But can we make the interview short? It¡¯s written there that we¡¯ll be interviewed for almost an hour. Can we do only like half?"


    "The PR team can handle that. If they disagree then we won¡¯t do the video interview anymore."


    "Okay."


    Lu Chen ced the folder down the table.


    "And Xiu Mei,"


    "Mm?"


    "I just got off a call with your brother a while ago."


    "?"


    "There¡¯s a possibility that the one who kidnapped you is within the Ying family."


    Xiu Mei stiffened as soon as she heard that. Her eyes quivered in surprise as she turned to look at Lu Chen¡¯s serious face, his lips pressed into a thin line.


    Silence filled the entire room as Xiu Mei slowly absorbed that fact.


    ¡¯Is it Ying Yue¡¯s parents who ordered to kidnap her?¡¯ is what she thought.


    She knows the resentment that her parents have on her and she couldn¡¯t me them if it was really them. But she did her thinking and thought of the whole situation.


    "I think it¡¯s not Ying Yue¡¯s parents." Shemented.


    "That¡¯s what we thought too. And the connection we only found is that the person who ordered to kidnap you was just within their household and not a Ying family member."


    "Is that so? I¡¯ve gone to Ying Yue¡¯s mansion quite a few times so I¡¯m quite familiar with some of the people who work for them there but that¡¯s already ten years ago. And even if I¡¯ve met that person, it¡¯d be impossible for me to have issues with them."


    "We have suspicions that something happened within the Ying family that triggered them to start with you."


    Xiu Mei thought hard on that possibility. Ten years... what could it be that stirred the Xiu family into making a move on her?


    "That could be a possibility. But is it really not a member of the Ying family?"


    "That¡¯s what your brother said."


    "Hmm..."


    After that conversation, Xiu Mei finally returned to her workstation. Even though she was working, her mind is still preupied but what Lu Chen had said.


    "I¡¯m grabbing a cup of coffee and a slice of cake at the cafe a few blocks away here. Is there anything you want me to bring back for you?" Her assistant stood up from her seat and grabbed her wallet. She looked with an inquiring gaze to both secretaries.


    "A roast coffee for me." Lu Shao replied.


    "What about yours, Ms.Xiu?"


    "I¡¯lle with you." Xiu Mei responded, grabbing her wallet as well. "I¡¯ll take a look at the menu first and see if there¡¯s anything that will attract me."


    After leaving the fort to Lu Shao¡¯s hands, the two of them stepped out of the office quickly. After walking for a few minutes, they arrived at the cafe.


    Xiu Mei was weed by the scent of coffee and the rxing atmosphere of the store. Added with the soothing and light music being yed in the background, she slightly felt calmed down. She took a quick look at the menu and the dessert stand at the front.


    "I¡¯ll have the Macha Tea and a box of the 12-piece Macaron. Also, a cheesecake." Xiu Mei said to her assistant who was lining up to order.


    "You must¡¯ve been stressed out that you¡¯re eating so many sweets ah, Ms.Xiu."


    "And you¡¯re not?"


    "I do too. But I¡¯m afraid of getting weight so I let out all my stress with shopping and exercising with my boyfriend at nig¡ª"


    Xiu Mei immediately pped her hand on her assistant¡¯s mouth while frowning.


    "You¡¯re too loose-lipped." She said while thinking that her assistant is tooidback that she was fine with announcing to the world that she would often sleep with her boyfriend.


    I mean, it¡¯s normal that she sleeps with her boyfriend but really, did she need to know that?


    "Why? Are you and Mr.Lu have¡ª"


    "Shut up."


    "Roger that."


    Yup, it would be really ufortable if someone starts questioning her s.e.x life with her boss ah.


    While waiting for her assistant to finish her order, Xiu Mei sat on an empty table just beside the window.


    She was just dozing off while staring out the window when a person suddenly appeared in front of her, knocking on the ss window.


    "?"


    The girl waved at her while looking overjoyed. Then the ck-haired girl pointed at the door and raised her palm.


    Xiu Mei tilted her head as she tried to decipher her actions. Is she telling her to wait because she¡¯ll go inside?


    And she was correct.


    The girl did enter the store and almost skipped happily towards her table.


    "Sister Mei Mei!"


    "!"


    Xiu Mei was startled when the girl suddenly grabbed her hand while beaming at her. She tried to look at her face but she did not recognize her at all.


    Who is she? And why is she calling her so intimately?


    "Sister Mei Mei, don¡¯t you remember me? It¡¯s me, Wan wan ah! The little girl you often yed with back in the orphanage."


    "?"


    Wan wan?


    A memory shed in front of her of a kid with a flower crown in her hair. She was clinging on Ying Yue while Xiu Mei was ying with the other kids beside her.


    Sister Yue Yue...


    Sister Mei Mei...


    A girl¡¯s childish voice calling her echoed at the back of her mind. It was then that something clicked inside her mind.


    Wan Wan... isn¡¯t she the little girl that Ying Yue would often y with back when she was alive? Eh? Wait, if she could recall correctly, didn¡¯t she get adopted by Mrs.Ying shortly after Ying Yue died? Or at least that¡¯s what she heard from the rumors.

 Chapter 122 - Problems

    <h4>Chapter 122 - Problems</h4>


    Xiu Mei became uneasy as soon as she remembered that rumor but she didn¡¯t let it show on her face. If Wan Wan really did get adopted in the Ying family, then it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for her to get close with her. And once Mrs.Ying hears about it, who knows what she will do just to separate them.


    "Sister Mei Mei, do you really not remember me?" Wan Wan pouted while looking very pitiful at her.


    "Sorry, I really don¡¯t remember. I... have a bit of a bad memory ah." She tilted and scratched the back of her head while trying to look as apologetic as possible.


    "Eh? But we yed together a lot back when I was little."


    "I¡¯m sorry, I really don¡¯t remember. Maybe you mistook me for someone?"


    "That can¡¯t be! How can I forget Sister Mei Mei ah! I wouldn¡¯t dare!"


    "I really think you got the wrong person, sorry."


    Xiu Mei stood up in an attempt to move seats. She looked around the cafe to see if there were other vacant spots but unfortunately, all of the tables are already upied. She sighed in disappointment as she nced at the girl in front of her again.


    The guilt was killing her but she doesn¡¯t really dare to provoke Mrs.Ying. She already felt guilty when Ying Yue died and she felt guiltier when she learned that she was really the target all along and Ying Yue was kidnapped and died just because she was with her.


    So now, even if she knows Wan Wan, she didn¡¯t dare reconnect with her. Plus the fact that Lu Chen and her brother currently have suspicions on the Ying family.


    She saw Wan Wan pause for a second before her expression turned dejected after hearing her reply. She bowed her head as she pondered for a short moment before speaking.


    "Then I¡¯ll introduce myself to Sister Mei Mei again!" Her expression quickly changed from being dejected to looking very determined. She raised her head with a resolute expression on her face then turned to look at her.


    She held out her hand in front of her as she introduced herself.


    "Sister Mei Mei, I¡¯m Ying Wan Wan." The naive girl said.


    Xiu Mei nced at the hand being offered to her and she hesitated.


    "Ms.Xiu, I already got our or¡ªOops, sorry. Did I interrupt your conversation?" Her assistant appeared behind Wan Wan. Xiu Mei immediately grabbed this opportunity to make her escape.


    "No, it¡¯s fine." She stood up from her seat. "I¡¯ll be going first, Ms.Ying."


    Then she walked out of the cafe with her assistant. She didn¡¯t even turn back to see Wan Wan¡¯s crestfallen expression when she ignored her. Till the end, she kept being polite to her.


    The guilt was eating her but she¡¯s been feeling guilty for almost ten years, it doesn¡¯t make any difference to feel guiltier now.


    "Ms.Xiu, are you sure is that fine?" Her assistant asked as she nced back at the door of the cafe.


    "It¡¯s fine. She probably mistook me for someone else." Xiu Mei lied. She quickly shifted the topic by talking about other things while they walked back to their office.


    A few dayster, the peaceful days of Lu Corporation were disturbed once again.


    "So you¡¯re telling me, there was a glitch in the system?" Xiu Mei took a deep breath when she said that.


    "Y-Yes, Ms.Xiu." The software executive stammered in reply as he stood with his head bowed down across her.


    Two other people stood before Xiu Mei¡ªone from the marketing team and one from the digital team. The three of them stood nervously inside the small conference room.


    Xiu Mei read the contents of the paper again. A secondter, she closed the file shut while massaging her temples.


    She grew silent for a few seconds before opening her mouth.


    "Surely, you all already worked out a contingency n for this one?"


    "..."


    Instead of responding, the three employees just continued bowing their heads in apology. Seeing this, Xiu Mei finally exploded and scolded them.


    "Did you not do a test-run beforeunching the promotion?!"


    "W-we did Ms.Xiu! But we don¡¯t know what happened because when we checked it again the next day, some of the algorithms and codes were changed."


    "Changed it or did you just miss it?"


    "..."


    Xiu Mei felt her headache worsening. Goodness, is she talking to highschoolers ah? Aren¡¯t they professionals? Why the hell did they not prepare a backup n in case something wrong happens?


    She stared at the folder again and sighed.


    Two hours after she arrived in the office, her assistant received a call from the marketing department. Her assistant briefly discussed what the issue was so Xiu Mei immediately pushed off her other work and came down to the Marketing Department.


    Normally, anyone would¡¯ve celebrated seeing arge number of sales on their website. But Xiu Mei was extremely dismayed when she saw that seven figures worth of sales shing on the screen.


    It was about the limited-edition line that theyunched for the Mango Collection. Since it is a limited-edition product, simply put, the production amount was limited. They already set the amount to 200 for each limited-edition products, and with 5 different products in total, their target total sales would¡¯ve only reached, at most, six figures.


    So now, seeing this seven-figure amount which is limited to the sales of their 5 limited-edition products, Xiu Mei had to suppress the frustration that was rising within her. So the brief she received from them is that there was a glitch in the system causing the amount limit they set on their website to change. Then a surge of orders suddenly flooded their website.


    "Quickly investigate if the issue on our side or someone hacked our system. Submit the report to me this afternoon. For the production problem, send the cost to my email again and the current stats for the orders on each product. Give me the updated total expenses. Halt all promotions for the limited-edition products for now. I¡¯ll have to discuss this with the president first before I give you the final decision."


    She immediately listed out the things she needed to do in her mind. She might need to coordinate this with the ounting team and operationster on. After giving out her orders, the three people quickly exited the room.


    In the afternoon, she finally received the files that she needed to look over before she reports it to Lu Chen.


    She first looked at the investigation report submitted by the IT and Software Team about the incident. She paused for a second after reading the report.


    "A virus?"


    She thought it was just a small issue and the main problem that they¡¯ll have is about the production. But it seems that she was wrong ah.


    She quickly dialed the connecting number to the department for further information.


    "After further investigation, we found out that there was a virus that was nted in our system. We¡¯re still tracing the origin of the virus and how it got through our security walls but what we¡¯re sure of is that this is done deliberately and it must¡¯ve been done by an expert."


    Xiu Mei agreed with their report. Their system couldn¡¯t be easily bypassed by anyone if someone suddenly wants to do it. It would still take a while for them to infiltrate their system but on their end, the IT and software department will be immediately alerted by the hack.


    They already had simr cases in the past wherein someone attempted to infiltrate their system. Most of them failed to do so and some were sessful but were quickly shut down.


    And now, somebody is trying to get inside their system again.


    "Anything about the virus?"


    "We were able to remove it in the system. Some of the data saved in the database were stolen but they were only able to steal 3% of the information there."


    Xiu Mei almost cursed again.


    She should really prepare herself when reporting to Lu Chenter ah. Once he discovers this, he¡¯ll surely go berserk. The news that their data was stolen by someone is a big failure for allpanies. Data are very crucial because not only it can be apany secret but there is other sensitive information recorded in the database.


    Xiu Mei worried about her fateter on.


    "Have you found out which data were stolen?"


    "We¡¯re still taking a look at it."


    "Then once you found that out, quickly submit it to me. I need constant updates on the progress for this one."


    "Understood."


    She quickly printed out all the files and ced some sticky notes on them. She knocked on Lu Chen¡¯s door and entered the room. cing the folders on his table, she quickly briefed him about the current status of the issue.


    She saw Lu Chen¡¯s face grew dim as he read through the report. After closing thest folder she submitted, he went silent as if he was thinking about something.

 Chapter 123 - Meeting

    <h4>Chapter 123 - Meeting</h4>


    The very next day, Xiu Mei received the full report about yesterday¡¯s incident. The report contained all the details about the stolen data on the system, and how the virus entered their servers. The necessary precautions were done. For the stolen data, Xiu Mei pulled up an emergency meeting that morning with the other relevant directors and worked out a decision.


    Xiu Mei nced at the empty workstation of Lu Shao and the empty room of Lu Chen¡¯s.


    Yesterday, as soon as Lu Chen read that report, the two of them finally dashed out of the office. Lu Chen did not evene back the whole night at home at all. She couldn¡¯t help but be worried that something serious hade up.


    "Ms.Xiu, the marketing director called a short while ago and requested a meeting for the next hour." Her assistant informed her as soon as she returned to her workstation from the meeting.


    Xiu Mei nced at the time and nodded.


    After an hour, she waited at the conference room on her floor. She was busily writing typing something on herptop when she heard the door opening.


    "Ms.Xiu, we meet again." A familiar voice entered her ears.


    She spun around to look behind her and saw the man she met in the elevator a few days ago. Before she could even stand up from her seat to politely greet him back, he stood in front of her while holding out his hand.


    "I¡¯ll formally introduce myself again. I am Albert Chen, the Assistant Marketing Director and the temporary Captain for the Marketing Team 3." That weird and strange man she met before suddenly transformed into a formal employee in front of her.


    Xiu Mei swiftly returned the greeting in the same way. "Nice to meet you, Asst. Marketing Director Chen. The Chief Business Officer and the President¡¯s Secretary."


    "It¡¯s an honor meeting you as well, Ms.Xiu. On behalf of the Marketing Team, I am here today as the representative and in-charge of the issue about the incident yesterday."


    Xiu Mei nodded and gestured for him to sit on the empty chair across her. The two of them started discussing their n for the solution about the excess amount of orders.


    "For the customers who already ordered the item, but they weren¡¯t included in the first 200 orders, I suggest we inform them that we¡¯re canceling the order and we¡¯ll do a refund. We¡¯ll be giving them discount coupons or a pass on our events aspensation." Albert exined while showing her the slides containing the total amount of exceeded orders that were recorded.


    "That was the original course of action if it were just a normal line. But since we¡¯re expecting that majority of the customers who ordered are fans of the Manhwa artist and some are our loyal customers who are a collector of our limited-edition line, the bacsh we¡¯ll have will definitely not be small." Xiu Meimented as she shared her opinion on this matter.


    "For that, we¡¯ll be coordinating with the PR Team for the announcement of the problem with the exceeded amount of orders received. Then for the fans, we canpensate them with a ticket for the officialunch event we¡¯ll be having next week. Aside from the discount coupons, we can also give them the merchandise that we¡¯ll be distributing in the event and deliver it to their homes if they can¡¯te. This way, we can appease the fans somehow."


    Xiu Mei thought about it for a bit before nodding. Thepensation for the fans seems favorable and since a lot of people are actually asking for a pass to the event, it is currently the best option on appeasing them.


    "For our loyal customers, since a lot of them are collectors, we can somehow assume that a lot of them are still included in our first 200 orders for each line. For those who weren¡¯t included in that list, we can still do the discounts but what I¡¯ll suggest is for them to be given the heads up first for our uing limited edition products then we can give them a chance for pre-ordering. Though, that¡¯ll be only limited to our next two or three limited-edition campaigns."


    "That seems usible. What about the expected expenses for this n? And the losses we will be shouldering?"


    The two of them continued on discussing the issue until they¡¯ve finished finalizing the n of action.


    "Ah, we¡¯ve been meeting for two hours ah?!" Albert eximed in surprise when he looked at his watch. Xiu Mei followed suit and looked at hers, showing that it was already way past lunchtime.


    This was quite normal for her every time she gets too absorbed with work.


    "Then Ms.Xiu, can I ask you out for ate lunch?" Albert¡¯s character changed from being serious to being lively in a snap after officially ending their meeting.


    Xiu Mei opened her mouth to decline his invitation but Albert just acted on his own and went to order food for delivery.


    "Or we can just have lunch here. Or we¡¯re not allowed to eat here?"


    Xiu Mei frowned. This guy... isn¡¯t he forgetting that she¡¯s still his boss ah? Why is he treating her as if they¡¯re really good friends when they¡¯ve only met twice¡ªthrice if we include the one at the party.


    "Asst. Marketing Director Chen¡ª"


    "Oh, you can just call me Albert." Is what he casually said while continuing to order food on his phone.


    Xiu Mei felt slightly annoyed.


    "Mr.Albert, I still have some other matters to attend to so, unfortunately, I¡¯ll be declining your invitation for lunch. Then, I¡¯ll be going first." Grabbing her folders, she stood up from her seat and walked towards the door.


    "Ah, please make sure to turn off the lights please before you leave the room. Thank you." And with that, she left the room and returned to her workstation. Her assistant¡¯s table was still empty, probably not finished with her lunch yet.


    Then thinking back the Albert is still in the conference room, if hees out and sees that she¡¯s alone then that guy would probably try to convince her for lunch again.


    She sighed as she massaged her temples. The Lu Corporation hired another annoying staff ah.


    In the end, she decided to take refuge in Lu Chen¡¯s office temporarily until that Asst. Marketing Director leaves this floor.


    Xiu Mei clocked out on time today as well. She rushed back home and was greatly disappointed after seeing Lu Chen¡¯s home slippers still sitting on the shoe rack. It means that he still wasn¡¯t home yet.


    She sighed and became more worried. She wondered why he suddenly acted weird after reading that incident report yesterday. And now she got even more worried after realizing that he didn¡¯te home for two days.


    On Lu Chen¡¯s side.


    "Boss, we¡¯ve confirmed that the hacking was done by the same person years ago." Lu Shao reported. The temperature inside the room lowered by a few degrees after Lu Chen heard that. With a cold hardened gaze, he looked over at Lu Shao, the Legion Head, and his three other subordinates standing before him.


    "Did you find out the reason why he¡¯s targeting the Lu Corporation now?"


    "We¡¯re still not sure about the motive, Master. But for sure, this is connected to the case your cousin was investigating on before he died." The Legion Head responded.


    "Continue investigating it, and keep alert. That person was able to kill a lot of our men back then. That person surely has his own set of trained men."


    "Understood."


    All his subordinates left the room, leaving him alone. The heavy atmosphere continued to worsen as Lu Chen continued reading on the investigation done by the organization.


    Seems like the mastermind behind his cousin¡¯s death ising back now. After forcing him to stop pursuing his cousin¡¯s killer, this time, he will definitely not back down. This is now his opportunity to put that person behind bars once and for all, and if that doesn¡¯t work, he could just drag him here to his headquarters and torture him.


    Remembering that awful memory of his cousin¡¯s death and Lu Qiang being an orphan, all Lu Chen could feel right now was anger and resentment. Just to keep his dirty secrets, that person killed a lot of people. He couldn¡¯t let that person run free ah.


    His train of thoughts was abruptly cut off by the sound of his phone ringing. He looked at the screen and saw that it was his wife who was calling. Staring at the screen for a few seconds, he flipped his phone and didn¡¯t answer the call.


    He wasn¡¯t prepared to answer the phone ah.


    Right now, he was Lu Chen, the chief of The de, the First Ranking Legion in the underworld. This ugly side of his, even if her family is already aware of his rtions with the underworld, he still wasn¡¯t prepared to show this dark side to Xiu Mei yet. Because he wasn¡¯t sure how she would react once she learns his secrets.

 Chapter 124 - Ice Cream

    <h4>Chapter 124 - Ice Cream</h4>


    One week already passed since the incident. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t receive any calls or messages from Lu Chen ever since the day he disappeared. She couldn¡¯t even go through Lu Shao¡¯s line as well so she has no way of finding him.


    Every day that passed, she grew more worried. What if something had happened to him? After her Dad, maybe he was the one being targeted now?


    That kind of thought swirled around her mind. He kept ignoring her calls and he wouldn¡¯t reply to her messages. Not even a single character. Nothing.


    If it weren¡¯t for her second brother assuring him that he¡¯s fine, she would¡¯ve thought that he was killed or something. No matter how much she tried asking her brother, he won¡¯t even peep a word as to where Lu Chen was.


    When she asked Lu Qiang about this, he just casually replied to her that his Dad would often disappear like this before. It was then that she remembered that Lu Chen sometimes nevere to work for a long period of time before. She thought that he was on some business trip or something so she never bothered contacting him unless there¡¯s an emergency she can¡¯t handle but that rarely happens.


    Xiu Mei deeply sighed. It¡¯s really different when your boss is just your boss and your boss is your husband ah.


    Currently, she is lining up in an ice cream shop at the mall nearby the office. It was already after office hours so she was nning to bring some tub of ice cream for dinner with Lu Qiang. The two of them have been enjoying some various desserts for the past few days without the supervision of the big boss of the house.


    "One pint of ck Sesame and Strawberry for to go please." She said. While waiting for her orders to be packaged, she sat on an empty table. She briefly messaged her son who was waiting at home and she smiled upon receiving his reply saying that he was very excited to eat it.


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel soft and grew more eager to go home as soon as possible.


    "A cup of strawberry ice cream, for Mademoiselle." A cup suddenly appeared in front of her, startling her.


    She looked up and saw Albert grinning at her.


    "Uh..."


    "This is for you, Ms.Xiu." Albert pushed the cup of ice cream into her hands. She wanted to decline it as usual but Albert beat her to it by suddenly grabbing a spoonful of the strawberry ice cream and stuffing it in her mouth.


    She was stunned and became speechless. To think that this guy would forcefully feed her just so she couldn¡¯t decline the food he gave me ah.


    "Are you going straight back home, Ms.Xiu?" Albertfortably sat on the opposite chair while holding his ice cream cone. He was talking with her so naturally as if they were some close friends. This shameless guy...


    "I am." Instead of wasting her energy in pushing this annoying and shameless guy away, she focused on the cup of ice cream on her hands and ate it.


    "Can I offer to drop you off?"


    "No, thank you. My driver is just outside waiting for me."


    "Oh, then can you drop me off instead?"


    "..."


    She looked at him with ¡¯are-you-serious¡¯ look.


    This shameless guy knows no bounds eh?


    She finally made up her mind and lowered the ice cream cup she was holding. Crossing her arms, she finally decided to correct him once and for all.


    "Mr.Albert, I would very much like it if you would stop being so assertive with me because one, I am getting annoyed by it and two, if you¡¯re unaware of it, I am informing you then that I am currently in a rtionship."


    Albert paused for a second beforeughing. Xiu Mei frowned at his reaction and was puzzled. Did she say something funny?


    "I did hear that you¡¯re dating our President. I thought it was just some kind of publicity stunt or something. After all, Ms.Xiu isn¡¯t a person that needs to marry for money ah."


    After hearing that, Xiu Mei suddenly found something wrong with his words. Somehow, she felt like he was implying something.


    "At least, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been hearing from our employees ever since I started working here." Albert casually mentioned as he licked his ice cream again.


    Xiu Mei fell silent after hearing that. She was able to understand the message he was trying to send across.


    A lot of people in thepany have been gossiping about her rtionship with Lu Chen. And it seems like a lot of people are saying that she seduced the president into dating her by tempting him with her money ah?


    Her mood dropped after she realized that. It seems that she was too busy to even listen to the gossip getting passed around ah. The people keep forgetting that the topic of gossip they¡¯re talking about is their president and boss.


    "Here¡¯s your order, Miss." A waitress appeared beside the table holding a paper bag.


    After thanking the waitress, Xiu Mei received the paper bag and stood up while holding the cup of ice cream with her other hand.


    "I¡¯ll be going first, Mr.Chen." She said.


    "Ms.Xiu can justfortably call me Albert ah. That¡¯s what the people in the office call me as well."


    Fine. Since he informed her about some news.


    "...Then goodbye, Albert."


    "Goodbye and see you on Monday, Ms.Xiu."


    After that, she left the store and went straight back home. She was weed by Lu Qiang as he excitedly received the paper bag with the tubs of ice cream and ced it on the freezer.


    The two of them made some cheesy burgers for dinner and homemade fries. While the two of them were happily chatting about their day, they heard the front door open. They were just gonna ignore it at first thinking it was the nanny or the butler but their chat was abruptly interrupted when they heard a familiar voice.


    "I¡¯m home."


    The movements of the woman and the child sitting on the dining table stopped. Both of them turned towards the entrance of the dining area and saw Lu Chen standing there.


    Lu Qiang just smiled at his Dad and picked up his burger again to resume eating whilst Xiu Mei blinked twice at Lu Chen¡¯s direction before turning back to focus on her food again without uttering any word of reply to him.


    She continued talking with Lu Qiang as if she didn¡¯t see Lu Chen at all. She almost jumped in surprise when suddenly felt an arm snake around her shoulder and something warm pressing on her head.


    "I missed you, Wife." Lu Chen uttered after dropping a kiss on his wife. However, Xiu Mei just shrugged off his hand away from her shoulder and ignored him.


    He was stunned when he was suddenly shooed away and looked at his hand that was left hanging in the air.


    He looked at his son, baffled as if asking for help. But Lu Qiang didn¡¯t even bother to look at his direction and just continued chatting with his mother.


    "...."


    Okay, it seems like he couldn¡¯t rely on his son¡¯s help ah.


    Lu Chen sat on the empty seat beside Xiu Mei and held her left hand.


    "Wife, can I also have some dinner?" He acted pitiful as he tugged on her hand. Xiu Mei tried pulling her hand away from his grasp but this stupid man beside her felt like he wasn¡¯t nning to let it go.


    She gave up on her hand and just continued ignoring him instead. Afterward, she asked Lu Qiang to grab the ice creams she bought for dessert since she couldn¡¯t pull back her hand from Lu Chen¡¯s hold.


    "Just a two big scoops of each okay? Or else you¡¯ll have cavities." She reminded Lu Qiang. The kid obediently nodded and only put one big scoop of each ice cream vor in his bowl. Xiu Mei already ate a strawberry one a while ago so she only had a scoop of the other vor.


    She lifted up her spoon to eat it but a big head suddenly appeared in front of her. She gasped in surprise seeing Lu Chen eat the ice cream on the spoon that she was holding.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    Goodness, is this guy a kid?


    "Dad, you¡¯re so childish." Lu Qiang didn¡¯t hold back at all and openly criticized his Dad.


    Lu Chen flinched then he red at his son for a second before pulling back to sit properly again. He saw Xiu Mei¡¯sbined expression of surprise and disbelief. Realizing that he was indeed acting immaturely, he coughed to clear his throat and exined his side.


    "I was feeling hungry so I wanted to taste first the ice cream to see if it¡¯s good."


    "..."


    "..."


    Lu Qiang¡¯s thoughts: Dad is so stupid.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts: Shameless.

 Chapter 125 - Perfect Shot

    <h4>Chapter 125 - Perfect Shot</h4>


    Even after dinner, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t spare a single nce to Lu Chen. Lu Chen didn¡¯t give up and stuck close to his wife even after dinner.


    "Wife, I¡¯m sorry." He continuously apologized to Xiu Mei while hugging her from the back. Xiu Mei who was busy cing the dirty tes on the dishwasher nudged him with her elbow. After setting the dishwasher, she stepped on his foot and pinched on his hand that was on her stomach.


    "!" Lu Chen jumped in surprise after being pinched by his wife with her nails. The back of his hand was stinging and thankfully, she wasn¡¯t wearing her heels else his feet would be a victim too ah.


    Xiu Mei pushed him away as soon as his hold on her loosened. She walked over to Lu Qiang who was waiting on the sofa. Their son was enjoying watching his parents on the side while his father chased after his mother.


    "Darling, let¡¯s get you to bed?"


    Lu Qiang peeked at his Dad behind his Mom. He thought that he looked pitiful so he still lent him some helping hand.


    Lu Qiang tugged on his Mom¡¯s clothes, pulling her so she would bend down.


    "What is it, Baby?"


    "I¡¯ll sleep on my own today. See you tomorrow for breakfast, Mom!" Then he kissed her on the cheek and dashed upstairs leaving no room for Xiu Mei to react.


    "..."


    Did her son just ditch her with his Dad?


    Xiu Mei was nning to go straight to her room since Lu Qiang didn¡¯t need her to read for him tonight but she was startled when Lu Chen suddenly knelt in both knees in front of her.


    Oh my god, what was Lu Chen suddenly doing?


    She finally looked at him wide agape, baffled by his actions.


    "What the heck are you doing?" She asked.


    "We don¡¯t have any washboard at home since we use washing machines forundry but I promise to bring back one tomorrow. So wife, could you please forgive me this time? I know I am in the wrong ah." Lu Chen blurted out.


    "..."


    So he was originally thinking of kneeling on the washboard ah? That¡¯s... not so bad.


    But even though Xiu Mei was fascinated with that idea, she wasn¡¯t going to forgive Lu Chen that easily. This man in front of her ignored her messages and calls making her worry for him for a whole week. And now, he popped out at home and acted as if he didn¡¯t go missing for a few days?


    What? Did he not think she would worry? Did he really think of her as his wife?


    Xiu Mei just nced at him for a second before passing by him to climb upstairs. She finally decided that she should torture him for a little longer ah. It¡¯s the price to pay for making her worry so much.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen who was still ignored by Xiu Mei felt more dejected. Why did he forget that his wife was the type to be the hardest to coax ah!?


    He felt like pping himself for suddenly disappearing on her. He didn¡¯t even need to ask why Xiu Mei was angry, and he thought that he was actually prepared for it. But why does he never learn from his mistakes ah?


    It¡¯s not like this is the first time Xiu Mei ignored him when she¡¯s angry ah.


    After seeing Xiu Mei disappear from his line of sight, he deeply sighed as he weakly stood up. He sat on the couch and pulled out his phone. He opened Baidu and searched for different ways to coax a wife.


    The next day, Xiu Mei was woken up by her son who looked very excited. He even almost jumped on her when he climbed on her bed.


    "Baby, what is it?" Xiu Mei uttered while groggy. She rubbed her eyes and nced at her clock.


    It was half an hour past six.


    Why did Lu Qiang wake up so early ah?


    Xiu Mei rose from her bed and pulled the little kid into her arms for a cuddle.


    "Why did my darling baby wake up early ah?"


    "Dad said he¡¯ll bring us today at the shooting range!!"


    "Mhm, that¡¯s goo¡ªah?"


    Her mind instantly cleared up after hearing that.


    "Come on, Mom! Let¡¯s go!!" Lu Qiang wiggled in her arms to escape. After kissing her on her cheeks, he swiftly exited her room.


    Xiu Mei chuckled while rising from the bed. He¡¯s really excited ah.


    But then she frowned, thinking about the fact that Lu Qiang likes to go to shooting ranges ah. Right now, she was actually considering bringing her to her Mom or her Grandfather so they could at least discipline him that guns are not toys that he should randomly use. Besides, going to the army can be his option since he seems to like using guns. In the army, he can train by using guns.


    Xiu Mei quickly changed and went downstairs. The maids have already served breakfast and her husband and son were already waiting for her at the table. She greeted Lu Qiang but ignored Lu Chen.


    "Ehem!" Lu Chen started, clearing his throat. Xiu Mei nced at him and saw him pulling out something from behind him.


    "Goodmorning, Wife." Lu Chen said while handing over the bouquet of red roses to her. She paused for a second, considering whether to ept it or not. She looked at the roses again and thought it was beautiful.


    Fine, she can ept the flowers ah.


    "Oh." Xiu Mei dryly replied, epting the flowers. Lu Chen felt ted when his wife epted the flowers. He was contented with the short reply he received and didn¡¯t push for it anymore.


    Slowly ah, slowly. He has to coax and spoil the wife so she can forgive him.


    After that breakfast, the three of them finally went to the shooting range. With Lu Qiang sitting in between them, Lu Chen didn¡¯t have the chance to butt in and stick to his wife.


    When Xiu Mei finally arrived at their destination, she was pleasantly surprised at the scenery the moment she got off the vehicle. Just like the property she brought her before, this was also surrounded by greeneries but this time, it looked more like a private resort with modern touches. Inside, she gasped in awe by the vast green grass that looked very scenic in front of her. She was very tempted to take a picture of it ah!


    "What is this for?" She couldn¡¯t help but ask Lu Chen. Her eyes curiously and excitedly scanned the new surroundings.


    Lu Chen felt happy when Xiu Mei first talked to him. He quickly responded to her question.


    "It¡¯s a private property that my friends and I own. I have the golf course here, as well as a shooting range, archery area, and a ski area just around the back of this area. Lu Qiang also trains his horse riding here."


    Xiu Mei gasped in awe. She really wondered how much is actually Lu Chen¡¯s wealth ah. To be able to own this ce really costs a fortune. She really wanted to show this ce to the people who gossip about her seducing Lu Chen because she has money ah.


    Look, she was even thinking that Lu Chen might be even richer than her right now. Her family doesn¡¯t even spend this much just for this kind of thing ah!


    After walking for a few minutes, they finally arrived at the shooting area. The three of them changed into a more appropriate attire. After that, he brought them to the armory area where they get to choose the gun for their liking.


    Lu Qiang excitedly pointed at a gun he liked so Lu Chen grabbed it for him. Xiu Mei chose a revolver for a start. Since she grew up in a military family, she had a decent experience and knowledge for firing a gun.


    Lu Chen stood behind Lu Qiang for the first few shots to correct his posture and teach him stuff. On the other hand, Xiu Mei stood at the next cubicle and started shooting on her own. After the mother and son pair were done, they checked their paper shooting target.


    "Mom, you..." Lu Qiang quickly shut his mouth without even finishing his sentence. He threw a pitiful look at his Mom and the holes on the paper with the majority of the holes outside of the circle. It looked like his Mom even missed some shots ah.


    Xiu Mei embarrassedly tore the paper in front of her. Now that she thought about it, it¡¯s been years since shest had practice ah. My gawd, did her shooting ability deteriorated that much after not practicing?


    She quickly refilled her bullets. She put up a new paper and waited for it to move away in front of her.


    Seeing that the paper was already far enough, she positioned herself and raised her arms. She was still trying to fix her hold while targeting it at the center when she felt something warm enclosing her body. The next thing she knew, another hand was resting on hers as it guided her to a better position.


    "Loosen up, then shoot." A voice whispered behind her.


    Xiu Mei unconsciously listened to his words and rxed. Then she pulled the trigger and the resounding sound of the gun she fired echoed in the room.


    The three people looked at the monitor just above her.


    It was a perfect shotnding on the smallest circle in the middle of the paper.

 Chapter 126 - The Ring

    <h4>Chapter 126 - The Ring</h4>


    Xiu Mei was very conscious of the warmth that she could feel from Lu Chen¡¯s hand when he covered the back of her hand. She almost lost herself from the touch when she remembered that she was supposed to be angry with him.


    So what she did is she quickly shook off his hand and stepped forward to put a distance between their bodies.


    "T-Thanks." She awkwardly said when she looked at the ground while tilting her head towards his direction.


    Lu Chen found her reaction too adorable that he couldn¡¯t help but pat her on the head.


    Lu Qiang who suddenly became the third wheel:....Maybe I¡¯ll just ignore them ah.


    Xiu Mei slowly picked up her pace after shooting for a little while. Her uracy gradually improved after focusing on it a little bit more.


    She studied her own target paper when she heard continuous firing shots just beside her. She looked at her left and saw Lu Chen in a perfect shooting form and firing shots like a breeze. She stared at the monitor above his head that shows the zoomed-in image of his target paper. Aside from the hole in the middle, no shotsnded on the other areas of the paper.


    Lu Qiang forego his own gun practice and stood behind Lu Chun to admire him. Clearly, he was very fascinated with how his Dad looked so cool right at this moment.


    "Dad, teach me how to do that!" Lu Qiang eximed with a spark in his eyes as soon as Lu Chen took off his earmuffs. He rubbed the top of his head in response to his son¡¯s request.


    "Let¡¯s have a break first. You still have half an hour left for practice."


    "Mhm!"


    Then Lu Chen turned to Xiu Mei and said the same thing to her.


    "Wife, let¡¯s take a short break."


    "Ah....oh."


    The three of them were brought into a private lounge. As soon as they sat on the table, the bread and pastries were immediately served before them.


    "Slow down, little Qiang ah." Xiu Mei reminded Lu Qiang who was almost gobbling down his food.


    "But Mom, I also want to y with Harry today too!"


    "Harry?"


    Who¡¯s that? Some friend of Lu Chen?


    "It¡¯s the name of my horse that lives right here."


    "..."


    In the beginning, Xiu Mei thought that Lu Chen and Lu Qiang didn¡¯t like living such avish lifestyle coupled with the fact that Lu Chen was somehow frugal. But today, she¡¯s being enlightened that Lu Chen didn¡¯t really hold back in spoiling Lu Qiang with everything ah.


    He already created a zoo for him, then he even bought a horse for Lu Qiang to use here. Then this property he is co-owner with also has an amazing choice of armory ah. The guns she saw in there isn¡¯t allmon. She saw quite a lot of the guns in there that she also saw in her grandfather¡¯s gun collection ah.


    As soon as Lu Qiang finished eating his snacks, he quickly dashed away to go to the stables leaving her and Lu Chen alone in the room.


    "..."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei did her best to act as natural as possible while eating her food. She didn¡¯t look up from her te and only grabbed the snacks that were only within her reach.


    She took a bite of waffles with strawberry fillings and the moment she tried to chew on the soft waffle, she couldn¡¯t help but cry in pain when her teeth bit on something hard.


    "Ah!" Her hands immediately flew to the side of her cheek that was in pain.


    Damn it! What was that? A bone? In a waffle?


    She almost thought that her teeth were gonna be cracked after identally chewing something that hard ah. Should she schedule an appointment with her dentist just in case her teeth really chipped ah?


    Xiu Mei quickly grabbed a tissue and spat out whatever food was in her mouth. She needed to identify what kind of bone was it and question the staff how the hell did that end up in a waffle ah.


    After spitting it out, Xiu Mei immediately saw the culprit of her pain. But as soon as she realized what it was, she froze on the spot.


    It was a ring. A very familiar ring. And she was very sure that it was the same ring that she saw that Lu Chen was looking at days ago before he disappeared.


    Damn it! It was that ring with a fudgingrge diamond ah!


    With a raised eyebrow and baffled expression, she raised her head to look at Lu Chen. Their eyes immediately met so she realized that Lu Chen could have been watching her this whole time, waiting for her reaction for this ah.


    No, wait. How did Lu Chen even think about this cringe idea ah? It¡¯s definitely not his style ah!


    "So I bought it."


    "Obviously. That¡¯s why it¡¯s here sitting on my tissue after I bit on it right?" She sarcastically responded.


    "...Right."


    "So?"


    She needed something more than that ah. Like why the heck is he giving her this ring when she specifically mentioned that she didn¡¯t want a ring this big ah? Actually no. The thing she should really ask is why is he suddenly doing this ah?


    "...It¡¯s my apology gift."


    Apology gift?


    Xiu Mei hesitantly picked up the ring. "A gift? This expensive?"


    "Mhm! From what I looked up online, they said husbands give their wives presents when they¡¯re trying to coax them ah." Lu Chen confidently replied.


    "..."


    So all his ideas all this time came from the articles online? Wait, he really took the time to look that up in Baidu?


    Right now, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know whether to feel touched first orugh ah. She felt touched that Lu Chen went out of his way to really follow all the steps online even though it¡¯s not his character to do this type of thing orugh because now that she thought about it, he looks adorable when he gets anxious for her response ah.


    Damn it, she couldn¡¯t hold it anymore ah! How can she stay angry at him if he¡¯s acting this cute?


    Xiu Mei finally let out the giggle that she was suppressing. While sheughed, Lu Chen looked at her in confusion.


    "Hahahahahaha!" She felt her mood turn lighter as she continued tough like that.


    She really can¡¯t stand a chance against Lu Chen ah! He would always attack her with his slyness or his pure and innocent ideas when coaxing her.


    Look, she can¡¯t even get angry at him anymore even after thinking that he ignored her calls for the past few days.


    She sighed as she looked in admiration at him. It feels like all the effort she spent on ignoring him didn¡¯t go to waste after discovering this fact. She was realizing just now how adorable Lu Chen really was ah.


    Lu Chen who wasn¡¯t aware of her current thoughts was getting anxious. Did Xiu Mei not like it? Or did she like it?


    What does herugh mean ah?


    For the first time in his life, Lu Chen was earnestly worried about Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts about him. Since he was a novice in courtship and dating, he didn¡¯t know what to do at all. He couldn¡¯t even read a girl¡¯s mood or thoughts. Xiu Mei was even harder to decipher than figuring out hispetitors¡¯ minds!


    "Wife, I¡¯m really sorry for what I did." Lu Chen sincerely apologized again.


    Right now, Xiu Mei almost imagined some dropping puppy ears on his head ah. He looks so pitiful right now as if she was bullying him ah.


    "Do you promise not to ignore my calls and messages again next time?"


    "I swear to that with my entire life." Lu Chen even raised his right hand like he was uttering a pledge.


    "Oh, then you should swear on your money¡¯s name too."


    "Ah?"


    Xiu Mei raised the ring in front of his eyes and exined.


    "You gifted this with an investment in mind right?"


    Lu Chen blinked. Is the investment she was talking about the investment that he was talking about?


    "The article said that women like big diamonds ah. ¡¯The bigger the stone is, the happier the wife is¡¯ is what the article said."


    "Hey, didn¡¯t I say numerous times that I don¡¯t like rings with stones this big?"


    "I know... but that¡¯s for our wedding ring. This is not our wedding ring."


    "Oh."


    Xiu Mei rejoiced. Thank goodness this isn¡¯t the wedding ring ah! She couldn¡¯t bear to wear a ring this big in public. For sure, her face will be on the papers and news the next day if that happens!


    But then before her thoughts trailed off, she returned to her previous question. She tapped on the stone embedded in the ring and asked Lu Chen.


    "Then this ring is really an investment?"


    "Investment?"


    If Lu Chen were to think about what investment he put in that ring, then that would be an investment in Xiu Mei¡¯s feelings for him ah.


    "This is just a gut feeling since I¡¯m no expert with this type of thing. But this stone right here, isn¡¯t this shade of pink one of the rarest colors for diamonds in the world?"


    "..."


    Lu Chen who was truly innocent this time: Wife, I didn¡¯t really n that ah!!

 Chapter 127 - Great Grandparents

    <h4>Chapter 127 - Great Grandparents</h4>


    The three of them were at the resting area after horseback riding when Xiu Mei received a call from her mother.


    "Mhm? Right now?... Oh, I know. We¡¯ll be there." Xiu Mei then hung up her phone. Then she turned to the two men sitting beside her.


    "Mom told us to visit her right now. My grandparents are at home so they said they wanted to meet you and their adorable great-grandson ah." She added, as she picked up a clean towel and wiped off the sweat of her adopted son.


    "Mom¡¯s Grandma?" Lu Qiang echoed.


    "Mhm. That¡¯s your great-grandma and great-grandpa ah."


    Right after that, they packed up and left immediately to drive to the Xiu Mansion. It was already past lunch when they arrived.


    "Wee home, Young Miss, and Young Masters." The butler and the maids greeted as soon as they¡¯ve arrived.


    "Where are they?"


    "They¡¯re currently at the balcony on the second floor. Do you wish to have lunch first?"


    "Just bring them upstairs. The three of us will have our lunch there instead. Thanks!"


    Since this was the first time that Lu Chen and Lu Qiang came here, Xiu Mei gave them a brief tour of the mansion before guiding them towards the second-floor balcony where her grandparents and parents were leisurely having their sweet time.


    "Oh! They¡¯re here." Her Mom immediately noticed them arriving. A pair of heads quickly turned their heads towards their direction and brightly smiled at Xiu Mei¡¯s figure.


    "Little Mei!" Her grandmother stood up to greet her. Xiu Mei walked even faster and hugged her grandmother.


    "Grandma, it¡¯s been a while!" She said. Then she turned at the old man that from afar, looked very stern yet is currently tenderly smiling at her. "You too as well, Grandpa."


    Her grandpa nodded as a response. Then she turned towards Lu Chen and Lu Qiang then signaled for them toe forward so she could introduce them.


    ??Grandpa, Grandma, this is Lu Chen, my husband. And this is my son, Lu Qiang."


    Lu Chen stepped forward and slightly bent his body as he greeted the two elders.


    "It is an honor to meet both of you, Lieutenant General Yu and Senior Captain Yu." Lu Chen greeted. Xiu Mei talked about her family with him before so he was very aware of the previous positions that the two elders held in the army.


    The two elders weren¡¯t surprised at all but they were visibly pleased after hearing that. Grandma Yu, who was the former Senior Captain in the army before she retired, smiled at her granddaughter¡¯s husband and took his hand. She tenderly grasped his hand as she soothed the man¡¯s nervousness.


    "Thank you for taking care of our Xiu Mei." She said.


    "It is my honor to be able to protect her for the rest of her life."


    Grandma Yu giggled after hearing that. She thought that Xiu Mei¡¯s husband seems to be a very sincere person contrary to the cold personality she read about him ah.


    Then Grandma Yu looked at the old man who was scrutinizing Lu Chen up and down and was ring at him very hard. She understood what was running in this old man¡¯s mind so she nudged him on the elbow to disturb him from his thoughts.


    Grandpa Yu understood his wife¡¯s message. He narrowed his eyes at this brat that stole his granddaughter and finally spoke.


    "Do you pledge not to betray my granddaughter?"


    "Grandpa!" Xiu Mei cried out. What was grandpa suddenly saying ah?!


    "You old man! What are you saying?!" Grandpa Yu immediately received a p at his arm from Grandma Yu.


    "Ignore what this old man said. He¡¯s just very grumpy today ah." After reprimanding her husband, she turned to Lu Chen and smiled.


    "I understand and it¡¯s fine." Then Lu Chen turned to Grandpa Yu and promised. "And I pledge not to betray Xiu Mei¡¯s trust and your trust. I will always protect her and stay by her side no matter what happens."


    Hearing that, the old man touched his beard and narrowed his eyes at him again.


    "Then that¡¯s good." He replied.


    Xiu Mei who was watching everything unfold before her grew nervous. What was wrong with her Grandpa ah! Suddenly bullying Lu Chen as soon as they met.


    She quickly interrupted their conversation to prevent it from escting into something serious. She introduced Lu Qiang to them once again.


    "Grandpa, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to meet Lu Qiang? Baby,e, introduce yourself to Grandpa."


    Lu Qiang also stepped forward and greeted his great grandparents.


    "Hello, Grandfather! Hello, Grandmother!" He smiled and used his charm as a child when he greeted them.


    This time, the two elders acted differently towards the little child. Grandpa Yu and Grandma Yu¡¯s smile almost reached their ears as they looked at the adorable child in front of them. In their thoughts, they only have praises for this child ah.


    "Come here~" Grandma Yu said as she patted the space in between her and her husband.


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t immediately move and looked at Xiu Mei first. She nodded so Lu Qiang obediently followed Grandma Yu and sat in between the two elders.


    "Mei¡¯er, Chen¡¯er, have a seat right here first." Xiu Mei¡¯s mom said. Lu Chen hesitated at first but eventually sat down with his wife and mother-inw.


    The two elders surrendered to Lu Qiang¡¯s cuteness and pampered him with snacks throughout. Just like a bright kid he is, Lu Qiang seems to be also good with interacting with elders and he didn¡¯t have any problem with conversing with the great grandparents he just met for the first time.


    Xiu Mei watched her grandparents interact with her son happily so her heart felt lighter. Honestly, she was quite nervous before they arrived here. Even though she already knew her grandparents¡¯ personalities, she was still a bit nervous if they could really ept Lu Qiang as their great-grandson ah.


    Since Lu Qiang isn¡¯t rted to them by blood, at the back of her mind, she was still worried if her entire family would really be able to ept him. But seeing her grandparents¡¯ reaction right now, it seems that she was thinking too much.


    They weed him as if he was their own blood and spoiled him like their own great-grandson. "Oho, you went to a firing range with your parents?" Grandpa Yu¡¯s interest was immediately piqued after hearing this.


    "Mhm!"


    "Then do you like guns?"


    "I do!"


    Grandpa Yu grinned as he nned about something. It seems that Lu Qiang was really meant to be their great-grandson ah. He could train him and encourage him to join the army if the kid¡¯s interest lies in that area.


    "Then do you want to be a soldier?"


    "Like First Uncle?"


    "Yes, like your First Uncle."


    "Mm... can I useputers there?"


    "Computers? Do you like ying withputers?"


    "Yes, I do!"


    "You can also y withputers if you join the army ah. You can be an expert in technology there."


    "Really?"


    "Of course, would this old man lie to you?"


    "Okay, then I¡¯ll join the army!"


    The parents who were listening in on the other side:...


    So just like that, their son was stolen by Xiu Mei¡¯s grandfather?


    "Grandpa, stop trying to entice a little child ah. Let him choose whatever he like when he grows up ah." Xiu Mei eximed.


    "But I didn¡¯t force him to join ah. He decided on his own."


    "Of course, you tempted him by bing a Technology Expert in the army."


    "It¡¯s the truth! He can be one when he joins."


    "Grandpa, you should really stop luring kids that you think has a potential in the army ah. Let them y first, grow up, and choose their dreams on their own."


    "But little Qiang could be a really great soldier in the army in the future."


    "Old Man." This time, Grandma Yu interjected in their conversation. She threw a re at the old man to shut up. With the way their conversation is going, her husband wouldn¡¯t give up tempting their great-grandson to join the army just like what he did to Xiu Min.


    "Anyway, that¡¯s not why we¡¯re here actually." Grandma Yu suddenly turned serious making Lu Chen and Xiu Mei alert.


    "Qiang¡¯er, wanna go help Grandma feed the dogs downstairs?" Xiu Mei¡¯s Mom, Yu Shi Huang said to Lu Qiang. The little kid nodded and followed his grandmother downstairs leaving the two elders and his parents alone in the balcony.


    "I heard about what happened to you and Gu Ren. I know your Dad and Mo Ruo are already investigating but we still wanted to help you with investigating so I used some of my connections to dig deeper." Then Grandpa Yu dropped a folder on the table. "Read it when once you return home."


    The couple looked at each other and nodded. Lu Chen picked up the folder and firmly held it. "We understand."


    "By the way, Grandpa. I.. can I also schedule an appointment with Doctor Lee?"


    The old man looked at his granddaughter in confusion. Why is she suddenly requesting to meet the Army¡¯s Psychologist?


    "I would like him to perform hypnosis on me, regarding my kidnapping ten years ago." Xiu Mei resolutely said catching the three people off guard.

 Chapter 128 - Let Me Go?

    <h4>Chapter 128 - Let Me Go?</h4>


    "Mei¡¯er!" Her Grandma Yu roared.


    "When I read the file, I... I faintly remember something that I missed before. I¡¯m not sure if it was just my hallucination since I was still being treated and all but when I escaped from the hospital to go to Ying Yue¡¯s funeral, a man helped me out." Xiu Mei held her head as she tried to recall all the things from that day.


    When she learned that the possibility that the Ying family were behind her attempted kidnapping recently and the attack on her father, somehow, she suddenly remembered that voice.


    It was there as soon as she arrived at the funeral. She was barefooted with blood and all, but there was this guy who helped her enter the funeral home that day. It would¡¯ve been impossible for Xiu Mei to enter that funeral home since it was a private one and with her terrible appearance that day, the guards at the front wouldn¡¯t have allowed her to go past the door at all.


    She was sure that her family didn??t investigate that at all since she didn¡¯t find any analysis from that day. Back then, she was very sensitive and vulnerable that her entire family would always monitor her.


    So now that she refreshed all her memories from the terrible event, she only realized just now that it was weird that some random man would actually help her out to let her on that day.


    But since she was still in the state of shock that day, she was too out of it to remember the face of that man. She could faintly remember that voice, but it was only bits and pieces. She wasn¡¯t even sure if she¡¯d really seen his face. If by putting her to sleep could help her remember the memory from that time, maybe, it would be another piece of the clue to start with the investigation again.


    "It¡¯s all bit and pieces but somehow, somewhere in my mind, I knew I know that voice. I thought it was familiar but I couldn¡¯t remember it at all, which was weird. If I knew that person, I would¡¯ve recognized or remembered him even for a second, but it was like uh, like the memory was buried somewhere in my memories. Like someone kicked it under the rock so I never bothered to look for it." She exined to them why she suddenly decided to do so.


    Especially the fact that hypnosis isn¡¯t really amon thing done just for an investigation. The only thing that¡¯ll probably make it legal for her are the facts that, one, Doctor Lee will have the patient¡¯s consent to allow him to do it, and second, her background is a little bit special. Since she belongs to a military and political family, they considered her kidnapping as something rted to the enemies of the two families.


    Lu Chen read his wife¡¯s expression and knew that Xiu Mei was now really ready to face the nightmare she had been trying to forget for the past ten years. Since that is what she decided, then he will certainly support her decision.


    After all, no other person in this room other than her knows best whether she was really prepared now for this.


    He covered her hand with his and soother her nervousness away. His warm hand warmed Xiu Mei¡¯s slightly cold hands.


    "As long as you¡¯ll be fine, I¡¯ll support you no matter what." He agreed.


    Xiu Mei smiled thankfully while looking at her husband that listened and supported her decision.


    "Thank you." She mouthed to him. Then she turned towards her grandparents that looked upset and distressed after hearing what she said.


    She understands their concerns because if they didn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t be the person she is right now. She knows that all this time, her family was supporting her decisions unconditionally despite their worries.


    Back then when she decided to stop her treatment, and when she made her resolve to live separately from them. Then when she chose apletely different path and bravely took on that path without anyone¡¯s help, she knew it was all the results of their love and care for her.


    If they were stricter with her, they wouldn¡¯t have let her do all those things. Perhaps, Xiu Mei would have be a different version of her current self right now.


    "Grandpa, Grandma," She showed them a determined smile as she continued, "I¡¯m ready now. I... I¡¯m ready to heal the scar that never mended in the past ten years."


    "Mei¡¯er..." Her Grandma echoed weakly.


    Xiu Mei stood up from her seat and knelt between her grandparents.


    "I want to help all of you find the answers that we¡¯ve been looking for so long. So let me do this."


    "But it will be painful, can you take that?" Grandpa Yu answered.


    Because the memory Xiu Mei wanted to recover was her best friend¡¯s funeral.


    Xiu Mei took a deep breath before admitting the reality and the facts.


    "All this time, I¡¯ve been living in so much pain and waiting for time to heal me but that never came. The pain never went away and continued to worsen, and right here," She ced her hand on her chest. "It never turned numb despite suffering for so long. This time, it wouldn¡¯t be any different if I have to relive that day at all. So maybe, the only thing to make this pain go away is to never run away from it, isn¡¯t it? Maybe it was fate that is telling me that I¡¯ll be facing this sooner orter."


    "So please, let me go?" She begged.


    Her grandparents turned silent as they solemnly examined her. The two elders looked at each other before sighing. This time, it was her grandpa who responded to her.


    "I understand. I¡¯ll talk to your parents about it first, then we can proceed with your n."


    Xiu Mei gasped at first before her mouth curled into a smile. She almost jumped to hug her Grandpa.


    "Thank you so much, Grandpa! Thank you!"


    "Thank you, Grandma! I promise that I won¡¯t let you down."


    Then she kissed them both on their cheeks. Her grandma patted her back as she assured her.


    "Just be healthy and well is enough for us."


    "I promise I will."


    After that serious conversation, Xiu Mei¡¯s and Lu Chen¡¯s food was finally served. Xiu Mei advised the butler to bring the food to Lu Qiang who was downstairs. The four of them resumed their chat with Lu Chen continuously being examined by her Grandfather.


    Lu Chen would always pass his questions with flying colors in the end though. He was very determined to get the old man¡¯s approval even if he and Xiu Mei are already married.


    After dinner, the family of three stayed on the Xiu Mansion for the night since tomorrow is still a weekend. Lu Qiang slept with two elders for tonight since it was her Grandpa who insisted.


    But as soon as Xiu Mei arrived at the door of her room, she finally realized the thing she should worry about. Shepletely forgot that in their home, she and Lu Chen was sleeping separately but her family wasn¡¯t aware of this arrangement. So now, she and Lu Chen didn¡¯t have any other option but to share the same room tonight.


    "My god..." She can only sigh right now. Damn it, her mind wasn¡¯t prepared for this ah!


    But it¡¯s not like she can let Lu Chen sleep in a guest room. Her parents would surely get suspicious of their rtionship ah. What kind of husband and wife sleeps in separate rooms?


    Xiu Mei finally entered her room with Lu Chen following behind her. Her first thought was, is her room clean? It would be embarrassing if Lu Chen sees it messy ah.


    Thankfully though, her room was being well maintained even though she wasn¡¯t staying here anymore.


    The two awkwardly stood by the door while avoiding each other¡¯s gaze. Though Xiu Mei was the one who made a quick escape first.


    "I would like to retire early tonight so I¡¯ll shower first." Then without looking back, she quickly rushed towards her bathroom. After locking it, she raised her head and saw herself in the mirror.


    She looks like a blushing idiot ah! So embarrassing!


    And her heart is palpitating so fast because of nervousness. Damn it, she couldn¡¯t stop her mind from imagining what could possibly happenter on.


    The memories of when he was kissing her shed in her mind. She instantly blushed red feeling slightly panicked. She almost pulled her hair because she didn¡¯t even know what to do.


    My god, why is she suddenly having such pervert thoughts ah?!


    Xiu Mei ran towards the sink and washed her face in an attempt to get a grip of her senses. After cooling down, she started showering and changing since Lu Chen still needs to use her bathroom next.


    Xiu Mei got out of the bathroom while rubbing her hair with a towel. As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw Lu Chen standing while holding a red silk nightgown in front of him.


    The first thing that shed into Xiu Mei¡¯s mind when she saw that was a couple¡¯s wedding night with all the bright red decorations and the bride and groom wearing red attires.


    "..."


    She blushed furiously. My god, what was really happening to her ah?!

 Chapter 129 - Respect

    <h4>Chapter 129 - Respect</h4>


    She pinched herself on the thigh so she could return to her senses. Before she could open her mouth, Lu Chen beat her to it.


    "The butler delivered this a while ago." He said, showing her the female version of the nightgown.


    "..."


    "Oh, are you done? Then I¡¯ll go next." Lu Chen then nonchntly grabbed the male silk night robe and entered the bathroom. As soon as the door shut behind her, Xiu Mei fell on the floor.


    She could barely contain the fl.u.s.ter that she was feeling at the moment after seeing Lu Chen carefully fold that silk nightgown and ce it on the bed. Damn it, why was she this nervous ah?


    Xiu Mei finally stood up and grabbed the nightgown. After looking at it for a few seconds, she decided to throw it at the back of her closet.


    After doing so, she immediately hid under the duvet and tried sleeping. But since she was too conscious and nervous right now, sleep won¡¯te to her at all. She even tried countingmbs to sleep but it didn¡¯t have any effect ah!


    She slightly felt panicked when she heard the bathroom door open again after fifteen minutes. Xiu Mei stopped moving on the bed and closed her eyes, trying to pretend she was asleep.


    She tried listening in his footsteps but since he was wearing somefy slippers, she couldn¡¯t hear it at all.


    Xiu Mei slightly flinched when the space of her bed behind her suddenly dipped. She hugged on her pillow tighter as she grew even more nervous.


    Lu Chen, who just finished taking his shower and wore the silk night robe that was given to him climbed on the bed. Lifting the duvet, he quickly noticed Xiu Mei¡¯s body flinch as soon as he climbed the bed.


    Seeing how his wife is trying to pretend she was sleeping, he suppressed theugh that was threatening to escape from his mouth. His wife is really so cute ah. Even with how she tried to act casual after her shower a while ago and ignoring the clothing he was holding, everything is too cute for him ah.


    As soon as he climbed on the bed, Lu Chen didn¡¯t hesitate in reaching out to rest his arms on Xiu Mei¡¯s waist. Even after feeling her turn stiff, he didn¡¯t remove his hold on her andfortably settled himself just behind his wife.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei was already screaming in her mind. She was too torn between escaping from Lu Chen¡¯s hug or continuing to pretend to be asleep.


    Her mind turned into a mess after feeling that warm but slightly cold skin on her back. Since Lu Chen was just wearing his night robe, she assumed that it must be the low cut type where an area of his chest was exposed.


    ...My god, who the hell gave those pair of silk nightgowns ah?! Was it her Mom? Why is she torturing her like this ahhhh!!


    "Wife," She heard him whisper. He whispered very close in her ear her body involuntarily reacted and avoided his warm breath. She only realized that with her movements, she just gave away the fact that she was awake.


    "Calm down. I won¡¯t eat you ah." Lu Chen pressed on her waist, stopping her from avoiding him. He assured her by not moving his hands anymore.


    Xiu Mei opened her eyes and looked at him suspiciously.


    "I promise I¡¯ll behave. Besides, I don¡¯t want to force you into something you¡¯re notfortable doing." He said sincerely.


    Then Lu Chen brushed her hair and weaved it in his fingers while adding, "I married you not because I want to do that ah. And I still have to convince you to stay with me after a year."


    Besides, even though their rtionship progressed and they grew closer, Lu Chen didn¡¯t want to take advantage of Xiu Mei like that.


    "Sleep, my wife." He said, pressing a kiss on her head. Then he closed his eyes.


    After hearing that, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t immediately sleep. The nervousness she was feeling beforepletely disappeared. She almost chuckled, finally realizing a fact.


    That a few words from Lu Chen, no matter how nervous or panicked she was, he will always find a way to calm her down and soothe her. It¡¯s like he was making her realize that she was thinking too much over nonsense things.


    She couldn¡¯t help but smile. She was very tempted to turn around to see his face but she didn¡¯t want to disturb his rest. So what she did is she wrapped her arm around Lu Chen¡¯s arm that was resting on her waist. She smiled while enjoying the warmth that was surrounding her.


    "Goodnight, my husband." She whispered before finally going to sleep.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that she missed the smile of someone behind her.


    Early the next morning, her parents personally talked to her about her decision to be ced on hypnosis. They informed her of their concerns but in the end, they still respected her decision and gave in. With her parents¡¯ approval, her Grandfather started processing the necessary doc.u.ments for the appointment.


    "Wife," Lu Chen called. Both of them are currently in the garden while watching over Lu Qiang ying with the dog. Her grandparents were currently visiting their friends in the vi near their mansion and her parents went out to attend some business temporarily. Her two brothers, one was still in the army and the other one is currently abroad for diplomatic business.


    So right now, aside from the employees of the Xiu family, the three of them have the mansion for themselves.


    "Can I go with you inside the room for the hypnosis?" Lu Chen asked.


    Xiu Mei paused to think. Since she hasn¡¯t done this before, she wasn¡¯t really sure if it was allowed. But now that Lu Chen brought it up, she would actually prefer to have him by her side during the whole process since she¡¯ll feel safer when he is around.


    "I¡¯ll ask Doctor Lee if it¡¯s allowed, but aren¡¯t you busy?" She uttered.


    "It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re more important than work and also, I promised to stay beside you throughout right?"


    Xiu Mei smiled and nodded. "I know. Thank you."


    She leaned back to rest in Lu Chen¡¯s chest, putting all her weight on him. She firmly held his hand, feeling calmer and lighter.


    "Wife."


    "Hm?"


    "Can I see the file?"


    "File? What file?"


    "Your case file, from ten years ago."


    Xiu Mei stiffened then she turned to look behind her. She saw Lu Chen¡¯s solemn face. He raised his free hand and caressed her cheeks.


    "I was actually going to wait for you to tell me about it but since you¡¯ll have your appointment very soon, I wanted to know the whole story. At least, I¡¯ll know how I canfort and protect you when that timees you need me again. Didn¡¯t I promise you? That I¡¯ll protect you."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei felt warm after listening to that. But she was also startled by the fact that she forgot to tell Lu Chen about her story. Maybe it¡¯s because she already knows that Lu Chen seems to know about it? So she always thought that he already knew the story.


    But she failed to realize that it would¡¯ve been better if Lu Chen could hear the whole story from her mouth. But since he didn¡¯t probe her about it and patiently waited for her to open to him, she knows that Lu Chen was doing that because he knows she wasn¡¯t ready yet at that time. He was there to witness her panic attacks and he was the first one to find her fainting on Ying Yue¡¯s grave. But not once did he ask her about it.


    She couldn¡¯t help but smile and feel touched by the amount of respect and privacy he was giving her. Really, she chose well ah.


    Even though she abruptly signed that marriage form, after spending time with him, she slowly realized that maybe, it was the best carelessness she ever made in her entire life.


    Xiu Mei covered the back of his hand holding her cheek and nodded.


    "Okay."


    In the Ying family.


    Ying Wan Wan stood by the door of her mother¡¯s room, holding a tray of food with medicines. She knocked on the door before speaking.


    "Mother, I¡¯m here to deliver your lunch." She said, but there was no response on the door. She tried knocking again and waiting for a few minutes but Mrs.Ying didn¡¯t respond to her. Using the key to her Mother¡¯s room, she quickly unlocked it and opened the door.


    The first thing she saw was her Mother¡¯s lonely back while she was staring at the sky through the ss window. She sighed, pretty much used to seeing this scene. She walked andid the tray on the bed table.


    "Mother, you can¡¯t skip your meals okay? The doctor already said that your body won¡¯t be able to take it anymore if you keep skipping meals."


    "Wan Wan."


    "Yes, mother?"


    "I know you met her."


    "Her?"


    Mrs.Ying¡¯s turned to face Wan Wan, her expression turning cold. Wan Wan didn¡¯t seem to be surprised at all with what her mother said. Instead, she smiled coldly as a response.


    "It went well, mother."

 Chapter 130 - Second Gift

    <h4>Chapter 130 - Second Gift</h4>


    While waiting for her appointment date with Doctor Lee, Xiu Mei resumed her daily activities. She gave a brief report to Lu Chen in regards to what he missedst week and some other important stuff.


    For the rumors going around in thepany, she contemted whether to clean it up now or should she just ignore it. She even considered showing Lu Chen¡¯s worth that was from an articletest year. With that amount of assets, do they still dare to think that he got seduced by her money?


    "....and they¡¯re going to have a big sale at the end of this month! Ms.Xiu, should we go take a look?"


    She was currently in the pantry with her assistant to take a short break. The two indulged in some girl talk about fashion and gossip news.


    "Didn¡¯t you go to an intense shopping spree three months ago? And now you want to shop again?"


    "But it¡¯s a sale!"


    "Don¡¯t your boyfriend ever scold you for overspending like this?"


    "He does sometimes. And Ms. Xiu, I don¡¯t overspend ah!"


    "Heh, says the person who came to me running months ago because she almost emptied her money in the bank ount because she shopped too much."


    "Hey! That only happened once!"


    "And the year before that."


    "...Okay, twice. But that won¡¯t happen anymore!"


    "That¡¯s what you saidst year too."


    "I have a financial advisor this time!"


    "Looks like she¡¯s not doing a good job then."


    "...I hate you ah."


    "Then should I give you more work?"


    Her assistant¡¯s tone immediately changed as she tried to tter her. "Ms.Xiu, I admire you so much! Can you please give me your autograph?"


    Xiu Mei cringed at the look she was giving her and looked away.


    "...Go away."


    "Don¡¯t give me more workload ah. I think I¡¯m going to die from overwork."


    "I was just kidding."


    "It¡¯s a scary joke."


    "Oh."


    "Ah! I almost forgot. It seems like you have a parcel ah though it was misced and was put on my table."


    "A parcel? Did I ask you to order for me or something?" She said while scrunching her brows.


    Her assistant shrugged. "Nothing. Maybe it¡¯s for the material testing? We usually receive a lot of test materials."


    "Oh, then leave it on my table."


    "Copy that."


    After their break, she went down for a quick meeting with the finance department. The meeting took a little longer than expected so it was already lunch when they finished.


    She was waiting for the elevator when somebody called her name.


    "Ms.Xiu, perfect timing!" It was Albert. This time though, he was with other people.


    Xiu Mei blinked. Albert stopped before her.


    "Do you wanna go out with us for lunch?"


    "Huh?"


    He pointed at the people behind him and replied, "My team and I are going out for a celebratory lunch today.???


    Her eyes shifted from his team and to him. "Did something good happen today?"


    "Of course! It¡¯s good news that you¡¯ll like!"


    "?"


    "We got the bid."


    Xiu Mei immediately understood what he was trying to say. It was that negotiation bid that she was talking about with Lu Shao a week ago.


    "Really? That¡¯s great! Congrattions!!" She eximed. She was very thrilled after hearing that news. After all, it was one of the important bids for the project that they¡¯ll be working on.


    "Great job, guys!" She praised them.


    "So Ms.Xiu, do you wannae with us?" Albert insisted but Xiu Mei turned him down once again.


    "I¡¯m fine. Just go and celebrate with your team for this win." She politely replied. Besides, it¡¯s his team¡¯s win so it would be rude for her to suddenly butt in.


    After sending them off, Xiu Mei returned to the president¡¯s floor. While putting back the files on her table, she saw a box sitting on top of it.


    She curiously touched the box. Is this the parcel her assistant was talking about?


    She reached out to open it but before she could lift the lid, her telephone rang. She looked at the blinking light on it realizing that it was Lu Chen who was calling her.


    She smiled. It seems like he was still waiting for her to eat lunch ah.


    She picked up the box and strode towards his office. Inside, she already saw the food reheated and served on the table. Looking at the yummy foods, her stomach growled in hunger so she excitedly sat on the sofa opposite him.


    "Did your meeting take too long?" Lu Chen asked, handing over a pair of chopsticks to her. Xiu Mei epted it while nodding.


    "Yep, we had to look over a lot of things so it took longer. Did you wait long?"


    "Not really, I just finished what I was doing too."


    Xiu Mei turned at his table and saw the stacked folders. Well, he did miss a week of work, and even if she did a lot of his workload, there are stuff that he should be the one to look over ah.


    "Looks like you have to bring home a lot of workter ah. Do you want me to send your dinner to your study?" She offered.


    "I¡¯ll eat at the table with you."


    "But you¡¯re pretty busy ah."


    "But you¡¯re my family."


    Xiu Mei paused. A smile suddenly bloomed in her face as she was filled with warmth.


    "Yes, we¡¯re family."


    She also saw Lu Chen¡¯s expression softened. Right, he was orphaned like Lu Qiang. Aside from his uncle and aunt, he only has Lu Qiang as his family.


    The two of them spent their lunch talking about random things that¡¯s not work-rted. Lu Chen was busily packing up the lunchboxes while Xiu Mei cleaned the table with a wet wipe. After throwing it away, she sat back on the couch, almost squishing the box when she almost sat on it.


    Ah, she forgot about the parcel ah!


    Xiu Mei looked back at Lu Chen who was putting back the lunchboxes on the table.


    If this is some new material, might as well get his opinion about it ah.


    Xiu Mei set the box down on the table and finally lifted off the cover. As soon as she saw what was in the box, her brows scrunched up in confusion.


    She looked at the single rose that sat inside the box. She looked at Lu Chen and wondered. Did Lu Chen give her this?


    But he¡¯s the type to send her the gift personally ah.


    Xiu Mei picked up the rose and looked at the petals with interest.


    The color of the petals is unique ah. It¡¯s a mix of red and white. This was the first time she ever saw a two-toned rose in all her life since she wasn¡¯t that interested in flowers. It must¡¯ve been really difficult to procure this.


    Is this a new material that they¡¯re proposing? If so, then isn¡¯t it going to be expensive? Are they proposing to use this as a decoration for the next clothing line?


    After scrutinizing the rose, she saw a card inside the box as well. She casually picked it up and flipped it. She unconsciously read the message out loud, enough for Lu Chen to hear.


    "A bloodstained rose of the first victim I killed as my second gift to you. Hopefully, you¡¯ll like it."


    ...a what?!


    Xiu Mei reflexively released the card and rose she was holding and dropped it on the ground.


    "Chen!" She unconsciously cried out. She looked in shock at the rose she dropped on the ground.


    What the hell did she just read ah?!


    Lu Chen immediately flew to her side after hearing her read the message. He quickly pulled Xiu Mei away from the rose lying on the ground and kept her behind him.


    "Are you okay?"


    He noticed that she was trembling a little bit when he held her hand to pull her.


    "I think I¡¯m fine but that... what is that?"


    Lu Chen looked at the rose again and his face grew dim. How did this package get past through the inspection? Didn¡¯t he already inform them to check all the parcelsing in for Xiu Mei first?


    He picked up the card on the ground and read it.


    "He talked about that this is a second gift. Was there another box like this?" Xiu Mei probed. Even though she was still in a state of shock, she didn¡¯t miss that part.


    A second gift? She doesn¡¯t remember receiving a gift that was simr to this though?


    Then she thought of the possibility. She looked suspiciously at Lu Chen who was exuding with anger right now.


    Or... someone purposefully prevented her from receiving it?


    "Chen, is there something you¡¯re hiding from me again?" Her tone turned somber as her suspicion increased.


    She already knows that Lu Chen keeps a lot of secrets from her. Uust like when he disappeared on herst week, she didn¡¯t even receive any exnation from him at all. Even though she was quite frustrated, she didn¡¯t ask him about it. She wanted to wait whether he will tell her his secrets or not.


    But right now, it seems like Lu Chen might be hiding even more secrets from her than she thought of.

 Chapter 131 - Suspicions

    <h4>Chapter 131 - Suspicions</h4>


    Of course, Lu Chen knew what the note was pertaining to. But he didn¡¯t expect that another ¡¯gift¡¯ would get past the already strict inspection he has set. First, it was a broken doll. Now, a ¡¯bloodstained¡¯ rose.


    He grabbed Xiu Mei¡¯s hand firmly.


    "I¡¯ll take care of this." He said.


    "But you¡¯re not telling me anything!" She retorted, her voice identally raising in tone due to being agitated.


    "Wife, listen to me." Lu Chen grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to reassure her. "I¡¯ll take care of this first then I¡¯ll exin it to youter on, okay?"


    Xiu Mei looked at him with suspicion, obviously not fully trusting his words. After all, he has quite the record of lying and keeping secrets from her in various circ.u.mstances.


    "We¡¯ll talk when we get home."


    "Okay."


    For now, Xiu Mei gave in first in their argument. What she needed right now is to calm herself down else, she¡¯ll get a panic attack. And she can¡¯t just randomly blurt out sensitives topic in the working ce. No matter how enclosed and private this space is, even if it is the president¡¯s office, walls will always have ears.


    "Can you get Lu Shao for me, wife?"


    "I know." Still annoyed, she pped both his hands away from her shoulders and turned away from him. She walked--almost stomped I guess--and exited the office. She saw Lu Chen who was already back in his working station and approached him.


    Knocking on his table, she gestured for him that he was being paged to the President¡¯s office.


    After that, she returned to her table and let out a deep sigh. Thankfully, her assistant hasn¡¯t returned yet otherwise, she¡¯ll definitely notice how startled she currently was.


    Her hands are still trembling from the shock she received. Just remembering what was written on the note was enough to creep her out.


    Blood from the first victim...don¡¯t tell me that the red petals on the rose she was holding was because the white rose was submerged in blood instead of water?


    "Haaaah." She heaved a deep sigh again while massaging her temples. She counted slowly in her head in an attempt to calm herself down. Her emotion was slipping and it wouldn¡¯t be good if people were to know how bad her mental stability is at the moment.


    It was at that moment when the door of the president¡¯s office opened again. Her eyes darted to the door and saw Lu Chen¡¯s figure approaching her. He walked past her table and stood beside her. He towered over her sitting figure while she raised her head to look at him.


    As soon as their eyes met, Xiu Mei saw the rigid expression on his face. H


    "Wha--"


    Before she could finish whatever she was going to say, Lu Chen took off the suit he was wearing and ced it on her shoulders. Before she could even stop him, Lu Chen already bent down and ced a chaste kiss on her forehead while cupping her face leaving her stunned.


    "It¡¯ll be fine, Wife." He whispered in her ears. He hugged her for a couple of seconds before finally releasing her. Then he returned to his office again. Everything happened so fast that she couldn¡¯t believe Lu Chen really came out of his office just tofort and reassure her.


    She touched the suit jacket on her shoulders. It was still warm and the warmth and smell felt very familiar to her. Thanks to that, the emotions that were going berserk within her calmed down.


    "Woah, Ms.Xiu. I just finished my lunch and here I am suddenly getting stuffed with dog food."


    Xiu Mei almost jumped when she heard her assistant¡¯s voice. It looks she went on a field trip in the cafeteria with all the snacks she was currently holding.


    "You¡¯re eating too much." She threw back, pointing at the snacks she was holding.


    "Dog food? Yes, I think so too."


    "..."


    The assistant leaned closer to her examining the suit jacket. "Mr.Lu is a really wealthy man. Even the brand he¡¯s wearing for daily work is already my sry¡¯s worth for a month."


    "I was talking about the number of snacks you bough again. And stop leaning close to me." With her pointed finger on her assistant¡¯s forehead, she stopped her from getting closer.


    Then Xiu Mei remembered the rose again.


    "By the way, when you received the gift, did you see if someone ced it on your table or something?"


    "Hm? Ah, the one that was supposed to be yours? No, it was already here in the morning when I arrived. Why?"


    So that means someone sneaked inside the office to ce the gift on her assistant¡¯s table. She was also suspecting that it was also deliberately ced on her assistant¡¯s table instead of hers.


    If her suspicions are right, Lu Chen must¡¯ve already known about the first gift. And most probably, he already controlled all the things that get passed to her.


    This time, what the person did is deliver it to her through her assistant¡¯s.


    "Nothing. I was just asking."


    "Did you already open it?"


    "Uh... not yet. I¡¯ll probably open it at home when I have time."


    Xiu Mei wondered if she should go check for the CCTVs on this floor. Maybe she could get a glimpse of the person who sent the gift to her?


    On the other hand, Lu Chen and Lu Shao are already investigating on it as well. They¡¯ve already requested a copy of the recordings for the past two days but they are doubting that the person who is doing this will be easily caught like that.


    As soon as they¡¯ve arrived home, Xiu Mei immediately locked Lu Chen inside the study with her. She knows Lu Chen¡¯s personality very well and he¡¯s the difficult type of person to deal with when extracting information from him.


    "Exin."


    "Don¡¯t you want some tea first? Or take a short rest?"


    "Either we talk or we divorce. So TALK." She firmly ordered. She walked on the couch and leaned back. Crossing her arms at him, she fiercely red at him as if threatening him that if he doesn¡¯t exin today, then there¡¯ll be no Mrs.Lu tomorrow.


    "Chen, if we¡¯re going to continue like this then I don¡¯t think this rtionship won¡¯t work." She honestly stated.


    At this rate they¡¯re going, her doubts and the secrets that he kept hiding from her will create cracks in their rtionship. If Lu Chen really wanted to pursue and continue this for more than a year, then he has to be honest with her right now.


    She¡¯s not asking for him to reveal all the secrets she¡¯s keeping from her. But she¡¯s asking about all the secrets concerning herself that Lu Chen is keeping from her.


    She¡¯s already had enough with her family keeping a lot of secrets from her in the first ce so she wouldn¡¯t be able to tolerate it if the husband she¡¯s supposed to entrust her life with is keeping her in the dark about the important things.


    Lu Chen who heard that fell silent. He understood the current issue she was pointing out and he immediately surrendered. He sighed then he sat beside his wife. He started exining the situation to her.


    "Months ago, we received a suspicious delivery that was supposed to be delivered to you." He stood up and unlocked one of the drawers. After grabbing a folder, he returned to his seat and handed it over to her.


    "The first gift that the person was probably talking about is this one. The broken doll." He pointed at the image. Xiu Mei scrutinized it very closely, and even though she was getting nervous by every second, she bravely read through the file.


    "We traced it back to apany that closed down years ago. Even the person who delivered seemed to suddenly disappear on the face of the earth the next day so we couldn¡¯t find any leads on this one."


    "What about the rose?"


    "I¡¯ve already sent the box and the rose for investigation. We¡¯re not putting our bets on the recordings but my men will examine it frame by frame in case they pick up another clue."


    Xiu Mei listened to him. She understood all the things he was trying to tell her but there was something that has been bugging her for so long now.


    Lu Chen... seems to have a different team on his own.


    He has a lot of subordinates that don¡¯t work in the business industry. Training Lu Qiang to defend himself in case something dangerous happens sounded pretty normal for her, but that¡¯s because she grew up in a family with a lot of enemies. But Lu Chen... aside from hispetitors, no one should be daring enough to frame him and put him in a dangerous position.


    Unless it¡¯s not his businesspetitors that we¡¯re talking about.


    With those hints, she was slightly suspecting something.


    "Chen, are you a member of an underground organization?"

 Chapter 132 - Trust in Marriage

    <h4>Chapter 132 - Trust in Marriage</h4>


    "Chen, are you a member of an underground organization?"


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes quivered. She was sitting closely beside him so she immediately noticed the slight changes in his expressions. He looked very uneasy as if she caught him doing something bad.


    And seeing his reaction like this, maybe she really did?


    Did Lu Chen really work with an underground organization?


    "Are you working with them?" She pressed.


    Admittedly, she wasn¡¯t the smartest one in the family. If she was, she wouldn¡¯t have failed to save herself and Ying Yue years ago. Her twin brothers entered the military and politics respectively, climbing into a stable and important position. Even when they were young, the two of them were exemry people who would always rake awards and praises no matter where they go.


    Xiu Mei was quite theidback one. She was pampered and spoiled at a very young age so she didn¡¯t need to do anything to be praised by people. She was a bit arrogant, just like any other rich kids out there. That¡¯s why when she decided to live independently, she had to work her hardest.


    Her academic foundations weren¡¯t bad, but they are average ifpared to others. Then when she started interning at the Lu Corporations, she was desperate to learn even more. She felt inferiority seeing how talented the people in thispany are.


    Her hard work paid off and she became a trusted employee of the Lu Corporation.


    That¡¯s why right now, how she pieced all of it together was something she honed for years. It wasn¡¯t intuition, rather, it was her trust in the data that was in front of her.


    Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates that she would often meet but he wasn¡¯t keen on introducing them to her entirely. His interest in armory and ability to fight. He wasn¡¯t fazed by the shooting exchange back then. His background didn¡¯t have any information about his involvement in these kinds of things when he was younger.


    That¡¯s why she was suspecting that somehow, Lu Chen has connections to an underground organization. At first, she thought that he hired his own men for protection and security. But the vast amount of information he knows, and his random disappearances without anymunications are quite simr to her eldest brother whenever he goes to his undercover missions.


    But he¡¯s not in the military. Then she can only conclude that cutting offmunications means the possibility of being traced meant danger and the only ce that fits in that criteria are people who are involved in the underworld.


    She knew a little bit about it. It¡¯s a ce filled with violence and crimes but the vast amount of connections and information that they could gather there are something that is an advantage they use.


    This kind of thing... if she was right, then does Lu Chen do things like this as well?


    "Chen, can you be honest with me this time?" She looked at him straight in his eyes.


    This time, Lu Chen avoided eye contact with her and fell into silence. He was clenching his fist because of anxiety and for the first time in his life, he was scared of how the people would judge him. He was afraid of how Xiu Mei would look at him.


    Her parents weren¡¯t exactly delighted to know that he was the chief of the top organization in the underworld. Who wouldn¡¯t be? His hands are stained by the blood of the men he assassinated before. Even if the reason they kill is to suppress the people aiming for the power of the underworld, he still couldn¡¯t justify the fact that he killed people.


    Seeing that Xiu Mei is not receiving any response from Lu Chen, she became more upset.


    ¡¯I guess... this is just where their rtionship can really go.¡¯ Is what she thought.


    She stood up from the couch and walked for a few steps. She looked back at Lu Chen who looked downcast and spoke.


    "I... We¡¯ll finish the one year contract then we???ll divorce. It¡¯s for the sake of Lu Qiang." She dered. "Then, goodnight."


    And with that, she left the room and that¡¯s how their conversation ended with the final decision of Xiu Mei to divorce him after a year.


    She returned to her room with a heavy heart. Sitting on her bed, she thought about a lot of things.


    Her rtionship with Lu Chen and Lu Qiang. How reckless and impulsive she was. And no matter how much she feels secured with Lu Chen, it wasn¡¯t enough to save their rtionship and continue on their marriage.


    She realized that the true pinnacle of marriage is trust.


    She feels secure and safe every time she¡¯s with him. But what about him? Does he really trust her?


    Xiu Mei thought that one-sided trust wasn¡¯t enough to continue on this rtionship.


    She was hurt. But then, if he had told her the truth, would she really be able to take it?


    If Lu Chen honestly told her that he was involved in such activities, she couldn¡¯t promise that she will be able to fully ept it too.


    She¡¯s just a human ah. Who wouldn¡¯t be cautious and scared if the person they knew very well have killed a person before?


    She wasn¡¯t like her brothers who are matured enough to handle this information.


    Right now, she feels like a hypocrite.


    Her family in the military are people who are used to getting their hands stained with blood. They eliminate people because it¡¯s an order to make their country safe, or when they need to defend themselves.


    She herself is stained with the blood of her best friend.


    And even if it¡¯s just a possibility, how could she discriminate against Lu Chen like this?


    If Lu Chen did confront her that he killed countless men before this, how would she react?


    She was torn.


    Thinking about it, she realized just now. How could she confront him like this when she wasn¡¯t even prepared for the answer?


    Is it because of the frustration she felt every time she feels clueless about the dangers she was in?


    Does she actually feel bothered thinking that Lu Chen has so many secrets that he wasn¡¯t willing to share with her?


    Or is it because of her guilty conscience that she¡¯s always on the receiving end of his help every time she bes weak?


    Xiu Mei, Xiu Mei. You¡¯re really shameless.


    Ever since Lu Chen decided to marry her, she already became indebted to him. Because this cold and unapproachable emperor she works for is the type of guy that would do anything for you once he decides you¡¯re under his wing. That you are one of his people.


    He has been protecting her ever since no matter how many times she declined his proposal before. And she promised to marry him because he promised that he wanted to protect her.


    And right now, she is feeling uneasy about the possibility that Lu Chen is protecting her in apletely different way than she thought it was.


    She... is really a bad person ah. A heartless at that.


    Xiu Mei felt frustrated because she was stumped. She didn¡¯t know what to do at all. She wanted to hear the truth from his mouth but what if she isn¡¯t ready for it? At the same time, she thought about how ungrateful she is for doubting him like this.


    That night, Xiu Mei lost sleep thinking about that.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen was in despair.


    His silence almost affirmed her that he was involved with underground activities.


    How could he not even speak a word? Or lie even a little bit?


    How can he let their rtionship be over like this?


    After Xiu Mei dered that she wanted to divorce him after their contract, all he wanted to was to grab her and chain her in here so she wouldn¡¯t be able to escape from him.


    He wanted to clip her wings and put her in a cage so she wouldn¡¯t leave his sight.


    But he couldn¡¯t do so.


    Thinking about the possibility of Xiu Mei knowing how dirty he is, he wasn¡¯t prepared to see the fear and disgust in her eyes.


    If she pushed him away and looked at him with that kind of look, he didn¡¯t know how he would be able to take it.


    How would he be able to take it? He.... loves her.


    He fell in love with her passion and dedication. He fell in love with her ws and fragility. He fell in love with every bit of her side.


    He desired her because she was someone who seemed so perfect but broken. He thought that he was the right person that could fix her broken self.


    But in reality, he may be the most undeserving person to have her.


    He stood up and stopped outside of Xiu Mei¡¯s room. He stood there but he was hesitating whether to knock on her door or not.


    He wasn¡¯t really ready to reveal himself to her. All he wanted to do now is beg to take her back.


    But how? When the answer she is looking for is a disgusting truth?

 Chapter 133 - Stressed

    <h4>Chapter 133 - Stressed</h4>


    The next day, the family of three ate their breakfast with an awkward atmosphere. Lu Qiang, being an intelligent child that he is, noticed the tension between his parents. He observed them with a concerned look while eating his breakfast.


    What is it this time? Why are his parents fighting again? They just made up a few days ago, isn¡¯t it?


    "I¡¯ll go to thepany first. I have a lot of urgent stuff to do this morning. Thanks for the food." Xiu Mei dered after putting down her utensils. She gave a quick forehead kiss to Lu Qiang before leaving,pletely ignoring Lu Chen.


    Lu Qiang nced at the barely eaten food of his mother and to his father whose movements stopped after his mother left the dining table.


    Seeing his father¡¯s grave expression, he bowed down his head and continued eating. While eating, he wondered if he should call his grandmother to help his parents make up.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei¡¯s arrival alone at the office sparked gossip throughout the building. Ever since she and Lu Chen have gone public with their ¡¯dating¡¯ rtionship, the two of them would arrive together at the office unless one of them is on a business trip. The employees were already used to seeing them together arriving and leaving the office.


    Xiu Mei ignored all the hard gazes on her and nonchntly went straight to the top floor. This was the first time in a while that she arrived early at the office ever since she got married. Dumping all her things on the side of the table, she started working on the doc.u.ments due for the day. She kept distracting herself with work that she didn¡¯t even notice Lu Chen arriving at the office.


    Lu Chen stopped on his tracks and stood a few meters away on Xiu Mei¡¯s table. He stared at her figure who looks so focused on whatever work she was doing just like how she usually looks like every day.


    Seeing that familiar figure feels as if they were back to the past where they were just simply a boss and his secretary. It felt like Xiu Mei would turn and sh a courteous smile to him as she normally does then she would serve him a warm and rxing cup of tea in his office.


    Somehow, thinking about that felt like someone was squeezing his heart. It felt like something heavy was pressing on his heart. It was very unbearable.


    "Goodmorning, Mr.Lu." It was her assistant that first noticed him arriving. Xiu Mei spun her head to his direction after hearing that making their eyes meet for the first time sincest night.


    Xiu Mei immediately avoided his gaze before standing up and greeting him indifferently.


    "Goodmorning." He started walking and greeted back to the assistant. Then he stopped in front of Xiu Mei¡¯s table and awkwardly greeted her back.


    "Goodmorning... wife." He weakly whispered thest word. It was just loud enough for his wife to hear.


    However, Xiu Mei still didn¡¯t look at him even after doing that. She didn¡¯t even scold or re at him like she usually does when he does that.


    His heart was gripped with fear. Did she really make up her mind to divorce him? Does she really not care anymore?


    He hid his clenching fist inside his pocket as he tried reading Xiu Mei¡¯s expression. But she looked indifferent, with no emotions on her face at all. In the end, he looked away and entered his office looking very downcast.


    Both of them wasn¡¯t aware of what is running to each other¡¯s mind right at that moment.


    While Lu Chen thought that Xiu Mei¡¯s resolve in divorcing him is already set, Xiu Mei, on the other hand, was feeling very guilty and torn instead.


    She realized that she was too overwhelmed by her emotionsst night and impulsively dered about the divorce. She didn¡¯t even let Lu Chen defend himself and just walked out after doing that.


    At the same time, she was torn in between apologizing forst night and ignoring him to express her stance with the fact that he???s resolute on not telling her anything at all.


    At this rate, the problem won¡¯t get resolved at all.


    She felt like pulling her hair out in frustration. Why is this soplicated?!


    The stiff and awkward atmosphere between the two of them could be felt by everyone at work. Especially during the meeting when all Lu Chen did was emit a scary aura scaring the other people in the room while Xiu Mei nonchntly ignored him. With Lu Shao¡¯s absence, the people in the meeting room felt even more helpless.


    Why did they have to get caught in between their bosses¡¯ love quarrels?! They cried out in their minds.


    By the time afternoon came, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know whether her headache is because of work or thinking about so many problems. She couldn¡¯t even count how many times she would nce at the direction of the president¡¯s office.


    This was the first time she hadn¡¯t even stepped inside that room for a day.


    "Ms.Xiu, just go inside if you really want to go. It¡¯s better if you two talk it out, isn¡¯t it?" Her assistant uttered while she busily marked some files.


    "It¡¯s not that easy." She replied in distress.


    "Just take it from a person who¡¯s been in a lot of rtionsh.i.p.s before. If you two really want to work it out, it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t let a fightst for a day."


    "But it¡¯s quiteplicated."


    "No matter howplicated it is, the two of you would have to talk one way or another. It can be either a talk about resolving whatever your fighting about or a talk about your break up."


    "..."


    Okay, she really can¡¯t retort on that. That hit home and it seriously hurts. Her assistant was really rubbing the reality in her face so hard. She was right.


    The two of them are just prolonging the agony and misunderstanding the more they avoid each other.


    Xiu Mei held her forehead, massaging her temples. She put down the files she was working on and sighed. No matter how hard she tried to focus, her mind will always fly back to their conversationst night.


    She nced at Lu Chen¡¯s office again and deeply sighed.


    "I¡¯ll just go grab something sweet downstairs." She uttered, looking so lifeless while grabbing her wallet in her purse. "I think I need some sugar to survive this day or else I¡¯ll go crazy."


    She dragged her feet to the elevator and visited thepany cafeteria and salon on the third floor. She scanned the different bars of chocte and bought some dark chocte. She was about to pay with her card when a different card got in between the scanner and her hand. In turn, it was that person¡¯s card that was credited for her chocte purchase.


    "Wha--" Xiu Mei turned and paused.


    "You look awfully stressed today, Ms.Xiu." Albert pointed out, putting his finger in between her unconsciously scrunched up eyebrows and smoothened them out.


    She was too tired to react swiftly so she wasn¡¯t able to avoid his touch this time. She ignored his statement and opened her wallet, grabbing a couple of coins inside.


    "I¡¯ll pay for the chocte."


    "Keep it. It¡¯s my treat." He insisted.


    "I don¡¯t ne--"


    "It¡¯s not even that much so just keep it."


    "...Fine." She was too tired to argue with him right now.


    "Then, I¡¯ll go first." She bid goodbye to Albert, nning to return to the top floor immediately. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to chat with anyone, at least right now.


    But Albert being Albert, followed him like a chick following his mother hen. Xiu Mei nced at his empty hands. Raising her eyebrow, she wondered why did this guy even go to the cafeteria if he didn¡¯t buy anything.


    "Are you alright? Is the boss bullying or what?" Albert probed while both of them waited for the elevator.


    Xiu Mei felt slightly annoyed but still answered him. "No, I¡¯m fine.??


    "For some who¡¯s fine, you sure don¡¯t look fine." Albert remarked in a sarcastic tone, stepping inside the elevator. He pressed the hold button for her like a gentleman, waiting for her to get on the elevator.


    "Are you asking to be hit? Tsk."


    "See, you¡¯re clicking your tongue already. You¡¯re too stressed right now."


    "And how does me clicking my tongue connected with me being stressed?"


    "Plus you¡¯re temper today is very short. Before, you won¡¯t even get fazed by my teasings, but right now, I can totally see in your face that you want to whack me on the head."


    "So you¡¯ve been deliberately teasing me all this time?!"


    "Wow Ms.Xiu, did you really just notice that now?"


    "Do you keep forgetting I¡¯m your superior?"


    "But Ms.Xiu isn¡¯t the type to abuse her power to punish an employee just because he teased her, right?"


    "That¡¯ll change from today onwards. Come here and let me hit you once."


    Xiu Mei stepped forward and cornered Albert. She grabbed him by his sleeve to keep him from running away and was just about to pinch his ears when the elevator dinged open.


    She instantly halted and looked at view outside the elevator.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    Shit.


    Xiu Mei quickly freed Albert and distanced herself from him. She awkwardly stood inside the elevator while trying to avoid eye contact with Lu Chen, who was ring hard at her at this very moment.

 Chapter 134 - Talk - Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 134 - Talk - Part 1</h4>


    The entire floor fell inplete silence.


    Trying to avoid his gaze, she stared at the elevator buttons instead.


    Lu Chen¡¯s gaze stayed on her and Albert as if he was scrutinizing the both of them.


    Somehow, she felt weirdly guilty.


    ¡¯I wonder why? Somehow, she feels so guilty as if she was cheating on him.¡¯ Is what is currently in her mind right now.


    "Aren¡¯t you gonna get off?" Lu Chen said tly. He was pressing the open button outside to keep the elevator from closing.


    "Ah?"


    She paused to think for a few seconds before finally realizing what he was saying.


    "Oh! Yeah, uh, I¡¯m getting off now." She said sheepishly as she scrambled to get off the elevator. She didn¡¯t know why but she felt like she was a naughty kid standing in front of her teacher waiting to get scolded. Kinda felt like the old times.


    "Mr.Lu." Albert greeted, bowing slightly to him.


    Lu Chen sharply stared back at him whilst nodding his head as a brief response to his greeting.


    Albert briefly nced at Xiu Mei¡¯s direction before shifting it back to the big boss.


    "Then I¡¯ll be going first, Mr.Lu." And the next second, the elevator doors are closing. The three people left on that floor fell into silence again.


    Eventually, it was Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant who first broke the ice.


    "I¡¯ll just go to the pantry to get a cup of instant coffee." Then she stood up and ran to the pantry as if someone was chasing her.


    "..."


    In the end, she just escaped and saved herself.


    Xiu Mei bit her lip and kept staring at the floor. Lu Chen kept staring at her figure for a few seconds before speaking.


    "Let¡¯s talk."


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei raised her head and looked at him with a stunned expression on her face.


    ...Is he gonna tell her everything now?


    Xiu Mei followed him back to his office.


    As soon as the door closed, Lu Chen suddenly pulled her into a tight hug. Before she could even react, he tightened his hold on her waist and shoulders while burying his face on her shoulders.


    "I¡¯m sorry." He whispered, pausing Xiu Mei¡¯s movements.


    Her hand that was pushing against his shoulders temporarily stopped trying to push him away.


    "For which one? For not being honest with mest night or is it an apology because you wouldn¡¯t tell me at all?" As soon as she finished her words, she stopped and regretted it.


    She bit her lip while feeling frustrated. She carelessly blurted out words without thinking again.


    "For breaking my promise." Is what he briefly said. He pulled his face away and cupped her face, looking straight in her eyes.


    "I let you downst night, isn¡¯t it?"


    This time, she bravely returned his gaze and covered one of his hands that was cupping her face. She took a deep breath and calmed down her nerves. Sheposed herself and her thoughts and finally voiced out all the things that were bothering her all day.


    "I would like to apologize to you too. Last night, I got too emotional I didn¡¯t even let you exin. I¡¯m really sorry."


    "But it was my fault. I wasn¡¯tpletely honest with you that¡¯s why y--"


    "No, it¡¯s not." She cut him off. "Lu Chen, I grew up in a military family. My parents and brothers keep secrets from me. I grew up getting quite used to But when I married you, I... I wasn¡¯t prepared at all."


    "Maybe it¡¯s just that fact that we had a very short time and no opportunity to get to know each other that well. Our rtionship is like thin ice that is very vulnerable and could be broken anytime. We skipped a lot of things that a married couple went through first. Wemitted ourselves to each other, yes, but both of usck love, time, trust, andmunication."


    She caressed his face, brushing the stray hairs away from his face.


    "We jumped into the wagon of marriage without those things that¡¯s why arguments like this could easily break us. This time, our argument is just a given because it was bound to happen sooner orter."


    "Xiu Mei, I--"


    "Do you get it? Soon, we will have fights like this again. Maybe we¡¯ll even get to the point that we¡¯ll raise our voices to each other. And then once we¡¯ve reached that maximum point, this marriage... will definitely be dissolved."


    With the topic of divorce being raised again, Lu Chen became anxious. No way, is Xiu Mei already determined to divorce him? Panic set within him as he gripped into her shoulders.


    "Xiu Mei..." His tone almost begging when he murmured her name.


    "Lu Chen, should we rethink about all of this for a little longer?" She suggested. Xiu Mei was suggesting to reconsider their marriage of one year again. If this goes on, then it would be better for them to break it up earlier thanter. So that they could still at least keep whatever respect they have for each other and the fact that they are still coworkers at work.


    "NO." Lu Chen resolutely declined.


    "No?"


    He pulled her to his arms once again. This time, hepletely forgot about his thoughts before of not letting Xiu Mei feel ufortable with him.


    Right now, all he could think about is to stop her from really divorcing him. Ending their rtionship like this.


    No. He couldn¡¯t allow that. Not when he finally realized he loves her. Not when all he could think about every day is her. Not when he already imagined spending the rest of his life with her.


    Lu Chen went straight for her lips, catching Xiu Mei unprepared. This time, he ignored her reaction and dived inside her mouth. He ravaged and drank her in like she was his oasis in a desert. He swept every inch of her mouth like a tornado and encaged her tongue with his tongue.


    He bit and sucked on her lips like it was the tastiest thing in the world. Slowly, he could sense Xiu Mei gradually responding to his actions so this triggered him to be a bit more aggressive.


    He tilted her head slightly, trying to find a better position when locking lips with her. Her soft little tongue now trying to fight for dominance within their mouths.


    The two of them fought each other through this kiss. They bit, licked, sucked, and explored every area of each partner¡¯s mouth. It was only when Lu Chen felt Xiu Mei slightly punching him on his shoulders that he pulled away from her mouth for a bit.


    Xiu Mei, finally getting pardoned and the opportunity to breathe again panted heavily. She tried to re at Lu Chen but she waspletely unaware of her appearance at that very moment. Because of their intense and passionate kiss just now, her face was filled with blush and added with her panting, she looked very attractive and hypnotizing like a drug in front of Lu Chen¡¯s eyes. She was like a fresh fruit that looked very yummy waiting to be eaten and enjoyed on.


    And that he did.


    cing his hand at the back of her head, he pulled her into another round of kiss again. This time, he lingered a little longer on her mouth. Compared to his aggressiveness awhile ago, it felt like Lu Chen was savoring her slowly this time. He lingered in every part of her mouth that this kiss made her knees weaker than the one before.


    His kisses right now felt like he was loving her, caressing her and pampering her. Xiu Mei slowly fell in Lu Chen¡¯s spell as she shut her eyes trying to enjoy the moment. She desperately clung to his body, feeling her knees go weak with the intensity of their intimacy at this very moment.


    She fell into a trance and she didn¡¯t even notice she was already unconsciously m.o.a.ning when they were kissing.


    Hearing that melodious sound, Lu Chen got even more encouraged into doing something more. His control and sanitypletely out of this window.


    He finally stopped ravaging her mouth, so he slowly trailed his kisses from the corner of her mouth to her cheeks, chin, neck, and until he finallyndedst on her corbone area. He didn¡¯t think twice and bit the soft skin between his lips.


    "Ha..." Xiu Mei¡¯s breath hitched as she let out a strained m.o.a.n. Her breathing turned heavier feeling him continuously suck and bite on her skin without any signs of stopping. She was too entranced with what they¡¯re doing that she didn¡¯t even notice that she was already pushed to the wall with one of her legs being supported by Lu Chen¡¯s hand to wrap around his waist.


    Her skirt riding up and her blousepletely messed up by Lu Chen as he tried pulling on her clothes, trying to remove the distraction while he was savoring her skin.

 Chapter 135 - Talk - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 135 - Talk - Part 2</h4>


    Xiu Mei unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck as Lu Chen returned to devouring her lips. Her response was like on autopilot, as she willingly weed him back and responded to his kiss. She yed with his hair, earning a groan from him.


    Lu Chen¡¯s hand moved from the back of her head towards her scrunchie, holding up her hair. He didn¡¯t hesitate in pulling it off her, her hair falling like a waterfall tangling itself on his hands.


    He pulled away and went back to attacking her neck, leaving trails of kisses along the way.


    "Uhm...Ahhh..." Xiu Mei cried out in pleasure. Instead of crying out from the pain, her voice came out like a m.o.a.n which motivated Lu Chen to do more.


    Dropping his support on her leg, he slipped his leg in between hers. His free hand wandering on her blouse as he carefully stroked her clothed body. It slowly moved down, reaching the end of her skirt which already rode up above her mid-thighs. He yed with the hem of her skirt before finally sticking his hand on her n.a.k.e.d skin.


    He caressed and pinched her soft and supple skin. His hand gradually pushed her skirt up, even more, exposing more of her legs until he stopped dangerously near her private part.


    "Chen..." She m.o.a.ned, feeling him going lower as he continued to bite her. He had already unbuttoned the top part of her blouse, exposing her underwear underneath it.


    He was just about to go and devour her soft chest but Lu Chen suddenly regained a strand of his sanity when he heard Xiu Mei cry out his name.


    It was like something snapped within him, waking him up from the spell.


    All his movements instantly halted. He pulled away from Xiu Me¡¯s exposed chest, finally getting a good look at her appearance.


    Lu Chen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and his eyes darkened seeing her disheveled appearance. The reddish hickeys he made was marked on her white skin. It was all scattered on her neck, corbone, and above her chest.


    He raised his head again and examined her face.


    Her lips were slightly open, as she continued to pant. It was so red and plump that it looks like it was inviting him to attack it again. Her whole face was flushed, and even if her head is slightly tilted towards the right, he could see her unfocused gaze.


    Overall, she looked very tempting right now in front of him. If he continued ravaging her just like a few seconds ago, he wouldn¡¯t have let her go once he really started caressing her important parts.


    Lu Chen gulped nervously, taking deep breaths as he tried to get a grip of his control and sanity that he threw out the window just a while ago. He looked away from her figure. With her exposed chest heaving up and down as she panted heavily, his control was wavering again.


    In front of the woman he loves, the words rational and calm do not exist in his vocabry at all.


    Taking a deep breath, he was finally able to get a grip on his senses. He returned his sight on her body again.


    Then with his hand, he pulled up and buttoned up her blouse that slightly crumpled up under his hands a few minutes ago. Then he removed his legs in between hers and pulled down the skirt she was wearing that stopped mid-thigh.


    He slowly fixed her attire but Xiu Mei was still lost and unresponsive. Her sight never left the ground even after that. It seemed like she was still caught up in the spell they were in a few minutes ago.


    Lu Chen ran his fingers on her hair. "Xiu Mei?"


    "..."


    "Xiu Mei?" He got close to her face, and holding her chin, he lifted her face to make her look at him.


    He blinked in confusion after seeing her eyes. It was like an empty gaze and even though her eyes were looking straight into him, it felt like she was actually seeing through him instead.


    "Xiu Mei?" He didn¡¯t know why but he suddenly felt nervous.


    Something was wrong with his wife.


    "Wife?" He touched her face.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes suddenly quivered, then she blinked. The empty gaze instantly wiped off on her face and rece by confusion. She looked at Lu Chen¡¯s face, baffled.


    "Xiu Mei, are you alright?"


    "Huh?"


    "Are you alright?"


    "Uh... yeah, I think so."


    "Are you sure?"


    Xiu Mei nodded hesitantly. For a moment, she felt like her mind totally nked out but she didn¡¯t know why. All she could remember was that she and Lu Chen were in the midst of a make-out sess--ah?


    Her brain that was dysfunctional a while ago suddenly kicked in and buffered.


    The kisses and Lu Chen¡¯s touches slowly registered in her brain and in an instant, her face turned red again.


    "Wife?" Lu Chen worriedly called her again.


    Then she raised her head to look at him. She finally realized the disheveled appearance of the man in front of her.


    His necktie was loosened, his cor and suit are both creased then his hair that was styled neatly this morning was in aplete mess now after she continuously brushed her fingers on his hair. She can even see a faint trace of her lipstick on his lips.


    ....fudge.


    Her breath hitched as she suddenly huped. She couldn¡¯t help but reach out her hand to wipe away the smudged red lipstick on the side of his lips.


    She paused when she finally realized what she was doing the moment she and Lu Chen¡¯s eyes met.


    ...well, shit.


    They both looked away, blushing furiously. Both of them looked like a pair of innocent high schoolers that did something secretly somewhere in an empty room at school.


    My god. My god.


    Xiu Mei was instantly filled with inner turmoil. Even though they¡¯ve already kissed before, she couldn¡¯t believe what just happened.


    Lu Chen¡¯s warm hands that lingered on her skin and the pleasurable pain that left her m.o.a.ning reyed in her mind so she couldn¡¯t help but go crazy.


    D-Did she really had a make-out session with Lu Chen just now? That fast? In the midst of their argument?


    Ahhh! Damn it. What¡¯s even more unbelievable was that she actually s.u.mbed to him! She couldn¡¯t even imagine what would have happened next if Lu Chen didn¡¯t stop.


    "..."


    Yeah, let¡¯s not imagine that censored stuff anymore.


    A few momentster, the two sat next to each other on the couch albeit the atmosphere was filled with awkward silence. Both their clothes and appearance properly fixed again as if the events from less than an hour ago didn¡¯t happen. If it weren¡¯t for the exposed hickeys on her neck, anyone wouldn¡¯t think something happened between them.


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t stand the silence anymore and grabbed her hand startling Xiu Mei. Still sensitive, she felt like some kind of electricity ran through her arm as soon as he touched her hand.


    "Xiu Mei, I don¡¯t want a divorce."


    He dered. He looked straight in her eyes with a serious expression.


    "Please, don¡¯t leave me." This time, his tone changed. He lifted up her hand and ced a kiss on it. He held her hand as if it was the most precious thing in the world as he begged her.


    "I¡¯ll be honest, okay? Just don¡¯t leave me."


    "I¡¯ll work on the things that you said weck. Trust,munication or whatever that is, I¡¯ll work on it. I¡¯ll cooperate with you. Xiu Mei, I..."


    He paused as he reached out his hand to caress her cheek.


    "I.. I love you."


    "..."


    Her heart thumped. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened at the sudden confession as she gasped in surprise.


    She almost thought that her ears were ying some kind of joke with her, not until he repeated his confession.


    This time, he leaned over her until their foreheads are now touching.


    "I love you, Xiu Mei. I love you, my dearest wife."


    She would be lying if she said she couldn¡¯t feel his sincerity. She felt touched at the same time, she was overwhelmed by the different waves of emotions that were running within her.


    She felt like she was on cloud nine. Ecstatic, excited, and nervous at the same time.


    She didn¡¯t expect a confession from him at all when she followed him to his office. Heck, she didn¡¯t even expect it at all.


    After all, it hasn¡¯t been that long since they¡¯ve taken the leap to try to fall in love with each other. But Lu Chen kept his promise, and now he was confessing.


    She remembered what he said to her back then when he proposed to her for the second time.


    "I may not love you right now, but I will love you. I will do. Then you¡¯ll be Mrs.Lu."


    She already became Mrs.Lu. And now, he has fallen in love with her.

 Chapter 136 - Talk - Part 3

    <h4>Chapter 136 - Talk - Part 3</h4>


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t deny the fact that she felt giddy after hearing his confession. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the smile that was surfacing on her face.


    No, Xiu Mei. You can¡¯t give in yet.


    Look, even though Lu Chenunched the seduce strategy on her, she had notpletely surrendered yet. She can¡¯t be blinded by temporary happiness just to suffer in return.


    This is what she repeated in her mind.


    The foundation of their marriage is almost nonexistent, except for the fact that they¡¯ve worked together for years. But the trust we give to our romantic partner and the trust we give to a coworker are two different things.


    Love and Trust. She can¡¯t confuse those two.


    "Lu Chen, look. It¡¯s not just about being in love with me nor you at all." She pushed him for a little bit, creating a small distance between them.


    "The very reason we¡¯re having this fight right now is that weck trust. I realized that the secrets we keep from each other, we keep and wait for each other to disclose it someday but no that I think about, it¡¯s not even right."


    Keeping her hands on his shoulders, she continued.


    "If we¡¯ve built our rtionship just like any other couple, secrets like these shouldn¡¯t hurt our rtionship at all. But Chen, I realized that the trust I have right now for you is your capability to protect your loved ones always. That you would do anything so that they won¡¯t get hurt. But what about the trust we have for each other? The trust that I should be giving you as my husband, at the same time, the trust that you should be giving me as your wife?"


    When Xiu Mei pointed out the problems that they have in their current rtionship, he couldn¡¯t¡¯ but wince in pain. Everything she said was true. He wouldn¡¯t have even realized it if she didn¡¯t point it out at all.


    He was a novice in love and in maintaining a rtionship. There are still a lot of things he needs to learn, but it seems like he was focusing too much on the physical stuff. He showered her with gifts, yes. Pampered her, yes. He made her feel secure, yes. He tried to understand her while keeping her from harm at the same time, but what about what she felt?


    That¡¯s where he failed. He failed to trust Xiu Mei that even though she was vulnerable in his arms, he kept forgetting the first side of her that he knew about. Her perseverance and tenaciousness.


    The very reason how Xiu Mei survived or ten years despite her PTSD.


    Because even though she cried and broke down, she would always stand up and wipe off her tears. Lu Chen was pampering her too much, treating her the same as Lu Qiang.


    Xiu Mei admits that she is weak, yes. But she isn¡¯t the type to surrender without a fight. Because she still has her pride. She won¡¯t grovel to the ground even if she loses. That¡¯s how she grew up for the past few years.


    It was what got her through all the immeasurable pain and nightmares that haunted her.


    "I know you said you¡¯re willing to tell me the truth now. But tell me..." She covered the back of his hand with hers as she continued, "...Do you really trust me enough that I can handle that truth? You can¡¯t just be honest with me because you want to save this rtionship. because that won¡¯t solve it at all. I need you to trust your instincts, that once you tell me the truth, that is because you trust me as for me. Not because I¡¯m your wife that you need to keep holding onto."


    After finishing what she wanted to say, the two of them neither spoke again.


    Instead of getting disappointed, Xiu Mei was actually d that he didn¡¯t give her an immediate response at all. She observed his expression and knew that he was thinking about it. He stopped and thought carefully for the answer.


    She wanted him to have faith in her and not to always hide this type of secrets from her just like what he did yesterday.


    With all the amount of danger she is currently in, it wouldn¡¯t even make a difference if she knew the thing about yesterday too. She may have lived under the protection of her parents and brothers all her life, but it doesn¡¯t mean that she was useless.


    She still has her intelligence to keep her sane and get through with life on her own.


    If Lu Chen couldn¡¯t trust her enough to be able to withstand this... then it¡¯s gonna be a big problem in the future.


    He has to let her in. In on the dangers she is currently in, and the dangers he is in as well.


    Though, Xiu Mei herself knew that she also needs to work on trusting her husband too.


    Failing to even inform him that she already started digging on her past, she was even at fault too. She made Lu Chen feel uneasy about it. Just like how she went crazy thinking and worrying about Lu Chen when he disappeared, he must¡¯ve felt the same thing.


    That¡¯s why right now, it¡¯s not only Lu Chen who has to rify his stand on their rtionship. She has to open up and say hers as well.


    Trust in marriage should go both ways and she can¡¯t always be on the receiving end.


    "Xiu Mei."


    After that long period of silence, he finally opened his mouth. Xiu Mei returned his gaze that was filled with solemnity and resolve in it. She knew that he already found his answer.


    She felt tensed. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought, what if he decided to not tell her at all? What if the answer he realized was that she wasn¡¯t the person he could really trust in?


    The possibilities were low but she couldn¡¯t help it.


    She felt anxious because she likes him. She would be hurt if Lu Chen doesn¡¯t really her at all.


    "I love you." He repeated his confession, this time with more conviction.


    "And I..." For a moment, he hesitated. But he still continued. "...I am the chief leader of an assassin organization in the underworld."


    "..."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei was genuinely stunned when she heard what he said. For a second, she even doubted whether she heard it right at all.


    Lu Chen? A chief leader in the underworld? Of an assassin organization at that?


    If she was a normal person, she wouldn¡¯t have easily believed in that. But the reality is, she grew up being aware of the existence of that world. A ce filled with crime and violence. Where death and killing could be considered normal.


    And now her husband was telling her that he was the chief leader of an organization in that ce.


    Hell.


    Her hand flew to her mouth.


    Even though she has suspicions about him being involved in some kind of ce, she didn¡¯t expect him to be the person who leads one at all. Rather, he even has the highest position! Isn¡¯t that almostparable to being themander-in-chief of the army?


    No, Xiu Mei. You¡¯re straying from the topic again. That isn¡¯t even the most important thing.


    Lu Chen operates an assassin organization. He kills. My god, her husband kills for a living.


    She wasn¡¯t even sure to admire him for not being killed by her family yet. Wasn¡¯t the army and the people in the underworld each other¡¯s nemesis?


    Was it even possible for her family not to be aware of this?


    God. Oh god.


    The bomb Lu Chen suddenly dropped in front of her exploded in her face real hard. Her suspicions and the truth was way out of her expectations. Killing is one thing, but an assassin organization at that?


    Right now, all her beliefs were faltering. She was doubting everything she had believed in right now. To Lu Chen, to herself, and everything.


    Heck, she can¡¯t even trust her own instincts right now.


    "Xiu Mei..." Lu Chen murmured her name but even if she was sitting close to him, she didn¡¯t hear it.


    She was too shocked to even hear any noise around her.


    She didn¡¯t even notice how anxious Lu Chen was right now as he worriedly observed her reaction. It was as he expected, but seeing it was different than thinking.


    This was the answer he gave her. And seeing her reactions right now, he was terrified. What if his answer made her push him away even more? What if it made their rtionship turn for the worst instead?


    He firmly held her hand, massaging it with utmost care and cautiousness.


    Right now, she has not pushed him away yet. The only thing left for him to do now is to appease her and calm her down. Maybe, this way, she won¡¯t immediately push him away.

 Chapter 137 - Talk - Final Part

    <h4>Chapter 137 - Talk - Final Part</h4>


    Silence filled Lu Chen¡¯s office after giving his response to Xiu Mei¡¯s words. It was so dead silent that they can faintly hear the sounds from outside his office and the sound of each other¡¯s breathing.


    Lu Chen grew anxious for every second that passed with no response from Xiu Mei. But he patiently waited. He firmly held her hand, ced kisses on her knuckles as if bribing her to calm down and behaved. He patiently waited for her to absorb all the things she heard. He couldn¡¯t help but also regret that he told her this early.


    Their rtionship hasn¡¯t stabilized yet, and now he¡¯s facing all sorts of sufferings from the very start.


    And no sane person on earth could easily ept that her husband operates an assassin organization and kills for a living. At first, he was disgusted at himself for staining his hands with blood, but over time, he began to ept the fact that the only way for him to survive is to be ruthless with your enemies.


    In this line of work, if you¡¯re too softhearted, you¡¯ll surely die first in the hands of your enemies. It was the path he took because it was the legacy that person left for him. His organization hunts and kills the dangerous and threatening people who disturb the limits set in the underground city. For the people who don¡¯t intend to wreak havoc, they don¡¯t harm them at all.


    But no matter how much they differentiate these two kinds of people, he knows he couldn¡¯t justify the killings they¡¯ve done. He is a murderer, that is the fact.


    Sometimes, he wondered what kind of person would he have been if he had not met that person back when he was still in college? What if that person did not choose him to be his sessor, and Lu Chen lived his life normally?


    Wouldn¡¯t have that been better? At least, he won¡¯t be ashamed to face Xiu Mei like this right now.


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei did her best to calm herself down. Even though she looked fine on the outside, her inner mind was screaming in turmoil.


    She nced at his direction, observing his face. He was visibly anxious, gluing his sight on her hand he was holding so carefully as if it was so fragile.


    This man who is normally so indifferent.


    This man who looks at her so tenderly right now.


    He was always so charismatic and confident in her eyes, no matter what role he takes on.


    As the president of the Lu Corporation. As her husband and as Lu Qiang¡¯s father.


    But this same man.... Is saying that he is a person who kills as well.


    ....what should she do?


    She pondered for a long time before opening her mouth.


    "Is it unavoidable?"


    Lu Chen was stupified when she decided to speak to him again. Nevertheless, he responded to her question.


    "It is."


    "Then..." Xiu Mei bit her lip and briefly paused. She hesitated for a few seconds, then taking a deep breath, she continued.


    "Is it to keep order?"


    Lu Chen thought about it for a second. "Somehow. But it¡¯s more of keeping them in check."


    Xiu Mei blinked and shook her head, reflecting on his answer. Lu Chen wasn¡¯t clear of what was running on her mind right now but the longer she goes quiet, the more anxious he feels.


    He was anxiously waiting, akin to a prisoner awaiting his final sentence.


    Xiu Mei took another deep breath. She straightened her back and turned to look at Lu Chen once again. This time, the shock and confusion wiped off of her face.


    "I understand." She briefly responded. She took back her hand from his grasp and stood up. She turned her back to Lu Chen and started approaching the door of his office.


    Lu Chen, seeing her reaction, was crestfallen.


    She was leaving. She was leaving him.


    Does that mean she doesn¡¯t ept him? That she¡¯s pushing him away?


    ...Is she really leaving him?


    Then what should he do now?


    Should he start sending her flowers everyday to appease her? Ah! Should he kneel on the washboard every night? Should he go start learning how to bake so he could spoil her with her favorite desserts?


    And maybe, he should ask for cooperation with Lu Qiang this time when chasing back Xiu Mei again?


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t dwell that long on the possibility that Xiu Mei rejected him. Seeing her reaction, he shouldn¡¯t waste his time wallowing on pity for himself. Instead, as early as right now, he should start nning on how he would win her back again.


    Though winning her back this time around would surely be difficult, it¡¯s fine. Just like how he insistently approached and proposed to her back then, he would never stop chasing her until he wins her back again.


    Then maybe, she will give him a chance again.


    He helplessly watched her strode to the door. But then suddenly, Xiu Mei stopped on her tracks and turned around.


    She looked at him with an indifferent expression before she started walking towards his direction. With the back of the couch in between them, it didn¡¯t stop her from dipping her head to make it to be on the same level with Lu Chen.


    Lu Chen turned his head, making eye contact with her. He was bewildered by the sudden turn of events. He was at a loss and got confused about what was she suddenly doing right now.


    Xiu Mei suppressed her smile. She thought that it was fun seeing his confused and defeated expression from time to time.


    Then she took a glimpse of his lips before meeting his eyes again. Making up her mind, she boldly leaned closer and pecked his lips. After that, she pulled away and stood straight up again.


    She looked down to see Lu Chen¡¯s stupefied expression that was looking at her. She curled the end of her lips and spoke.


    "I¡¯ll wait for youter." Then, she turned her back again. This time, she truly left the room once and for all.


    As soon as the door closed, Lu Chen shot up from his seat still stunned from what just happened. His gaze stayed on the closed door then after a few seconds, it finally registered in him what was happening.


    He touched his lips with his fingers, trying to remember the lingering kiss that Xiu Mei briefly left on his lips.


    ...She kissed him. She kissed him.


    Then the answer finally dawned on him.


    His eyes twinkled with joy and look at the door as if he could see the people behind it.


    Does this mean she¡¯s epting him?


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei who gave her answer to the anxious president a short while ago was silent on her chair.


    With her assistant nowhere to be found, she was now all alone on the open area along with Lu Chen who was on the other side of the wall.


    She spun around her office chair then her eyes darted towards the view outside the floor to ceiling ss window in front of her. The sun was almost setting, the orange skies and the shadowy building are reflecting in her eyes.


    She fiddled with her fingers while biting her lips.


    "It will be alright." She murmured to herself.


    Thankfully she was alone so no one will think that she¡¯s crazy for suddenly talking to herself out of nowhere.


    But that¡¯s the least of her worries though.


    Right now, her mind is full of thoughts about Lu Chen.


    After carefully pondering over it, she ryed her answer to him through her actions.


    You¡¯re probably confused as to why she didn¡¯t leave him?


    If it was before, she would surely reject him. After all, killing is a crime.


    But she has been spending a lot of time with him enough for her to know what kind of person he is. Even though he kept that a secret from her, Lu Chen didn¡¯t seem the type of person to act in front of her.


    And since he gave her his resolve and honestly told her about his secret, doesn¡¯t that mean that Lu Chen thought about it and trusted her that she would be able to take it?


    Just like what she discussed with him, the answer he gave her was this trust and honesty.


    As for the killing... then let it be justified by what he said of keeping them in check.


    Just like how the members of her family kill people in their line of job to protect the peace and order of the country, let¡¯s just say that Lu Chen is assassinating people for the sake of keeping the underground city in check.


    It may sound ridiculous, but what can she do?


    She likes him enough to ept this other side of his. Then in the future, it¡¯s just a matter of realizing whether she really chose the right decision or not.


    With all the chaos and danger closing in on her and her family, she didn¡¯t know what kind of future holds for her. But the only thing that she was sure of was this.


    Lu Chen would never betray her. This was the confidence that he was giving her.

 Chapter 138 - Mosquito Bite

    <h4>Chapter 138 - Mosquito Bite</h4>


    And just as promised, Xiu Mei waited for Lu Chen so they could go home together.


    "Then I¡¯ll go first." Her assistant said while grinning. Even without opening her mouth, her facial expression screams ¡¯I won¡¯t be bothering your couple time anymore.¡¯


    She even threw her a knowing look multiple times before that that baffled her. Thinking that it must just be that she was making fun of her, she shrugged off that though.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help butugh even though she was being teased. Unfortunately, she was unaware of the real reason why her assistant was giving her that weird look.


    She shook her head, helpless. Just let her be. She did advise her pretty well a while ago and talking with Lu Chen greatly improved both their rtionship and mood for today.


    After fixing all her stuff, she stood up to knock on the President¡¯s door to inform him that the two of them should be going home right now.


    But before her knuckles could hit the door, it was suddenly pulled open on the other side startling her. As soon as their eyes met, they were momentarily stunned because of each other. And then, the two of them let out augh. This wasn¡¯t the first time that they¡¯re going home together, but seeing that the two of them waiting for each other like this today, somehow, it felt so different from the other times before.


    "Let¡¯s go home, my wife." Lu Chen said, offering his hand to hers. Xiu Mei, with a twinkle in her eyes, looked at his offered hand and smiled. She smiled from ear to ear and willingly ced her hand over his.


    So with their fingers inteced with each other, they went home. She didn¡¯t even notice the numerous sighs of relief and the snickers of the employees who saw them together. Right now, weirdly enough, she felt so lighthearted and preupied with her husband.


    "What¡¯s with all these?" Xiu Mei asked seeing the scattered boxes of pastries at the back of the car. She even saw some familiar names from the dessert shops she usually goes to.


    "Hmm... a bribe?"


    "For me?"


    She casually reached out and grab a nearby box. She opened it and took out a piece of the caramel cream puffs inside.


    "Uhuh, just in case you won¡¯t listen to me at all. I was nning on leaving a couple of boxes on your table so I went to get it from the car--Ah!"


    "?"


    "..."


    "...what?"


    Xiu Mei raised her head curiously for his weird reaction but what she just saw was Lu Chen... looking a little bit funny.


    He kept ncing at her side while keeping his eyes on the road as he drove. His expression right now... it was clearly someone who wanted to say something to her. But there was a trace of anxiousness and worry on his eyes at the same time as if he was hesitating whether to ask her about it or not.


    She wasn¡¯t used to Lu Chen hesitating but seeing that he was holding himself back, it was kind of weird and funny at the same time.


    For a person who loves being straightforward and direct especially when teasing her, he sure is doing well, albeit awkwardly, holding himself back.


    "What is it?" Then she looked at the box she was holding. "Oh, did you want one?"


    Wiping off the cream filling on her lips, she picked up one cream puff and held it in front of Lu Chen¡¯s mouth.


    "Uh, no. Not that." But he didn¡¯t avoid her hand and slightly leaned over to bite on the dessert.


    Being handfed by the wife, how can he decline it?


    "Then what is it?"


    Then she pulled back her hand, and unconsciously took a bite of the bitten part of the cream puff. Realizing her actions, she paused and nced at the pastry then to Lu Chen who was still focusing on the road.


    ...he shouldn¡¯t have seen that right?


    Xiu Mei was fl.u.s.tered realizing that she indirectly kissed Lu Chen by biting on that same part he bit on. But then she continued following that train of thought.


    Though indirectly kissing is not that serious though? I mean they¡¯ve even gone past the phase of french kissing...


    Xiu Mei pinched her thigh immediately. Gawd, stop! She should cut that train of thought else she embarrasses herself in front of Lu Chen again.


    She covered her face with her hand still remembering what they did back in her husband¡¯s office. Goddamnit, has she really gone corrupt? She didn¡¯t even expect that she¡¯ll easily fall prey to her husband¡¯s honey trap! My goodness, when did she be this fragile?


    "Uhm," Lu Chen¡¯s voice pulled her back to reality.


    As soon as the light turned red, he nced at her again but this time, his gaze lingered for a little longer than before.


    "What?"


    "...Nothing." Staring at her neck, Lu Chen shook his head and smiled as if shrugging off his previous thoughts.


    "?"


    ¡¯Why is he being weird?¡¯ Is what she thought.


    She didn¡¯t even notice the smirk that made its way on Lu Chen¡¯s face at all.


    As for Lu Chen whose mood turned for the better, he threw the memory of the man getting chummy with his wife back in the elevator at the back of his mind. He¡¯ll let this slide for now.


    He and Xiu Mei just fixed their rtionship back together again after that serious fight. He¡¯ll hold back for now and worry about the guy next time.


    He nced at her again, staring at her neck for a second before turning back to focus on the road.


    He smirked. Well, after today, then maybe that guy will wake up and should know his ce right?


    As soon as they got home before she could even change, Lu Qiang grabbed her arm and dragged her back to his room. She didn¡¯t know why he was dragging her but she still followed the little kid back to his room.


    "Mom, here." As soon as the little guy locked the room of his door, he pulled out a little box from his pocket and gave it to her.


    She suddenly wondered. Why was he giving her a present? It isn¡¯t even her birthday yet.


    "What¡¯s this?"


    "Open it first." The little kid watched her with expectant eyes so she couldn¡¯t refuse and opened the box in front of him.


    Pulling the ribbon loose, she lifted the cover and saw a Philippe Patek watchying inside. Her forehead creased in confusion when she looked at Lu Qiang.


    Why is he suddenly giving her a luxury watch? She looked closely at the watch. It wasn¡¯t even a women¡¯s watch too. Wait, that¡¯s not even it. How did Lu Qiang even buy this thing? Where did he even get this?


    "Mom, you should give that to that."


    "Ah?"


    If it¡¯s for Lu Chen, then why was he giving it to her? Is he feeling shy to give it personally to his own father?


    "Aren¡¯t you in a fight with Dad, Mom?"


    Her eyebrows jumped. She felt a bit embarrassed after realizing that the kid was even aware that she and Lu Chen were fighting. Were they that obvious?


    She knelt to be on the same height level as him and asked.


    "Your Dad and I are good now. I¡¯m sorry, we made you worry isn¡¯t it?" She patted his head and pulled her close to him.


    To even make a kid worry, it seems like they were a pair of terrible parents ah.


    "But Mom, you should still give that to Dad." The little kid pressed. Her curiosity over the watch increased.


    "But Dad would be happier if you personally give this to him, don¡¯t you think?"


    "But I don¡¯t want that."


    "Why?"


    So is he really shy?


    Lu Qiang scratched his cheeks. After thinking for a second, he finally spilled the secret behind the gift.


    "It¡¯s because it¡¯s a special watch, Mom."


    Hmm? She picked up the watch and turned it multiples times to scrutinize it.


    ...But she doesn¡¯t see any difference though?


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t exin any further and grabbed his tablet. He pressed on the screen for a little while then he flipped it showing her the screen.


    She looked at it and realized it was a map. She could see a small green circle blinking inside some blue box.


    "What is this?" She pointed at the blinking circle.


    "That¡¯s the watch."


    Xiu Mei blinked. It took a few more seconds for her to realize what he meant when he said it¡¯s the watch. Then she looked at the watch in her hands again before giving a look of realization and surprise at Lu Qiang.


    Is he thinking what she¡¯s thinking?


    Understanding the look that his mother was giving him, Lu Qiang nodded.


    He pointed at the watch again and this time, affirming her suspicions with words.


    "I nted some tracking device that I created on the watch so the next time that Dad goes missing, Mom won¡¯t have to worry anymore and you can track Dad¡¯s whereabouts if he wears this watch."


    Xiu Mei gasped. Her eyes shifted in between the tablet screen and Lu Qiang¡¯s face.


    "..."


    She totally forgot that her son is a tech genius ah.


    "But Mom, did you go somewhere other than work? Looks like you got bitten by the mosquito." Lu Qiang suddenly asked. She returned to her senses when she heard him ask her again.


    "Where did you even go, Mom? Look, it¡¯s so big and red."


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion. What? Did she really get a mosquito bite? But a mosquito bite shouldn¡¯t be that big though?


    Lu Qiang opened the camera function of his tablet and changed it into a front camera. She looked at it and saw her reflection on the screen. She stretched her neck to see what Lu Qiang was talking about.


    "...!!!!"


    She finally realized what the little kid was saying. Seeing it, she almost felt like crying and burying herself under the ground from embarrassment.


    Son, that is not a mosquito bite ah!!!!

 Chapter 139 - Payback

    <h4>Chapter 139 - Payback</h4>


    No one knows how much Xiu Mei wished for the ground to swallow her up at that time. Seeing her reflection on the camera, she wanted to fool herself to believe that it was just an edited image of her or there was some kind of filter that makes you look like you have some weird bug bites on your skin or something.


    Unfortunately, the reality is harsh.


    Xiu Mei buried her face on her palms. She cannot look at herself anymore at all. Not when thinking about how she paraded at the office for an hour after exiting Lu Chen¡¯s office. And when her assistant looked at her grinning while throwing her a knowing look. And the snickers she ignored when she unconcernedly held hands with Lu Chen when they were going home.


    All the actions she has been doing for the past few hours are dawning on her.


    WHAT.THE.FUDGE.


    How would she even go to work and have the face to see her coworkers?!


    The urge to suddenly ignore and fight with Lu Chen felt stronger than ever. This guy, he didn¡¯t even tell me that she looked.... so inappropriate.


    Wait...


    She remembered how many times Lu Chen nced at her back in the car. She thought that he was just being silly after they¡¯ve made up so she didn¡¯t think much about it. But now...


    It seems like that guy is asking for a beating!!


    How can he not even point it out to her back in the car? At least, she wouldn¡¯t be suspecting him for deliberately doing this to her right?


    She couldn¡¯t even count on her assistant for pointing out this kind of thing for her. Heck, she was the type to tease her and remembered it for a long time.


    But Lu Chen! He could¡¯ve pointed it out to her back when they were still on the top floor. With how red and exposed he nted the hickeys, he would¡¯ve surely known that her cored blouse wouldn¡¯t be enough to hide it all, right?


    Damn, why did she suddenly feel like she was being scammed?


    "Here¡¯s an ointment for the bite, Mom." Lu Qiang handed her a tube of medicine.


    While she wallowed for her lost image, her son grabbed the medicine box he kept at one corner of his room and gave the ointment to his mother to use for the mosquito bites on her neck.


    He innocently and curiously gazed at the bites on her neck, wondering whether it was really done by a mosquito. Because that¡¯s how his bite looked like when he was bitten and he rubbed on it a bit hard, scraping his skin off.


    He worriedly thought. Is his father not taking care of his mother at the office? Is their office in such a bad shape that Mom had to suffer from numerous mosquito bites?


    His father is so disappointing ah. How can he let her mother suffer like this?


    Xiu Mei gratefully epted the medicine and entered the bathroom. Seeing her whole reflection on the window, she didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. Aside from the hickeys that bastard Lu Chen nted on her neck, she wasn¡¯t sure if it was the lighting or not but she thinks that her lips look like it was swelling a little bit too?


    "Cunning bastard." She cursed under her breath as she grumpily applied the ointment on her neck. Looks like she needs to get her lips iced as well.


    Then her eyes wandered on the box that Lu Qiang gave to her.


    "Hmm..." She hummed. After her eyes lingered on that little present, she stared at her reflection on the mirror. Her lips curling up into a smirk.


    Well, it won¡¯t hurt to get a little payback, right?


    After that, Xiu Mei quickly changed into a turtleneck knitted sweater in an attempt to hide the marks on her neck. As soon as she got into the kitchen, she saw Lu Chen and Lu Qiang taking out the ingredients from the refrigerator. Noticing her presence, Lu Chen smiled gently at her.


    He ced back the cabbage on the counter and approached her direction while staring hard at her rather warm attire. Right now, she could easily recognize where he was looking at all this time.


    Seems like this guy really did n it all along.


    Holding out her apron for her, Lu Chen patiently waited for her to step closer to him so he could tie it for her.


    Xiu Mei red at him, reaching out to pinch his waist.


    "Bastard." She whispered loud enough for him to hear.


    "Well, it was fun while itsted."


    She pped his arm, clearly annoyed by his antics. Look at this guy asking for a beating. Is he nning to annoy her to death?


    Though irritated, she still stepped closer to him and allowed him to tie the apron around her waist. The three of them started preparing the dinner for the night.


    A few days after, Xiu Mei finally received the confirmation of her appointment with Doctor Lee. She felt nervous, yet she felt even more determined to push through with it. This may be the only chance and new clue left so they could find out who wanted her kidnapped.


    Lu Shao who was also sent away to trace the source of the bloodied gifts that they have been receiving at thepany finally found some good news.


    "I didn¡¯t find anything on the footage but we did pick up something interesting when we watched it frame by frame."


    In the study, Lu Shao opened hisptop and showed a screen with four different videos on them. He pointed at the video on the upper right and exined it.


    "Looking at the time stamp right here, it says that nobody was seen entering our floor before Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant arrived. But on the lower part video, we can see some simrities in the positions of the potted nts right here." He pointed the potted nt collection decorating their floor just beside the ss windows.


    She looked closely at the videos and realized that he was right. The position of the leaves in the first camera and the third camera was the same. Which was weird since the first camera is installed with the view from the entrance of the elevator. While the third video was position across the room, which was in thepletely opposite direction of the first camera. It was installed and angled to see which people are entering the door to the President¡¯s office.


    Then after Lu Shao fast-forwarded it, the gift suddenly appeared on her assistant¡¯s table.


    "Was the footage cut off?"


    "Rather than cut off, it was most likely overridden with an earlier video. This is definitely nned."


    "Then what¡¯s the thing that you found out?"


    Lu Shao changed what was shing on theptop screen into a word doc.u.ment.


    "Then this is what I found out about the shifts of the cleaners that we hired for the whole building. Since they¡¯re the third party, we usually don¡¯t keep track of their schedules and who cleans the top floor. I remembered that they¡¯re usually the ones who would water the potted nts from time to time so I took a look at it and found this."


    "Why that woman?" She asked after seeing a woman¡¯s face that she had never seen before.


    "She was just recently hired and weirdly enough, she was suddenly called the day before for cleaning which wasn¡¯t on her original schedule."


    "Then what¡¯s the weird part? I mean, couldn¡¯t it be just someone simply chipping in to take over her shift like maybe he¡¯s sick or something?"


    "But this woman doesn¡¯t have the clearance to clean the top floor. If ever someone needs to take over the shift for that day, then a different person would¡¯ve been chosen instead of the newbie."


    Xiu Mei nodded in agreement after thinking about it. He¡¯s right. He does have a good point on that one.


    "Then?"


    "Oh, this same woman resigned two days ago and booked some tickets with the destination outside of the country."


    "So she¡¯s fleeing?"


    "That¡¯s what we think too. We¡¯re thinking if we should stop her from leaving the country for interrogation?"


    "But this is circ.u.mstantial evidence. We can¡¯t just detain someone just because it¡¯s the Lu Corporation who asked for it. That¡¯s illegal."


    "Then we¡¯ll devise a n to make her stay longer here or dy her flight?"


    "I think that¡¯s better to do that instead of forcibly grabbing her for an interrogation." Xiu Mei agreed on the alternative suggestion Lu Shao offered.


    "Is she the only strong candidate we have as to whom who may have done this?"


    "Not really, we have a couple more who we also suspect but this woman was the oddest and most suspicious one out of them all so we¡¯re digging about her first."


    "Hmmm, then what about continuing with the same authorized cleaners on the top floor?"


    Lu Chen and Lu Shao looked at her.


    "If the same thing happens again, then wouldn¡¯t that give us a clearer picture? Like if she¡¯s moving only for herself or she has an aplice that¡¯s helping her as well."

 Chapter 140 - Closer

    <h4>Chapter 140 - Closer</h4>


    "Oh, but we can¡¯t make the security too loose as well. Make it seem like it turned stricter after we received the second gift. So that whoever is truly sending those won¡¯t be alerted. It won¡¯t be good if they notice that something¡¯s a little off." Xiu Mei added.


    Lu Chen did not disagree with her suggestion and added a few pointers on his own.


    "Understood. I¡¯ll arrange this ording to your orders." Lu Shao replied. He left their house after finishing his report leaving the couple on their own in the study room.


    "Then I¡¯ll go to Lu Qiang¡¯s room to tuck him in." Xiu Mei stood up from her seat but was stopped when she felt a heavy weight on top of her head. It was Lu Chen¡¯s hand preventing her from standing up from her sitting position.


    "What?" She raised her head to meet his gaze. He slightly leaned down closer to her face.


    Xiu Mei gulped nervously and bit her lip.


    ...what trick is he nning to pull on her again?


    "You should go to sleep first. I¡¯ll tuck him in tonight." Lu Chen said, examining her face carefully. He could see the circles forming underneath her eyes. Like him, it looks like Xiu Mei didn¡¯t sleep well yesterday night either.


    "I¡¯m fine. Besides, I promised him that I would continue the book we were readingst night."


    "Sleep. If Lu Qiang hears that you copse from fatigue andck of sleep, do you think the kid will like it?"


    Even though it was quite impossible, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but imagine Lu Qiang¡¯s face if that happens. She remembered how much that kid worried about her back when she was still in the hospital.


    In the end, she surrendered. "Fine. But I¡¯ll tuck him in tomorrow then."


    "Good." Lu Chen removed his hand on her head.


    Xiu Mei stood up from her seat but she didn¡¯t immediately leave. Instead, she looked like she was thinking about something.


    Then she leaned over to him across the table, pressing her hands on the table to support her body. Lu Chen originally thought that she would be giving him a peck on the lips just like what she did a few hours ago, instead, her kissnded on one side of his cheek.


    With a grin on her face, she said, "Goodnight."


    But before he could react, she already pulled away and stood straight. With a grin on her face, she left the room.


    Lu Chen, briefly stunned by her actions, curled his lips. He touched his cheek that she kissed.


    Weirdly, their fight this time brought their rtionship to each other instead. He thought that she would distance herself to him after knowing his other identity, but she looked cool with staying beside him.


    Does this mean she¡¯s epting him for who he is?


    A few days after that, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t receive any presents for a while. Everything that was in the boxes and paper bags gets through Lu Shao first so when they get on her table, everything is already opened.


    Xiu Mei sighed in relief in her mind. It was good that she wasn¡¯t the type to shop online. Else, all the books and mangas she¡¯s been shopping online would be revealed to him.


    Anyhow, that¡¯s not the important thing today.


    After that hickey... exposure previously, as expected, all the people who witnessed it spread the news like wildfire. The next day after that, Xiu Mei regretted not wearing sunsses and a hat so that they won¡¯t recognize her. Even though she might stand out and get blocked by the security, that would¡¯ve been a million times better than the looks she received for the past few days.


    Everyone seems to be sure that she and Lu Chen had been doing something in his office because when they had the meeting, it wasn¡¯t there at all, and then a few hours after, t-that appeared on her neck.


    Everyone was enjoying making their own spections while the topic of the news was drowning with embarrassment.


    God knows how much she avoided going down to meet people for the past few days.


    "This is all your fault." Xiu Mei grumbled to Lu Chen in the elevator. They are currently on their way to a meeting. Since they have a meeting, of course, she couldn¡¯t get away with avoiding meeting the people there.


    Lu Chen let out a half-heartedugh. "Should we cancel the meeting then?"


    Xiu Mei red and pouted at him. "And make me do the cleanup work after? No, thank you."


    Huffing, she rolled her eyes at him. He¡¯s unbelievable. It¡¯s his fault, but then, why is she the one suffering?


    Thankfully though, the atmosphere inside was very tensed and serious she didn¡¯t feel any gazes on her. Since it was about the investment in their entry in the energy sector, everyone is on their toes and nervous. The meeting took about four hours long before Lu Chen finally called it a day for everyone.


    While fixing herptop and files, the Director from the nning Department came up to her while Lu Chen was dragged away by the other Directors for consultation.


    "Yes?"


    He handed over a red folder to her. "These are the other strategies we¡¯ve looked into aside from the one we presented. We didn¡¯t have the chance to present this to the President since we¡¯re short in time but if possible, could you please pass it on to the President? Maybe he could read this if he has the time?"


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t ept the folder immediately and considered it for a short moment.


    "Then why wasn¡¯t it presented earlier if you think it¡¯s good?"


    "Uhm, this was actually the second n we were nning just in case the first one won¡¯t work."


    "Well, the President didn¡¯t really seem to happy with the first idea you were talking about."


    "Yes, that¡¯s why I¡¯m hoping if he could give us another chance and read this n?"


    "And? If he reads this n, could you really assure that the President would say yes?"


    Xiu Mei may have sounded bitchy but she was actually doing her part as the President¡¯s secretary. If she agrees to hand this over to the President, if he doesn¡¯t like it, she could possibly incur his wrath as well if it doesn¡¯t go well.


    On the other hand, she felt like the Director was trying to use her because she was the President¡¯s girlfriend. Maybe he was counting on the possibility that she hand this over to the President so the President might reconsider on this n as well.


    In her mind, Xiu Mei really wanted tough. No matter how many times she tries to show them that she wasn¡¯t a person that they should underestimate, in the face of power and taking advantage of connections, they would always forget that and be blind for power.


    "I do hope that he says yes. Ms.Xiu, could you please talk it over with the President to reconsider this one?"


    Xiu Mei looked at the guy disappointedly. He was obviously older than her but to think that he really thought that she would let him use her?


    This time with a heavier tone and with a fake smile, she picked up herptop and folders then faced the nning Department Director again.


    "Mr. Kim, I highly suggest that you go back and brainstorm with your department again instead of trying to present this n to the President. We¡¯ll see you at the next meeting."


    She slightly bowed her head then she turned her back to him and approached where Lu Chen was.


    Seeing that he was still talking with some of the Directors, she slightly distanced herself just enough that she could still hear what they are all talking about. She observed him and couldn¡¯t help but smile at his figure.


    Somehow... he looks very handsome today.


    This part of his, she couldn¡¯t help but think that he is a really cool person. She would never get tired of watching him like this.


    Then a thought hit her.


    If this was how Lu Chen looked like when he is being the President of the Lu Corporation, she wondered how he looks like when he is in front of his assassin organization as the chief leader, right?


    Does he look three times scarier than this?


    Lu Chen finally finished his conversation with a couple of Directors. When he looked behind him, he saw Xiu Mei looking down at her feet. She looked kind of silly and adorable in his eyes at the same time.


    He smiled and walked over to her.


    "Let¡¯s go?"


    Her head shot up. She looked quite confused at first but she got a grip of her senses quickly.


    "Oh, yes. Yes, of course."


    The two of them strode towards the elevator. Inside, Lu Chen peeked at Xiu Mei¡¯s reflection in the elevator.


    She clearly looked like she was thinking hard about something.


    Lu Chen wondered. What was she thinking so hard about?

 Chapter 141 - Parenting

    <h4>Chapter 141 - Parenting</h4>


    One morning, Xiu Mei finally received the call she had been waiting for for so long. It was a call from her grandfather, informing her of the date of her appointment with Doctor Lee. After the long wait for approval and processing, she was now scheduled for the hypnosis under his supervision.


    "It seems like we¡¯ll have to cancel our ns for this uing weekend." Xiu Mei said as soon as she sat beside Lu Chen in the living room. He was ying something on the tablet with Lu Qiang before bedtime.


    Without looking up to her direction, he spoke.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Grandpa called me. He said I¡¯m scheduled with Doctor Lee this Saturday."


    Hearing that, Lu Chen¡¯s movements paused. Lu Qiang who didn¡¯t understand what they were talking about stopped as well.


    "Mom, are you sick?" His expression turned grave after hearing that his Mom was going to have some appointment with some doctor on Saturday.


    Since he didn¡¯t know the whole context, all he assumed was that his Mom was sick so she needs to get treated by a doctor.


    Without waiting for her answer, Lu Qiang red at his Dad. He put down his tablet and suddenly threw the pillow at him. Lu Chen was obviously surprised when he suddenly threw tantrums. Thest time he was like this, it was before he even met Xiu Mei.


    "Dad, did you overwork Mom again?!" Lu Qiang used. He jumped off from the couch and started beating up his Dad with his small arms. Even though it¡¯s not very painful, Lu Chen still avoided his attacks.


    "Baby, no." Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t able to react in quickly and gasped in surprise when the little kid started beating up his Dad straight up. He didn¡¯t even let him exin or anything. Clearly, Lu Chen was being wronged here.


    Lu Chen grabbed his arms to stop him from hitting him. Xiu Mei stopped him as well.


    "Darling, no. Stop! Mom isn¡¯t sick okay? And it¡¯s not your Dad¡¯s fault." Xiu Mei quickly exined to the kid. She pulled him towards her and clearly exined to him that she was not going to the doctor because she was sick.


    "Are you sure, Mom? You¡¯re not lying to me?" Lu Qiang looked at his Mom doubtfully.


    "Mom swears to you that I¡¯m not lying, okay?"


    "..Mhm. Okay."


    Xiu Mei sighed in relief. Thank god Lu Qiang listens to her so well.


    But before that, she had to do something. Her expression turned serious as she looked at the little kid straight in the eye.


    "But baby, what you did is not good alright?"


    Lu Qiang tilted his head in confusion as if not understanding what she was saying. Xiu Mei patiently exined it to him.


    "You hit your Dad right? Because you were angry? But baby, that¡¯s not good. Even if your father did something wrong, you shouldn¡¯t hit him."


    "But if Dad really overworked you, Mom, then that¡¯s terrible. So I was just hitting him because I thought he hurt you."


    "Lu Qiang, listen to Mom okay? Hitting a.d.u.l.ts are bad. Your Dad may be fine with it but Mommy is not happy seeing you being this disrespectful to your elders. It¡¯s a line that you should not cross, baby."


    She scolded, disciplining Lu Qiang. As a mother, it is her job to point out and correct his mistakes like this one. If she didn¡¯t correct his tantrums like this that he hits the a.d.u.l.ts, then when he grows up, who knows who he might suddenly beat up.


    Besides, Lu Qiang would sometimes forget to respect his father every time he thinks that Lu Chen did something bad to her. She knows very well how much the kid loves her but seeing him treat Lu Chen like this, she couldn¡¯t allow him to continue that.


    She was going to discipline him and correct his bad habits.


    "Then what should I do when I¡¯m angry with Dad?"


    "Ah?"


    Okay, that was an unexpected question.


    Xiu Mei nced at Lu Chen who was sitting close beside her right now. She threw her a look as if asking for help. God knows how she should answer Lu Qiang¡¯s question. I mean, is there even a kid who would ask their mothers what to do if they¡¯re angry with their fathers?


    The only thing she did when she was angry with her Dad was to cry and ignore him until he gives in to her.


    Pausing for a second to think, Xiu Mei thought of the most appropriate answer to his question.


    "Hmm, then when you¡¯re angry with your Dad, you can just ignore him or maybe, talk to him?"


    "Talk to him? But I¡¯m angry with him, why would I want to talk to Dad?"


    Xiu Mei scratched the back of her head. Ah... how should she exin this in simpler terms?


    Thankfully, Lu Chen finally stepped in and pulled the little champ into his arms. Putting him on hisp, he smoothened his messed up hair while speaking in a calm tone.


    "Lu Qiang, just think about this. Imagine that you are angry with Mom. Then what would you do?"


    Lu Qiang widened his eyes as he swiftly shook his head. "No way! I won¡¯t get angry with Mom ever!"


    "I know. That¡¯s why I said just imagine if that happens. Will you ignore Mom?"


    "No!" He strongly shook his head.


    "Then will you hit her?"


    "Mom said a true gentleman never hits a woman."


    "Then what would you do if you¡¯re angry with your Mom?"


    With that question, Lu Qiang was stumped. He stopped to think for a few seconds before answering. "Hmmm... then I will go to Mom and make-up with her."


    "That¡¯s a good answer. Then what about me?"


    "Mhm?"


    "If you¡¯re angry with Dad, then, won¡¯t you go to talk and make-up with me as well?"


    Lu Qiang who was suddenly caught off guard fell silent. He looked at his Dad that was gazing at him so tenderly and suddenly, he felt guilty. He thought, was he being too harsh on his Dad?


    Lu Qiang bowed down his head and fiddled with his fingers. Awkwardly, he realized and understood what his Dad was trying to tell him.


    "Dad, I¡¯m sorry."


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei looked at each other and smiled helplessly. Then Xiu Mei leaned over to Lu Qiang.


    "Baby, why don¡¯t you say that while looking at Daddy¡¯s face, hm?"


    Lu Qiang blinked twice then he obediently listened to his mother. He raised his head and saw his father looking at him as if he was waiting for something.


    "I-I ah, I¡¯m sorry Dad. I shouldn¡¯t have hit you."


    Lu Chen shed a smile at the guilty little kid in his arms and brushed his hair.


    "Dad epts your apology. Just promise us that you won¡¯t do it next time again, okay? Always tell us first then your Mom and I will exin it to you. Understood?"


    This time, Lu Qiang nodded his head. He remembered and noted what his Dad said.


    "Then baby, should we go read you a bedtime story now?" Xiu Mei suggested, trying to lighten up the atmosphere and change the topic.


    The two men in front of her approved of her suggestion. So, with Lu Qiang in Lu Chen¡¯s arms, the three of them went to Lu Qiang¡¯s room. While Xiu Mei was choosing the bedtime story for Lu Qiang, Lu Chen was giving the little kid a shower.


    The tantrums a while ago were thrown at the back of their minds, buried somewhere. After tucking him to bed, the couple left his room and tiptoed back to their rooms. Stopping in front of their doors, Xiu Mie spoke.


    "You¡¯re really a great Dad, Chen." Xiu Mei said, smiling proudly at him. Lu Chen was unprepared for the praise he received.


    "Was I really?" Even though he has been taking care of Lu Qiang ever since he was a baby, even until now, he wasn¡¯t actually sure whether he was doing good parenting as his adopted father. A lot of things, he learned from the inte. The others, he picked up along the way while taking care of him.


    This was actually the first time someone had praised him for being a great Dad. Maybe because not many people knew he was already a father.


    "You are. And you can see that very well with how Lu Qiang grew up. Kids being like that are quite normal, but I¡¯ve seen worse kids before. And I tell you, you really did a great job being his Dad. So don¡¯t doubt yourself that you¡¯re a terrible one." She stepped forward and caressed his cheeks.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t avoid her touch and enjoyed her touch.


    "Parenting is an unfamiliar space for us. Especially the fact that we can¡¯t learn it at all in an academy like we do for work so having you as my partner to depend on like this, I am very much relieved."


    Lu Chen covered the back of her hand that was on his face and smiled.


    "Me too."


    "Oh before we forgot. You¡¯reing right? On Saturday?"


    "Of course, I promise. I¡¯ll be there with you."


    Xiu Mei beamed. "Okay."


    With him by her side, maybe she won¡¯t be too nervous about the procedure at all.

 Chapter 142 - Hypnotherapy

    <h4>Chapter 142 - Hypnotherapy</h4>


    "Your identification please."


    "Right here."


    Lu Chen handed over the two identification cards with him. It was his and Xiu Mei¡¯s. After dropping off Lu Qiang to his mother-inw¡¯s ce, the two of them went straight to the military barracks where Doctor Lee is currently stationed.


    It was pretty far from their ce as it took them eight hours to arrive at the ce. Depending on how long it will take, they might have to spend the night here in this ce.


    "You may go."


    The heavy cement block in front of the vehicle was moved to the side allowing them to enter.


    "We need to turn left right here and go straight for about five minutes to see the headquarters." Xiu Mei dictated to him the directions, pointing out where to turn and where he should avoid.


    She was pretty familiar with the basic strategicyout of the barracks so even if she hadn¡¯t gone here before, she knew the ces which to avoid and the right direction to go.


    They parked just beside a building, their vehicle standing out from a couple of military jeeps parked beside them.


    Lu Chen felt somewhat unfamiliar yet familiar with the atmosphere and environment. It was pretty simr to the training ground back in the underground city. The only difference would be the heavy emphasis on the strictness and discipline he could feel in the atmosphere here.


    Someone was already waiting for them by the entrance of the building. He quickly brought them to Doctor Lee¡¯s office.


    "Sir, I¡¯ve brought them here." The soldier announced after opening the door.


    After bringing them in, he saluted then exited the room. Xiu Mei turned towards the white-coated person who was looking out at the window. He seemed so solemn, along with the slightly dry atmosphere in the room, Xiu Mei felt slightly suffocated.


    "Doctor Lee, it¡¯s been a long time." Xiu Mei opened her mouth first, greeting him. The man turned his head towards her direction. Recognizing that familiar figure, the indifference in his face vanished and was reced with a tender smile.


    Approaching her, he opened his arms wide signaling her to hug him.


    "Little Princess, it¡¯s been so long! You¡¯ve grown up really well." He eximed. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t hesitate and dived in his arms, hugging him.


    Doctor Lee is the oldest brother of her first love, Brother Lee. Both of them chose the military path but different tracks. While Brother Lee followed her Brother Xiu Min as an army soldier, Doctor Lee chose to be a military doctor.


    He was also one of her doctors who would often visit her back then when she had her treatment at the military hospital. Since she stopped her treatment, she hasn¡¯t dropped by at the military hospital even once at all.


    After hugging the little princess tightly, Doctor Lee¡¯s sight transferred to the male she came in with. He didn¡¯t re at him but he wasn¡¯t exactly happy seeing the guy either. His senses were telling him that this guy isn¡¯t as simple as he looks.


    At first nce, he was able to recognize who this guy was. This man was Lu Chen, the president of the Lu Corporation where their little princess is working in. And he also knows that he is the guy she is currently dating.


    After they separated, Xiu Mei introduced Lu Chen next. After a short conversation and check-up, he brought them to the next room that was connected to his office.


    In contrast with the dreary office she saw, the room next door was somehow simr to the ones at their office. She feltfortable and calm seeing the room with various calming colors and pleasing to the eyes.


    Doctor Lee instructed her to sit on the single grey upholstery chair that was just across from him while he told Lu Chen to sit on the long couch at the corner of the room.


    She was already familiar with the treatment since she used to undergo hypnotherapy back when her PTSD was too severe. But this time, instead of repressing her memories, Doctor Lee will be using hypnosis to make her remember her suppressed memories again.


    A few minutester, Doctor Lee started the treatment. Listening to his calming voice as he tells her something, she slowly fell into the dark abyss.


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t sure how long she was out for but she didn¡¯t feel that it was long. It felt like she only blinked for a second when she was put into sleep.


    The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Doctor Lee sitting beside her holding a sketchbook while Lu Chen was grasping her hand firmly. He was even wiping off the sweat on her face while looking at her worriedly.


    She was stillpletely disoriented, unsure whether it was the effect of the hypnosis or if it because she had just woken up from slumber.


    "What happened?" She stopped Lu Chen¡¯s hand that was on her face and asked him.


    On his face is a troubled expression as she examined his face. She knew that something was up after seeing him looking at her like that.


    "You cried." He uttered. Then he pressed the tissue at the corner of her eyes again before adding, "You were crying so hard a minute ago so I¡¯m wiping your tears away."


    She blinked. Her hand was still trembling a little bit but she raised her hand to touch her face. And just like what he said, what she thought was sweat was in fact, her tears. She almost thought that it was just her tearing up a little bit after waking up.


    "Don¡¯t worry, Mei Mei. It¡¯s quite normal for you to cry when you tried to remember your suppressed memories. You¡¯ve actually be better. Before, you would often thrash out even while under hypnosis so we had to stop your treatment multiple times before."


    Doctor Lee exined without looking up from the sketchbook. He was still sketching something with the charcoal pencil he was holding.


    "What is that?" She asked curiously.


    "It¡¯s the sketch of the man you told me."


    "The man...you mean..?"


    After a few more strokes, Doctor Lee stopped. cing the charcoal pencil down on the table beside him, he met her gaze. He looked very solemn when talking with her so she unconsciously reached out and grasped Lu Chen¡¯s hand in an attempt to lessen the nervousness she was feeling.


    "Just like what Lieutenant General Yu requested, I recorded our whole conversation during your hypnosis. And for the man you described while you were asleep, I took the liberty of sketching it." Doctor Lee tore off the page he just finished drawing on and folded it into something small.


    "Do you want to see it? Or should I send it first to the Lt. General?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes were glued on the folded paper on his hands.


    ...should she take a look at it and see if she could recognize that person?


    "Why can¡¯t I remember him though? We unsuppressed my memories but when I woke up, I couldn¡¯t remember anything at all. Was it suppressed again?"


    Doctor Lee helpless shook his head. "That would be very dangerous for you if I remove my previous suggestion and repress your memories in such a short time. That¡¯s why I was originally very against the goal of this hypnosis when the Lt. General brought it up."


    Her eyes widened. "Then do you mean I..."


    He nodded his head to her as if confirming what is running on her mind. "Yes, right now, you are supposed to remember it. But seeing that you still can¡¯t recall anything, then it must mean that this time, without my suggestion, you are suppressing the memory on your own."


    She unconsciously squeezed the hand that she was holding while Lu Chen covered the back of her hand with his other hand, soothing her. He turned towards Doctor Lee and asked.


    "Are there any after-effects that we¡¯d have to be careful for after removing the suppression on her memories?"


    "Normally, the patient would wake up and be too overwhelmed by the emotions that were suddenly dug up within her. It would¡¯ve been very difficult to calm her down at first but looking at Xiu Mei, she doesn¡¯t seem to have any memories at all. So we can somehow assume that even after removing the shackles on her memory, she is now able to suppress it on her own without using my suggestions. However, it also meant that the possibility of her remembering it suddenly would be unpredictable. She may remember it clearly tomorrow, or next week, or even a few years."


    "Is it bad if she remembers the contents of your conversation?"


    "Hmm, that will depend on how the patient will take it in. If she reacts just like how she did when she was asleep, then it would be a bit difficult. But if she¡¯s able to receive it calmly or if she can somehow control her emotions, then it wouldn¡¯t be something to worry about. After all, Xiu Mei was always able to remember most of her traumatic memories."

 Chapter 143 - Man with a scar

    <h4>Chapter 143 - Man with a scar</h4>


    "I¡¯ll leave you two some space so you could talk." Doctor Lee stood up from his seat and exited the room.


    Xiu Mei looked at the folded paper in her hand in a daze. Somehow, she was scared to unfold this paper and see the sketch.


    Lu Chen rubbed her hand while waiting for her to move. He didn¡¯t push her to open it now. Sitting beside her, he patiently waited for her to open that paper on her own. He sat by her side silently, while holding her free hand.


    "If I open this... maybe I¡¯ll remember it?" She murmured. The possibility of her remembering their conversation was high once she unfolds this paper. After all, this person was the main person they talked about while she was still under hypnosis.


    Lu Chen cupped her face making her look at him. "Think about it first. If you¡¯re really sure that you¡¯re ready to see it, then open it. You know I¡¯ll always be on your side whichever choice you make."


    With his response, her heart seemed to feel lighter. Hisforting smile assured her, lessening the nervousness and fear within her. Inhaling deeply, she gathered her courage to open and see the drawing on the other side of the paper.


    Lu Chen watched her unfold the paper slowly before her eyes.


    "This person..." Xiu Mei was stunned.


    "Is it really this person?" She couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing on the paper.


    Isn¡¯t this person one of her grandfather¡¯s cousins?


    Seeing that familiar face etched on the paper, that sharp eyes and tall nose, and that wound on the side of his left cheek. Judging by the familiar scar, she was almost sure that it was the same man that she used to meet back when she was younger during the Xiu family reunion parties held once a year.


    "Do you know him?" Lu Chen peeked at the paper and saw the drawing.


    "Yes, I think so. If I remember it correctly, this man is one of my grandfather¡¯s cousins. Though it¡¯s been years since Ist saw this person. Now that I remember it, I really haven¡¯t seen this person once after my kidnapping incident back then. That¡¯s weird."


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t very familiar with this person since she thought he looked very scary when she was little. She would often avoid him but she could vaguely remember that she saw this person with a scar in one of their previous gatherings.


    If she had met this person in the Yu family parties, she would¡¯ve brushed it off easily since it was pretty normal for soldiers to get scars and wounds in different parts of their bodies. But the Xiu family is more focused on politics, while some of them did go to different paths, it wasn¡¯t amon sight to see at all.


    But to think that he was the person who helped her get inside the funeral back then...what¡¯s his motive?


    "Even after seeing this drawing, I still can¡¯t remember the face of the person back then but if it is really this person then..." Her face darkened a little. Her tone turned somber as she finished her sentence, "...my kidnapping is probably moreplicated than we thought it was."


    If a member of the Xiu family is really involved in her kidnapping, then it¡¯s not something to joke about. Once her father hears about it, she¡¯s afraid that the Xiu family will undergo an intense changes.


    Lu Chen agreed on her statement. After reading the case file that Xiu Mei shared with him, and knowing that the man who helped her got in back then was a distant rtive of the Xiu family, he realized that everything did turn moreplicated.


    It¡¯s a different thing if the person who targeted Xiu Mei is an outsider, but if it was masterminded by a member of her family, then chaos is unavoidable.


    After that revtion, Doctor Lee made her undergo some further tests just in case before letting her go.


    "Then I¡¯ll see you next time, Little princess." Doctor Lee uttered, giving her onest hug before she leaves.


    "Me too. Let¡¯s hang out with my brothers next time."


    Doctor Lee didn¡¯t forget Lu Chen too. He ced his hand on his shoulder, gripping it tightly. Since his body is heavily trained in the army, Lu Chen endured and could only suppress the slight pain that he was feeling.


    "Take good care of her." He lowered his voice and scowled at him.


    After that, the two of them finally left the barracks. Since it was a littlete already, the two of them decided to stay at a hotel for the night.


    Xiu Mei plopped down on the couch as soon as they got inside the presidential suite.


    "I¡¯m so tired." She grumbled, throwing her purse on the carpeted floor without a care. Sheid her head on the soft and fluffy couch pillow and closed her eyes.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen fixed their shoes by the entrance and grabbed the menu. He walked to the couch where his wife is sitting and sat beside her. He grabbed her shoulders and made her lie down on his lip startling her.


    "Wha-"


    Xiu Mei tried to sit up but was stopped when Lu Chen covered her eyes, pushing her back again on hisp.


    "Rest." He pressed, while his hand moving from her eyes towards her hair. He brushed the messy locks scattered on her forehead.


    She opened her eyes, staring at the view of Lu Chen¡¯s chin and face in front of her. She slowly admired the his defined jawline and attractive face. Even if the barracks was a bit hot, she couldn¡¯t smell any trace of sweat at all but instead, he was filled with the scent of mint.


    His familiar scent slowly calmed down her nerves, lowering her guard. She stared at him in a daze, watching him read the menu and pick up the phone to order the food.


    Lu Chen tried his best to ignore her gaze. He acted as if he didn¡¯t notice her gaze on him but he was very distracted while ordering their dinner. Making up his mind, he looked down and met her gaze.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze quivered, but she didn¡¯t look away.


    "What is it?"


    "..Nothing." She replied.


    "You must¡¯ve been very tired. You don¡¯t usually like this." He rubbed her head making her feel morefortable.


    "Why? Do I act differently when I¡¯m not tired?"


    "Somehow. But you usually can¡¯t hold your gaze to me this long when you¡¯re not reporting something work-rted."


    "Is it?"


    "Uhuh."


    Xiu Mei yfully grinned at him and replied, "Then what do you feel right now?"


    "Right now? Mmm..." Lu Chen acted as if he was trying to think. Then he looked at her again and smirked. He lowered his head, stopping a few inches away from her. Xiu Mei froze a little when he suddenly got closer.


    "What¡¯s running on my mind right now is that... I want to kiss you."


    "..."


    "Can I?"


    Xiu Mei blinked. She fell silent after hearing that.


    She could feel her heart racing faster than usual and that familiar ticklish feeling in her chest and stomach. It was strange but this time, she didn¡¯t feel too fl.u.s.tered. Instead, she felt very happy and excited after hearing that. And so, she did not run away.


    "Okay." She murmured.


    Instead of waiting for him to lower down his head, she slightly lifted her head to meet his lips. Lu Chen was in a daze for a few seconds before he started responding to her.


    Xiu Mei voluntarily opened her mouth, letting Lu Chen gain entrance. He didn¡¯t hesitate to dive inside her mouth and savoured her carefully. His kisses were aggressive, as she felt their kisses getting deeper.


    Her hand flew at the back of his head while Lu Chen held hers. His other handnded on her stomach, slowly making its way up her body. He moved away from his lips and started leaving trails of kisses from the corner of her mouth, to her cheeks, to her chin and then to her ears.


    He nibbled on her left ear, earning a m.o.a.n from her.


    The sounds she was making further encouraged him to do more. He kissed the back of her ears and slowly went down. He sucked her skin and left marks everywhere while his hand stopped on her chest.


    Feeling that softness, he threw out the remaining sanity in his mind and squeezed one of them.


    "Ah~!" Xiu Mei was startled from the contact but what came out of her mouth was a seductive m.o.a.n that encouraged him to do more naughty things to her.


    She was panting heavily by then, her mind in a mess not understanding whether she was being turned on by his kissing or by his touches. She grabbed a fistful of his hair unconsciously, trying to cling on whatever she could cling onto. The only thing she thought of was the she was going crazy.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen was falling further and further into the abyss. Yet, he still carefully observed and listened to Xiu Mei¡¯s reactions. He was just about to move back on her lips to suck on it again when he finally noticed something wrong.


    He paused on his movements, pulling away a little bit to look at Xiu Mei¡¯s face. The expression on her face wasplete seduction but this time, he didn¡¯t focus on that.


    What he noticed was the abnormal rhythm of her breathing. No, it wasn¡¯t because she was panting.


    With his hand on her chest, he could feel the difference in her breathing. And right now, he knows that it wasn¡¯t just some simple ragged breathing. Xiu Mei was clearly having a panic attack right now.

 Chapter 144 - Long Night

    <h4>Chapter 144 - Long Night</h4>


    Lu Chen was rmed as soon as he realized that something was wrong with her. He grabbed her by the shoulders and helped her sit up.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei was still in a daze. She desperately clung to Lu Chen¡¯s shirt as her breathing turned ragged. She didn¡¯t know what was happening to her, she felt agitated but she also felt as if she was losing consciousness.


    "Wife, open your mouth. You have to keep it open to breathe." Lu Chen cupped her face, holding her cheeks steady.


    Even though she was getting disoriented every second, she unconsciously listened to his words. She slightly parted her mouth and breathed.


    "Slowly." He murmured while covering her ears. He tried to focus her attention on him as much as possible. "Keep your eyes on me. Then breathe slowly." He lulled.


    Her grip on his shirt tightened and even if her mind was in a mess, she obediently listened to him and took slow deep breaths. Her chest heaved up and down continuously as she counted in her head while keeping her eyes on him.


    She discerned the look of distress on his face as he desperately tried to help her get through with her panic attack.


    Almost an hourter, Xiu Mei returned to normal. Lu Chen never left her side throughout the process and would often whisper her words of encouragement as she tried to breathe properly. By now, it seems that Lu Chen has gotten used to her random episodes and this time, he was quick to notice that there was something wrong with her.


    "The food¡¯s gotten a bit cold so I¡¯ll go reheat these first." Lu Chen said after pushing the cart of food inside the room.


    He had to instruct them to leave the food outside their room first since he couldn¡¯t stand up and open the door for them at all. Also, he didn¡¯t want anyone to see Xiu Mei at that situation so it was the best he could do at that time.


    Xiu Mei nodded. She watched him open the lid one by one and put them on the microwave individually. Since her senses returned, she was somehow still in a daze. Propping her arm on the couch and resting her chin on her hand, she watched him with great interest as he carefully served the foods on the table.


    While doing that, she still couldn¡¯t get it off her mind about her recent panic attack.


    ...I wonder, why did she suddenly get a panic attack?


    She hadn¡¯t even realized that she was having a panic attack at all, not until Lu Chen stopped and told her to open her mouth to breathe.


    To think she was going to have a panic attack in the middle of their...oh. OH!


    Something clicked in her mind, realizing something.


    Maybe... it was that?


    She didn¡¯t have any panic attacks back when she and Lu Chen kissed multiple times before. But if we count that one time she fell in a daze when they made out in Lu Chen¡¯s office, then it makes sense.


    Both times, it was when Lu Chen started touching her. Before he would only deeply kiss her and that¡¯s it. But now, he had started to be more intimate with her. She thought she wasn¡¯t entirely apprehensive with the idea of bing intimate with him but maybe... she was wrong?


    She bit her lip while contemting the reason.


    Was it because she was almost molested back then?


    She didn¡¯t even think much about it at all because she was more traumatized by Ying Yue¡¯s death instead of what she went through. But she thinks that maybe she was taking her PTSD too lightly.


    ...Does this mean that even if she was fine with getting intimate with her husband, somewhere within the depths of her mind, she was deeply traumatized and against getting intimate with males?


    "Let¡¯s eat." Lu Chen casually said as he finished serving the final te on the table. After getting reassured that Xiu Mei was now totally fine, he acted normally as if nothing happened a while ago.


    After all, he didn¡¯t want her to get too conscious about it. If she gets anxious because of that, then she might get more often panic attacks in the future. Hence, the only thing he could do is treat normally as possible as if nothing was wrong with her.


    Seeing her deep in thought, he walked towards her and pinched her cheeks waking her up from her reverie.


    "Dinner is served." He repeated, smiling helplessly at her.


    "Oh. Okay." Xiu Mie scrambled to wear the hotel slippers and ran to the table.


    The two of them separately prepped before sleeping. After drying her hairpletely, she left the bathroom. Sheid down on the bed and tried to get some sleep but she couldn¡¯t. She shuffled on the bed, trying to find afortable position hoping to trigger her snooze button but it didn¡¯t happen.


    ring at the moon that hung heavy on the sky, she sighed.


    She could only scratch and hold her forehead realizing that sleep won¡¯t visit her anytime soon. Since she couldn¡¯t sleep, she pulled out her phone and sent a brief message to her second brother. Better make use of her time into something instead of wasting it.


    She sent him a message about the man with a scar that Doctor Lee drew for her. Since she couldn¡¯t remember who exactly that person is because she didn¡¯t care much back then, her brothers would probably have a better chance of remembering who that person is.


    After waiting for a few minutes, her phone didn¡¯t buzz to life at all. She looked at the time shing on her phone, realizing that it was prettyte.


    Maybe he¡¯s already asleep?


    Could today be one of the rare days that he could sleep this early?


    She wondered. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t bother her second brother any further and ced her phone back on the bedside. Curling on the bed, she hugged her knees while watching the dark nketed sky. She just stared at it without any thoughts.


    Lately, she was having difficulty sleeping. She wasn¡¯t sure whether it was because of the pent up stress from the recent events but surely, it¡¯s one of the factors. The amount of danger and threats she realized she was in, Lu Chen¡¯s secret and now, the person who could possibly be involved in her kidnapping, all these information weighed heavily in her mind. Maybe she was bing too overwhelmed in taking them all in at once that¡¯s why she was getting more vulnerable each day?


    She didn¡¯t know. But right now, Xiu Mei stared at the full moon and silently wished.


    ¡¯Please let this all be over.¡¯ she whispered to no one. Right now, she was desperately praying for this. Because she didn¡¯t know how much longer she could really take all of this anymore.


    She kept staring at the sky like that for a few more minutes.


    ...Should she go check Lu Chen if he¡¯s already asleep?


    Deciding that thought on a whim, she stood up from her bed and left the room in pajamas and all. Her feet stopped in front of his door. She raised her hand to knock on it but she hesitated for thest second.


    What if he was already asleep? Won¡¯t it be bad if she wakes him up?


    She lowered her hand and contemted for a little longer. She didn¡¯t know how many times she walked back and forth in front of his door torn whether to knock on it or not.


    Imagine her surprise when the door suddenly flew open while she was still thinking it over. She stopped on her tracks and turned towards the door. It was Lu Chen¡¯s figure that she first saw. Her eyes subconsciously traveled down, seeing his unbuttoned top revealing his fit and toned chest and abs.


    She gulped while immediately turning her eyes away.


    Oh god, that was too tempting.


    "Wife." Lu Chen uttered with his deep voice. Because he just woke up from his sleep, his voice was already a bit husky and deep than normal. Hearing her footsteps in front of his door, he couldn¡¯t help but wake up from his slumber.


    He was worried that Xiu Mei was probably having another attack again so he didn¡¯t think twice when he opened his door.


    "Uh... did I disturb you?"


    "No, not really. Do you want toe in?"


    "...Can I?"


    With her response, Lu Chen was genuinely startled. His grogginess disappeared in an instant as he slightly frowned at her figure.


    ...It wasn¡¯t like her to say that. Is she probably sleepwalking right now?


    Despite that, he still let her inside his room. Xiu Mei scanned the room first before finally sitting at the edge of the bed. He didn¡¯t immediately sit beside her and stood a safe distance away from the bed.


    Right now, he had just woken up so his control... is probably nowhere to be found. If he gets closer to her right now, he might suddenly jump on her again, and then she¡¯ll have another panic attack. He didn¡¯t want that to happen again so he chose to distance himself for now.


    "I can¡¯t sleep." Xiu Mei whined as ifining to him, fiddling with her hands. Then she raised her head to look at his figure.


    She opened her mouth, hesitating for a second.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be too forward?


    ...But she really can¡¯t sleep ah. And it¡¯s morefortable if he¡¯s beside her for now.


    Making up her mind, she finally said what was on her mind.


    "...Can I sleep with you tonight?"

 Chapter 145 - Tormenting him

    <h4>Chapter 145 - Tormenting him</h4>


    "...Can I sleep with you tonight?"


    "..."


    As soon as those words fell from her mouth, the room fell silent. The husband standing a few meters away from her stiffened in his ce doubting his ears for a few seconds. When they both went silent, Xiu Mei gradually realized the mistake in her wordings.


    Fl.u.s.tered, she immediately corrected it while waving her hands in front of her. Oh my gawd, what was she saying?!


    "No! I meant it literally! Like, sleeping together on the bed. Not the uhm, not the other meaning." She tried exining but somehow, it sounded like she was lying.


    "..."


    "...I-I¡¯ll go back. Sorry for disturbing your sleep."


    So she ran away.


    She stood up and started walking away when Lu Chen finally opened his mouth after staying quiet for a while.


    "Wife." He called, making her stop on her tracks. She had just gotten past him when she paused so she tilted her head a little bit to look behind her.


    "Hm?" She could feel herself blushing from the embarrassing moment earlier.


    "Wife." He repeated.


    "Y-Yes?"


    Then she heard him take a deep breath. "Wife, you always tease me."


    She blinked at his words and pondered about it. Tease him? When did she tease him?


    Before she could reply, he suddenly turned his whole body towards her direction startling her. He started walking closer to her causing her to reflexively step backward.


    "You torment me every time I try to hold back. Just when I¡¯m taking a step back, you suddenly go forward and attack. But when it¡¯s the other way round, you run away. Why?" Lu Chenined to her while approaching her figure.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei felt like crying. Torment? When did she torment him?


    The two of them yed like that until Xiu Mei touched the cold hard wall behind her. With that, she waspletely trapped between the wall and Lu Chen. Putting his arms to stop her from getting away, he stared at her with great intensity.


    She grew nervous. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest and her imagination waspletely running wild. With their current position, it would be really stupid of her not to understand what he was talking about a while ago.


    "Wife, really you.... You¡¯re truly wicked." He sounded like he was ming her but staring back at his intense gaze, it didn¡¯t seem like that at all.


    The room was dark and with the moonlight as the only thing illuminating the room, it even made the room feel more ambiguous. With only half of his face illuminated by the moonlight, she noticed that his gaze visibly darkened. His lips pressed into a thin line as his gaze never left hers.


    She almost thought that she was getting pulled into his gaze, just like a moth attracted to a me. It was a familiar feeling, she¡¯d always feel it every time the two of them gets closer like this. But Xiu Mei knew that tonight, it was a bit different.


    Then his eyes trailed down from her face to her hand. His hand brushed along her arm, making her body tremble subconsciously. It was as if someone was tickling her heart and stomach. He covered her palm and brought it near to his mouth.


    Then with a gaze like a predator, he looked straight into her biting onto her palm.


    "!!!" Her breath hitched.


    No, it was as if all the air in her lungs was knocked out the second he bit on her palm. Her heart pounded crazily and loud as if it was begging to be heard by the person in front of her.


    But Lu Chen didn¡¯t stop there.


    He put out his tongue and licked her palm as if she was ice cream. Then, he brought one of her fingers into her mouth and bit it lightly. He nibbled on it so seductively while never leaving her gaze.


    His intense stare was like a ma preventing her from looking away. It felt like she was being ced under a spell as he continued nibbling on her finger. Then he stopped.


    "Wife, I promise I won¡¯t touch you just like what I did before." He dered.


    At this point in time, her brain already turned into mush and wasn¡¯t properly functioning anymore so his words didn¡¯tpletely register in her mind.


    "But I¡¯ll make you get used to it slowly." Pressing his lips on her palm, he continued. "We¡¯ll do it slowly, until your mind and body befortable with it. With my touches."


    He lowered her hand and ced it on his chest. His skin was warm underneath her cold hands, and she could feel how fast his heart was pounding underneath that skin. She realized. She realized that the two of them are feeling the same at this very moment.


    "Because wife, I can¡¯t take this torment anymore or I¡¯m going to go crazy. So help me, okay?"


    Then he lowered his head, narrowing the distance between their face until their breaths are touching.


    "Hmm?" He almost begged.


    "....Hmm." In a daze, she nodded her head and answered his plea.


    Receiving her positive response, Lu Chen was thrilled. Then without any hesitation, he crashed his lips onto hers.


    He nibbled and licked her lips carefully. He carefully savoured her lips before finally moving on to taste the inside of her mouth. He bit her lower lip with a bit of force, making her gasp in pain. He took this opportunity to invade her mouth and taste her relentlessly.


    Even though he had tasted her for a lot of times already, he was still addicted to her taste. He didn¡¯t hesitate to attack the sensitive ces in her mouth. Keeping his hand behind her head, he slightly tilted his head against her mouth. He pulled her body closer to him, his other hand holding her firmly on the waist.


    Xiu Mei s.u.mbed into his spell and responded to his deep kiss. Both of them fought for domination inside each other¡¯s mouth but Lu Chen, as if the knowledge of kissing was ingrained in him since he was born, won over her.


    The sound of their salivas smacking resounded inside the room. Sometimes, one of them would groan and m.o.a.n unconsciously, making their kisses more aggressive.


    As the room turned more ambiguous, Xiu Mei who was being pressed on Lu Chen¡¯s body felt something hard against her.


    She is an a.d.u.l.t. An a.d.u.l.t mature and knowledgeable enough to know what is that thing she could feel right now. She grew even more nervous knowing how turned on her husband is right now.


    Noticing that his wife was not paying attention to him anymore, Lu Chen bit on her lips again with force. Xiu Mei unconsciously pulled away after feeling the pain, separating their lips leaving a thread of saliva in between them. And as soon as she opened her eyes, she was met with the gaze simr to a wolf.


    Her lips parted as she tried to catch her breath. Without his eyes leaving hers, he grabbed one of her hands that was hugging his neck and carefully held it.


    Slowly, he brushed her hand from his shoulder, to his chest, to his abs, and then it went lower and lower.


    "Wife." His voice was deep and sounded a bit hoarse.


    "Help me?"


    His and her hand paused just before his dangerous ce. She understood what he was trying to say. Her gaze trembled.


    She didn¡¯t know how to respond to his question. It¡¯s not like she can just simply say ¡¯yes¡¯ or ¡¯no¡¯ right?


    Her mind was in a mess. Even though they¡¯re both a.d.u.l.ts, she still couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed and fl.u.s.tered when doing this kind of thing. And right now, he was even asking for...ahhhhh!


    Where¡¯s the part when he said they were going to take it slowly? Which part of this is slow?!


    She was going crazy in her mind but she didn¡¯t show it on her face. She kept her gaze at him while he murmured to her again.


    "No?"


    "..."


    God help her because she really doesn¡¯t know how to answer him.


    A few secondster, Lu Chen finally released her hand. Xiu Mei was a bit confused when he suddenly let her go.


    "Sorry, I said we were going to take it slowly but I got carried away." He cupped her face and whispered that to her.


    "No, I-I.."


    "It¡¯s fine." Then hetched on her lips again.


    He kissed her deeply for the second time but it was more gentle and careful than the first. It also did notst long just like the previous one.


    After pulling away, he dragged her by her hand and made her sit on the bed. He knelt in front of her.


    "Wait for me right here first." Then he stood up and went to the bathroom. A couple of secondster, she heard the shower in function.


    Still in a daze of the aftermath of their intense kissing session, she sat there like an obedient child and didn¡¯t leave the room.

 Chapter 146 - Data Breach News

    <h4>Chapter 146 - Data Breach News</h4>


    Xiu Mei sat at the edge of the bed in a daze wondering what just happened.


    Did she...Did Lu Chen...w-what did they just...?


    Her brain is in a mess as she tried to get her thoughts straight. She held her head and inhaled sharply when she realized the reality.


    ¡¯Did I almost s.u.mb to Lu Chen¡¯s charm that I was so close to agreeing to his request to...help him with his hard-on?¡¯ Is what she thought.


    Remembering that lingering feeling of that hard thing being pressed on her body, she became fl.u.s.tered. Then she imagined her hand on t-that...okay stop! Stop! Cut! Cuuuut!!


    Xiu Mei grabbed the pillow on the bed,id face down, and buried her head on it.


    Fuuuudge. What was she imagining?! Oh my god. Oh my god.


    Is it what marriage is like? Is this what it feels to go past the first base?


    Then when the deed is done, would she be a pervert too? Oh my god.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know whether to bang her head on the wall or hope for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She was going insane with how things unfolded.


    If it wasn¡¯t for her PTSD... wouldn¡¯t she be already eaten dry by Lu Chen now?


    She was too busy going crazy by herself that she didn¡¯t notice how much time had passed already so when Lu Chen stepped out of the bathroom after finishing his cold shower, he was weed by the sight of his wife trying to pull out her hair while lying face down on a pillow on his bed. She was even muttering iprehensible under her breath.


    He threw her a weird look at first but eventually realized why she was acting like that after seeing her blushing face when she raised her head and looked at his direction. As soon as she saw him, she huped and froze for a second before turning her head away quickly avoiding his eyes.


    He chuckled, smiling at her. His wife¡¯s fl.u.s.tered appearance is always so adorable. Even though they¡¯ve been at it for how many times, she would always react as if it was their first time kissing like that.


    Before he got out of the bathroom, he was already properly dressed. This time, he wore a silk satin pajamas set of shirt and trousers. He walked over to where he left his wife and sat beside her. She was still lying on the bed with her back facing him.


    He extended his arm over her body and ruffled her hair.


    "Wife,e on."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei was too embarrassed to face him right now. Keeping her head on the pillow, she refused to give him a response.


    "Wife." He called her again.


    "..."


    Nope. She¡¯s not facing him again tonight. No. Not ever.


    Damn it, she should¡¯ve escaped the room while he was still in the bathroom! Why did she only think about that now?!


    "Wife." This time, he lowered his hand and patted her on her shoulder. Her shoulder jumped in surprise from the contact.


    "..."


    Lu Chen let out a half-heartedugh while trying to suppress himself frompletelyughing.


    She was always like this with him. Every time after they kiss, or when they get somehow intimate, she would always be too embarrassed to face him. And every time, he would let her run away.


    This time, he won¡¯t let her go back to her room. Since he¡¯s nning to take their rtionship to the next level and make her stay with him for a very long time, he has to make her get used to him.


    At least, make herfortable sleeping with him in one room. No, not the ambiguous meaning. Just really the literal meaning of sleep.


    Then maybe, in the next few days, they can now stop sleeping in separate room, right?


    Still not receiving any response from her, he finally made up his mind.


    Lu Chen climbed on the bed and stopped in the middle. Facing Xiu Mei¡¯s body, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her.


    Xiu Mei shrieked when she was suddenly lifted.


    What the hell is he doing?!


    She panicked for a second thinking whether he was nning something devious and naughty again but instead, she was more surprised with what he did next.


    After lifting her up, he pulled her up higher on the bed, and while hugging her waist, dragged her back on the bed. After finally positioning themselves in the middle of the bed, he wrapped his arm underneath her head, and the other on her waist.


    He was hugging her from the back and his headid very closely on her nape. He stuck so close to her that she could even feel his warm breath tickling her.


    "Goodnight, my wife." He whispered. He left a fleeting kiss on the slightly exposed skin on her shoulder.


    Oh... so he was just pulling to her sleep.


    ...this time the literal meaning. She thought he was going to be a wolf again ah.


    "Goodnight, Chen." She responded. His arm around her waist tightened in response. She looked at the arm around her waist and thought for a second before finally cing hers over his arm.


    Patting it lightly at first then she just left her armying there over his arm. This way, it was like she was hugging him back.


    Shifting her head a little bit, shefortably settled on his arm and closed her eyes.


    The sleep that never visited her an hour ago is now pulling her consciousness away.


    The next morning, while the two of them were having their breakfast, she was disturbed by the call of her assistant again.


    "Hello?"


    "Ms.Xiu, we have a problem!"


    Normally, Xiu Mei would have responded something silly to her by now but hearing her assistant¡¯s serious voice on the other line, she held herself back. Her hand that was spreading the butter on her toast paused as she tightened her hold on her phone.


    "What is it?"


    "The data breach from a few weeks ago was leaked to the press!"


    "The what?!" Xiu Mei stood up from her seat and quickly turned on the t-screen television in the living room. After switching it to the news channel, she can see their building with the Lu Corporation signage shing on the screen.


    Lu Chen who also saw it paused and stood up from his seat.


    The reporter was borating about the data breach that the Lu Corporation suffered from weeks ago and she watched that reporter exaggerate the information too much as if it was a massive data breach.


    Clearly, someone was deliberately trying to smear their name at this point.


    "Connect me with the PR team and the Legal team in fifteen minutes. Do we have a submitted report on this already?"


    "Not yet. The news was just publicized ten minutes ago so we haven¡¯t had the chance to investigate who leaked this to the press."


    "Okay. Then investigate who gave it away and as much as possible, I want it done within half the day."


    "Copy that. I¡¯ll inform the other teams now."


    Then her assistant hung up the call. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t stop there and dialed Lu Shao next.


    "I saw the news." Was what Lu Shao replied as soon as he picked up the call.


    "Let¡¯s split up the task. I¡¯ll work with the Legal team and PR team on how we¡¯ll respond to this but we need to suppress the news as much as possible right now. I¡¯m a bit tied at the moment but I¡¯ll see what I can do in a short time."


    "Okay. Does the president already know this?"


    Xiu Mei nced at Lu Chen whose face darkened as he watched the news.


    "Yeah, and he¡¯s not very happy seeing it at the moment. Okay, um, since we¡¯ve agreed on splitting up the task. I¡¯ll pass the baton to you first and I¡¯ll get back to you once I¡¯ve spoken with the other team. My assistant is going to find out who leaked this to the media so you might need to help her with that as well."


    "I understand. Then I¡¯ll revert back to you in a few hours."


    "Okay. Thank you."


    As soon as their call finished, she turned to Lu Chen and approached him. Touching his arm, she calmed him down.


    "I¡¯ll report to youter once we¡¯ve fixed this temporarily today. We¡¯ve already started a formal investigation who did this." She said.


    "I might know who did this." Every word that came out of his mouth was filled with anger.


    "Who?"


    "I¡¯ll exin it to youter."


    Then Lu Chen stepped back to grab his phone and then he started calling someone.


    "Watch the news. Thenunch an investigation whether it was done by that person who did the hacking a few weeks." He instructed.


    Xiu Mei who was listening to his words realized who he was talking to.


    Was it his people in the underground city?

 Chapter 147 - Insider

    <h4>Chapter 147 - Insider</h4>


    Since they didn¡¯t bring anything with them at all aside from their extra clothes, they quickly checked out of the hotel. While Lu Chen busily processed their check out, Xiu Mei was connected on a voice call with the PR team and Legal team.


    "Then send me the draft statement on my inbox and I¡¯ll go over it quickly. For the other specifics, how long do we need before we can get that?"


    "Then let¡¯s go with that. I¡¯ll be on standby if something arises so tell me if something happens."


    "No, that is too risky. We¡¯ll release it once we¡¯ve got a rough idea of the gravity of this whole mess."


    "Yeah, I¡¯ll keep in touch."


    After dropping the call, Xiu Mei skimmed through her emails and read each report she received from the other department rted to the data breach news.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen kept his attention on quickly driving back home. He needed to get back quickly to also receive the reports from his men whether this leak is rted to that person.


    Within 3 hours, they were back home. Lu Qiang would have to extend his stay at her parents¡¯ mansion for now because of this emergency. They didn¡¯t have enough time to drop by their ce to pick him up.


    An official statement has been released to ease the public tension. The statement was based on the results of their investigation back then, and the Lu Corporation is now targeting to release another statementter in the day for further discussion.


    Thankfully though, the bacsh wasn¡¯t as heavy as they thought it would be. The n of refunding the customers back then worked and somehow eased the tension between thepany and the customers.


    Xiu Mei was still reading a couple of articles on herptop when she heard a knock. She and Lu Chen are currently staying in the study room while working on resolving this issue.


    "Come in." She said.


    The door opened and revealed unfamiliar figures. Two people entered the room and slightly bowed down their heads towards Lu Chen¡¯s direction and sensing her presence as well, they bowed to her as well.


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion as she examined the two strangers in front of her. Who are they?


    As if he read what¡¯s on her mind, Lu Chen introduced his two subordinates.


    "This is Ming Xuan, the third-ranking...keeper of the organization and Lee In, the seventh keeper." Lu Chen did a short pause when he introduced Ming Xuan. He hesitated for a second when the word that almost came out of his mouth was ¡¯assassin¡¯, but then he quickly changed it to ¡¯keeper¡¯.


    Even though Xiu Mei is already aware of their assassin organization, introducing her to the top three and top seventh killers would surely be overwhelming for her.


    "It is an honor to meet you, Young Madam." The two subordinates lowered their heads to her direction once more.


    "...Thanks, and there¡¯s definitely no need to call me Young Madam. Just Xiu Mei would be fine, I think." She replied. Hearing them call her Young Madam was very awkward for her. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re even working under her.


    Besides, when Lu Chen introduced them to her and even though he tried to make it sound nicer for her, she already got the gist of what these two people do in the organization. The third and seventh keeper... meaning the both of them have high positions in Lu Chen¡¯s organization. Meaning, they¡¯re one of the top assassins.


    Yep, it¡¯s better to stick with the ¡¯keeper¡¯ term then. She couldn¡¯t deny that sounded way better than being called an assassin. Though that¡¯s not really that degrading even.


    After that short introduction, the two of them went and discussed the results of their investigation to Lu Chen.


    "The people we nted at the person¡¯s side tried snooping in if they were the ones who leaked it to the press but it seems like this time, it wasn¡¯t their work." Ming Xuan exined.


    "We¡¯ve also done our own investigation within the Lu Corporation regarding the data leak. The trace reverts back to one of the Lu Corporation¡¯sputers in City B."


    Xiu Mei who was also listening in on their report was startled.


    It waspletely different from the report she received from the IT team. The investigation report showed that the virus was nted thru their website when someone registered their ount. And so they tightened their security and improved their captcha setups for the registrations. The overall conclusion was it was done by an outsider.


    This was also the rough idea of the official announcement thepany will be releasingter tonight. And now she¡¯s hearing that the investigation report done was not even right?!


    "Is that true?" She couldn¡¯t help but interject in their conversation. She stood up from her seat and stood beside Lu Chen.


    "Was it really nted by one of our staffs?" She pressed.


    The two people nodded.


    Xiu Mei heaved in shock and disappointment. She felt her head ache and so cradled her forehead and massaged her temples.


    My god. If this is the truth then she should really do a double take on the official statement releaseter tonight. She can¡¯t just go and announce to the public that it was done by a Lu Corporation employee else they would receive a terrible bacsh from the general public and they might even be called on to the court because this is an information sensitive case.


    Damn it, why did it even get moreplicated? They even haven¡¯t found out who leaked this to the press.


    Lu Chen observed Xiu Mei¡¯s expression change. This truth definitely caused her some stress and shock but for Lu Chen, he wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    He was already quite sure that some Lu Corporation employees are spies nted either by theirpetitors or Lu Chen¡¯s enemies. Hence, the possibility of this being an inside job was on the top of his list.


    "Then who did this? Who was responsible for nting this virus?" Xiu Mei asked. This time, her gaze turned towards him as if she already knew that he knows who was behind the attack.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t keep the truth from her.


    "It was done by the current Prime Minister¡¯s younger brother, Yu Ming Xi."


    And if that fact wasn¡¯t enough to shock Xiu Mei, Lu Chen dropped another bomb.


    "And that same person was also the one responsible for the death of Lu Qiang¡¯s parents."


    Meanwhile, in some mansion somewhere.


    Ying Wan Wanzily sat on the couch in her room. The room was filled with the scent of cigarette and alcohol. The television was turned on, shing the news from this morning in repeat. She let out a half-heartedugh everytime she sees the Lu Corporation¡¯s logo and carefully swirled the wine ss on her hand.


    "I wonder if I should have sent a note that this was the third gift." She muttered under her breath. She switched open her phones and read the articles rted to the Lu Corporation and let out a mockingugh while enjoying reading thements section.


    Though she wasn¡¯t the person behind the data breach, it was still a useful piece that she can use against Xiu Mei. Though it would just put a slight dent on thepany, it would be enough to shake them all up for now. After all, she still has majestic ns for that bitch.


    The door of her room opened, revealing Albert Chen¡¯s figure.


    "Miss," He respectfully greeted her. Ying Wan Wan stared at his figure for a few seconds before cing down the wine ss and phone on her hands. Her spaghetti strap nightdress slipped off slightly on her shoulders giving Albert a slight peek on the attractive view underneath it.


    "Come here."


    Albert quicklyplied and stopped before Wan Wan. She didn¡¯t hesitate and tugged on his shirt pulling him down with her on the couch. She hovered above him and licked her lips.


    "Good work. Do you want your prize?" She dipped her head and whispered in his ears.


    She didn¡¯t even wait for his answer when she started unbuckling his pants. Touching that bulging area, she slipped her hand inside while her other hand was bitten onto his mouth.


    "Seems like it was all worth it getting close to the Prime Minister¡¯s daughter." Wan Wan uttered as her hand made wonders on little Albert¡¯s.


    Underneath her, Albert Chen s.u.mbed to her charm like a drunk man enticed by the beauty.


    "It was sessful because who knew the Prime Minister¡¯s daughter was so easy to seduce. One dinner was all it took for her topletely surrender in our hands." Albert replied as he groaned. He wasn¡¯t even one least bit guilty when he honestly said that he seduced Yu Zhen Zhen and cheated with her.


    After that, Albert Chen was thrilled to receive the prize of his efforts under his Miss.

 Chapter 148 - Advantage

    <h4>Chapter 148 - Advantage</h4>


    "What? The Prime Minister¡¯s younger brother was the person behind their deaths?!" Xiu Mei pped her hand on the table as she raised her voice. She stared at Lu Chen in disbelief.


    "Is that the truth?"


    "Yes." Lu Chen affirmed.


    This was what he found out a few days after the police closed his cousin¡¯s case years ago. He started snooping around that person but he was more powerful than him back then. He lost a lot of men when he tried to dig around that person so he had no choice but to temporarily halt his investigation on him.


    Back then, he had just received the title as the chief leader of The de hence his power wasn¡¯t fully stabilized yet. He wasn¡¯t as strong as he is right now, and not many people supported him. The underground city was also in chaos and it was still under the leadership of a different organization.


    And then the demise of some of his men put his position as the chief leader of the assassin organization in danger. So he did what he had to do first. Solidify his position as the chief leader and be the main leader in the underground world. It had taken him years to do this and after stabilizing his position, the first thing he did was to resume the investigation of his cousin¡¯s death.


    Resuming this investigation means putting himself and Lu Qiang in danger once again. That¡¯s why he had to put Lu Qiang under strict surveince even back then when he was still little. He was afraid that that person would use this child against him to stop the investigation.


    And then when he resumed his investigation on that person, his family had already entered one of the highest positions in the government. It made his investigation more difficult because a higher position granted that person more power to cover-up all the secrets he wanted to hide.


    Xiu Mei covered her mouth.


    She knew that some politicians do have their own secrets to hide but murder... she can¡¯t just pass it off as some normal dirty secret at all. And to think that the Prime Minister¡¯s younger brother ordered to kill a person, it seems like he¡¯s been unting his family¡¯s power so discreetly.


    "Then when you mean that Lu Qiang is in danger, do you mean that Yu Ming Xi is already aware of his existence? And why would he kill an innocent child when he already achieved what he wanted to do when he killed his parents?" Xiu Mei uttered.


    Seeing her emotions fluctuating too much, Lu Chen immediately tried to calm her down. He held her by her hand and made her sit back on the couch. Sitting beside her, he patted her back trying to ease her.


    "He is unaware of his existence. He only knew that I¡¯m rted to my cousin, and when I started monitoring him then set him up right after, he immediately hit back with the attack in our database. I doubted him at first since the attack wasn¡¯t on arge scale at all but maybe, this was his aim all along."


    "But your subordinates just confirmed that the leak to the press wasn¡¯t his doing."


    "Yes, but he¡¯s a cunning man. He knows a lot of people are trying to nt their own spies in ourpany. He must have been betting on that thenter, someone would use this against us."


    "That¡¯s... actually usible. Then I should probably start with the cleanup within thepany and across all regions."


    "Not yet." Lu Chen disagreed.


    "But why?"


    "They¡¯re still useful for us."


    "But that person is using them against us! Right now, we¡¯re like a pig waiting to be ughtered if we keep all of them."


    "But those spies would be easier to identify than finding out which one is the spy that Yu Ming Xi nted here in ourpany."


    Xiu Mei paused. She couldn¡¯t refute that.


    He was right. It would be more dangerous if once they start purging the spies within thepany, Yu Ming Xi would start nting his own men here. Then once he does that, it would be difficult to identify which one he nted to monitor them. That would make it more dangerous either for thepany and for Lu Qiang.


    "Then what should we do?"


    Lu Chen turned to his two subordinates. "Identify who are the rats within thepany. Then we¡¯ll decide what to do with them next time. Right now, we need them to be useful for that person. We can¡¯t let him get through in our defenses."


    "Roger that, Master." Ming Xuan and Lee In answered.


    "Keep an eye on his actions and alert me if he makes a move."


    "Understood."


    After giving out his instructions, the two left the room.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei had her fingers on her chin as if she was thinking hard about something. Seeing this, Lu Chen looked at her in distress and reached out to ruffle her hair in an attempt to distract her. He revealed this to her because she has every right to know about this now that his other ¡¯work¡¯ is already known to her. But he didn¡¯t want her to overthink this since she already has a lot of problems to worry on her own. She was already in enough danger and now, he was telling her that she was in even more danger than she already knows.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep you both safe." He said in assurance.


    Xiu Mei felt slightly annoyed when he kept messing her properlybed hair so she held him by the wrist and tilted her head a little bit.


    "I know. But that¡¯s not what I¡¯m thinking about."


    "Then what?"


    "When you married me..." She paused for a second. "Is this part of the reasons why you wanted to get married to me?"


    It was just originally a passing thought when it hit her. She wasn¡¯t too worried about if this was part of the reasons why Lu Chen chose to marry her but she would surely feel slightly hurt if it really is.


    She already knew that the person who would get married to her would have the opportunity to gain some standing. A family hailing from military and politics? Who wouldn¡¯t want that right?


    Lu Chen immediately shook his head and defended himself. He didn¡¯t want her to misunderstand him. He didn¡¯t intend to make her think that he married her just because he wants to gain the power that her family has.


    "No, that thought never urred my mind when I married you, wife." He grasped her shoulders to make her look at him. Then he held her hand firmly and looked straight to her.


    "Never, ever did I think of using you for that reason when I married you. At first, I thought that you would be the best choice to be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother so I proposed to you. But after that, I genuinely thought that I just wanted to marry you even without those reasons. I wanted to protect you and keep you beside me. It never urred to me to exploit you in anyway at all." He cleared up.


    It was never his intention to hurt her like that.


    Yes, that person he¡¯s investigating is quite powerful. But it¡¯s not like it was the only person he¡¯s enemies with. He already faced countless enemies in his life that are more violent and ruthless than him but he never had to use someone like Xiu Mei to gain the upper hand.


    If he would use someone, he would never create ties with that person because creating ties with him/her would just make him feel guilty.


    So marrying Xiu Mei was just his pure desire to stay by her side and take care of her.


    Seeing him slightly panicked when she asked him that question, Xiu Mei smiled helplessly at him. This guy must have thought that she would get angry and disappointed so he quickly cleared it up for her.


    She felt touched and hearing his exnation, she felt thrilled. At least, it wasn¡¯t in his n to use her family like that at all.


    But as her wife and family, and the situation right now, it was an advantage that she wants him to use.


    She caressed his cheek and smiled tenderly.


    "Chen, let¡¯s inform my Dad about this?" She suggested.


    "Wife, it¡¯s fine. I just told you that I don¡¯t n on using you like this." He retorted.


    "But this is what I want. I want to help you, but on my own, I¡¯m not exactly useful in that area. It¡¯s my father¡¯s and brother¡¯s domain so I want to request their help. Besides, if they are the ones monitoring his actions then he wouldn¡¯t think that it¡¯s connected to you at all. Even if we¡¯re family byw, he¡¯d just think that we are keeping tabs on him for political use."

 Chapter 149 - His Personality

    <h4>Chapter 149 - His Personality</h4>


    Xiu Mei continued convincing Lu Chen on getting help from her father. After all, it is her father who knows politics way better than anyone in their family. Then her second brotheres second.


    Their conversation was immediately cut off by the sound of Xiu Mei¡¯s phone. Her attention darted to her phone and saw her assistant¡¯s name shing on the mobile screen.


    Ah! She almost forgot. She¡¯s supposed to be working right now in resolving the data leak issue.


    She was too focused on Lu Chen and Lu Qiang¡¯s issue that shepletely forgot thepany issue that she should be prioritizing right now.


    She lightly pped her forehead. But then something hit her.


    She narrowed her eyes at the man in front of her. Hey... isn¡¯t this guy supposed to be the one who should be worrying the most right now?


    He¡¯s acting as if he wasn¡¯t the president and CEO of the Lu Corporation ah. Or did he forget his own position?


    Xiu Mei rang for the sixth time cutting her train of thoughts. She immediately picked up her phone and answered.


    "Hello?"


    "Ms.Xiu, I¡¯ve already sent the results of the initial investigation on your email."


    "Good. Then I¡¯ll get back to you once I finish reading it. How is everything on your side?"


    "Mr. Lu Shao and I are currently suppressing the news. The official statement we released slightly eased the public but we would need to release another official statement very soon."


    "I¡¯ll work on that with the other department. For now, monitor all movements across all branches and the stock market. I need everything on the report this week so we can take the necessary actions."


    "I will take note of that."


    "Okay. Then get back to me if you get any significant results in the investigation then."


    Xiu Mei dropped the call and returned to herptop. She opened the inbox and swiftly read the initial report regarding who leaked the data.


    As she expected, it is the work of someone from within thepany. From the very beginning, Xiu Mei was already suspecting all the employees involved and who knew about the data breach. But the number of suspects was too high and they needed to narrow them down first.


    Her assistant narrowed down the list by ten people. It was still a lot but it¡¯s way better than before. She even saw Asst. Marketing Director and the nning Director on the list.


    Xiu Mei paused. Her eyes darted to the nning Director¡¯s name on the list.


    ...Why is he on the list?


    She can recall calling for an emergency meeting with the relevant Directors involved on the issue. But she was pretty sure that the nning Director wasn¡¯t included in that meeting.


    As far as anyone¡¯s concerned, she strictly ordered the people who are aware of the data breach to not let it spread to other people. Was someone that loose-lip in some teams?


    "How is it?" Lu Chen asked.


    When he asked, the first thought that Xiu Mei thought was: Does he finally remember now that he¡¯s the president?


    She didn¡¯t speak aloud of her thoughts. Instead, she scooted closer to Lu Chen then shifted herptop to his direction so she could read the content.


    "What about Lu Shao?"


    "He is still suppressing the news. Do we pull him out and make him handle the investigation?"


    "Yeah, have him spearhead the investigation instead. We need a shorter turnaround time this time since this case is quite sensitive."


    "Okay. I¡¯ll message him that."


    She briefly pulled out her phone and sent a short message to Lu Shao.


    "What about the official statement for releaseter? Do we have to hold that as well?"


    "Why?"


    "Because the real investigation report was that the data breach was done by one of our employees? Who knows if we reveal our previous report and then,ter on, the true report gets revealed to the public. That would be too problematic, no?"


    "But that would only be possible if Yu Ming Xi or anyone from his people reveals that right?"


    Xiu Mei paused to look at Lu Chen in confusion. His words sounded like he was onto something?


    "...Yeah." She nodded hesitantly. "That¡¯s why that would be a problem for us right?"


    "But I don¡¯t think Yu Ming Xi would be interested to reveal that to the world. Do you know why?"


    Xiu Mei stopped to think.


    Why would Yu Ming Xi not reveal it to the public? It¡¯s a really good chess piece, right? Especially if he¡¯s aiming to take down the power of Lu Chen in the business industry. Wouldn¡¯t that be a great spectacle for him to watch?


    Not that she was implying that she wants to see that ah. She doesn¡¯t want to lose her job anytime soon.


    But since Lu Chen is kinda implying that Yu Ming Xi isn¡¯t interested in revealing that to the press, then why?


    If his goal is not to suppress and take down the Lu Corporation then... is it just a warning?


    That kinda feels right too. Since the damage done wasn¡¯t exactly that big at all. It was akin to a small dent on their image that¡¯s still pretty fixable.


    What¡¯s Yu Ming Xi¡¯s goal?


    Xiu Mei thought hard about it. She recalled all the news she read about the Prime Minister¡¯s younger brother. And then the handful of times she saw him in the parties she attended before.


    Just like any other politician, at first nce, he looks like a good person and docile. She knew about the donations and charities he did and he wasmonly seen helping the citizens when there were disasters and simr events.


    Yu Ming Xi has a very good image in public. He has quite a good resume too as if he was nning to...ah.


    Xiu Mei swiftly turned her head towards Lu Chen again. She looked at him with wide eyes as if she was asking if what she was thinking was the right reason.


    "Figured it out?" Lu Chen chuckled when he saw that look on her face.


    "Kinda... is it because of his personality?"


    It was the only answer that she could draw out as of the moment.


    Just like what she realized, Yu Ming Xi is a person who has a very good resume. He likes to achieve big things that would surely leave mark on people. Meaning, he¡¯s proud of aiming and achieving big goals.


    Then, it must be the same with his secret activities. A man who likes leaving his mark on people, even if in secret, he would still aim for that same goal when he does illegal stuff. His name may not be on it, but he would surely want it to be big enough to be remembered. Or something that he could add on his grandiose list of activities.


    Lu Chen proudly smiled at his wife. His wife is so intelligent ah. He only implied that Yu Ming Xi does not have the intention to reveal it and she already figured it out. She didn¡¯t even ask for another hint at all.


    "Yes. I¡¯ve been watching his activities in secret for quite a while and he is definitely akin to a grand performer. He likes to go big and he finds fun on that. In the underground city, he would sometimes mingle with some people there and he likes to ster his name in some of the famous activities there."


    "For real? He¡¯s that rash there?"


    "What happens in the underground city, stays in the underground city is what they like to say there."


    "Is that a rule?"


    "Not exactly. But it is something that holds back some people there especially if you have enemies. It¡¯s something like a line that they shouldn¡¯t cross else, it¡¯s chaos both in the underground and here."


    "But is Yu Ming Xi always involved in underground activities?"


    "Not that much. He likes a wider audience so he likes to go public on his activities. Otherwise, he¡¯ll trample on somepanies or people that target him."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes twitched. Hearing that now, it feels like Yu Ming Xi is somehow of narcissistic. If he likes big audiences and to leave a mark, then surely, he¡¯s the type to enjoy receiving praises.


    "Based on that, the reason you thought that he wouldn¡¯t reveal his move on Lu Corporation because the attack isn¡¯t big and grand enough to be added on his grandiose resume huh?" Xiu Mei concluded from their conversation.


    "Exactly."


    "He sounds like a creepy guy." She hugged her arms and felt a cold chill on her spine. "If he¡¯s that bad, wouldn¡¯t that be enough to be diagnosed with a severe mental problem instead?"


    Lu Chen almostughed at how she described that person. Is she implying that he is crazy enough to be put on a mental institution?


    Though it¡¯s not like she¡¯s wrong though. He very much agrees with her on that one.

 Chapter 150 - Story behind the scar

    <h4>Chapter 150 - Story behind the scar</h4>


    Aftering to a decision, Xiu Mei and Lu Chen chose to release the original results of their investigation. The PR team drafted the official statement from that report and Xiu Mei did a final check on it before it was finally released on their website.


    It was already nighttime when her second brother¡¯s car arrived in their home.


    "Thanks for dropping him off, second brother." Xiu Mei uttered as soon as her second brother dropped off his nephew. Since she and Lu Chen were still busy handling thepany issue, she had to call her home and have them drop Lu Qiang at home instead.


    "No problem. Mom hogs all the time with him at home so it was a good opportunity for me to have him all for myself when dropping him off here." Xiu Mo Ruo replied. He was carrying the napping Lu Qiang in his arms after ying so much with the dogs in the morning and with Xiu Mo Ruo.


    "I¡¯ll carry him."


    "It¡¯s fine. He¡¯s already a bit heavy for you so I¡¯ll carry him inside instead. Anyways, will everything be fine? How¡¯s it going on your side?"


    Xiu Mei ushered her second brother inside.


    "Chaotic but manageable. I think it¡¯ll be fine and Lu Chen is currently taking over some of the stuff I was doing right now so he¡¯s kinda stuck in the study for a while. Ah, I think we should put Lu Qiang back to his room."


    Xiu Mo Ruo adjusted his hold on Lu Qiang while climbing up the stairs. He carefullyid the little kid down on his bed upon arriving at his room. Xiu Mei carefully removed his shoes and socks so that he won¡¯t wake up.


    After tucking him in properly, Xiu Mei brought her second brother back to the living room. The maid served a cup of tea for both of them right after they sat down on the couch.


    Xiu Mei picked up the cup and took a sip. "Did Doctor Lee inform all of you of the results yesterday?"


    "Yeah. Dad was really furious when he saw the results."


    "Well, even though we had suspicions that someone from our family was involved. It still doesn¡¯t feel good to know that someone of our own blood is trying to kill me. Anyhow, did you see my message yesterday?"


    "I did. Though I can¡¯t really say that I remember that person that well too. Dad doesn¡¯t even know where exactly that guy is right now. Grandfather Xiu said that thest news that he heard from him was that he moved to the United States."


    Then Xiu Mo Ruo paused as if he remembered something. Xiu Mei quickly caught up on him and leaned closer to her brother.


    "What?"


    "I just remembered something about that guy actually. Though I¡¯m not quite sure if I¡¯m remembering it right though." He put his hand in his chin while he was thinking. He frowned, trying to recall that memory.


    "What is it?"


    "It¡¯s about how that person got his scar on his face. I think I remember hearing that when we eavesdropped ime when we yed at Grandfather Xiu¡¯s ce before."


    Xiu Mei recalled the sketch she saw and the distinct scar that she saw on the paper. It was that very scar that made her recognize that guy as well since he stood out among all their rtives back then.


    "I think he got that scar from a car ident many years ago. I¡¯m not sure what exactly happened but I think someone died in that ident too."


    "A car ident?"


    Xiu Mei tilted her head. She realized that what her brother was saying sounded familiar too. It seems like she also heard that story as well but she can¡¯tpletely remember the story at all. After all, she was really young when she heard it.


    "Yeah, but when we heard that, I think Grandpa was talking--no, more like having a heated argument with someone?"


    "Arguing? Who did he argue with?"


    "That guy, grandfather¡¯s cousin. Hmm, let me think about it." Xiu Mo Ruo paused. Since that part of his memory was already a bit hazy, and he didn¡¯t consider it that important back then so he couldn¡¯t remember much at all.


    If it was his twin, then surely he might be able to recite even the dialogues of the whole argument. Between the two siblings, Xiu Min was the one who remembers things very well just by hearing and reading it once.


    "Ah! I think it was because of a woman. Then it was the sound of something crashing. Then grandfather yelled to him that it wasn¡¯t his doing or something along those lines. Sorry, I don¡¯t exactly remember the whole context." Xiu Mo Ruo tried hard to remember the bits and pieces.


    Xiu Mei tried to piece together what her second brother shared with her.


    Her grandfather Xiu and that person argued because of a woman? And then he said that he didn¡¯t do it? Hmm...


    Xiu Mei fell into contemtion.


    Weird. Why does it feel like she was forgetting something important? Like something was ringing inside her head but she couldn¡¯t recognize it?


    "If it¡¯s about a woman,... maybe that guy has a wife or a girlfriend? I doubt it¡¯s marriage though since we would¡¯ve remembered if we attended his wedding ceremony." Xiu Mei replied.


    "Me too. I don¡¯t think they got married unless they got married in secret. Or maybe he has a different rtionship with that woman?"


    "Could be. But then why did that person go abroad? Did grandfather mention something about it?"


    "Not exactly. But I think that person moved to the United States to handle some business there. He never returned to the country again afterward. Well, keeping that in mind. Maybe that¡¯s not even the reason why he moved abroad. Maybe he was trying to escape and hide in the United States once we figure out that he¡¯s involved in your kidnapping. After all, he moved after that incident." Xiu Mo Ruo voiced out his assumptions after analyzing the facts and the information that they have.


    Xiu Mei nodded, agreeing to his spections. What her second brother drew out from the results was highly possible to be the truth.


    Then she suddenly remembered the most important part.


    "But didn¡¯t you say that Grandfather Xiu¡¯sst news about him was when he moved away?"


    It¡¯s a problem she realized just now. Doesn¡¯t this mean that they don¡¯t even know where is that person right now?


    Isn¡¯t that a really big problem?


    What¡¯s the use of knowing that he has involvement in her kidnapping if they don¡¯t know where he is and they won¡¯t be able to question him at all?


    "I know. That¡¯s why both Mom and Dad are currently mobilizing their connections abroad so they could locate him. It might even take a while too since we¡¯re not even sure if he¡¯s really still in the United States or he returned to the country without us knowing."


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei fell silent for a moment as she pondered about her options.


    "Then I¡¯ll use my contacts as well. If it¡¯s about international connections, who among all of us have the best contacts? Maybe we could consider it my domain?" She offered.


    Even though her parents have extensive contacts and a good rtionship with some people internationally, among their family, the one who would probably have the best connections would be her and Xiu Mo Ruo.


    Her second brother would often travel for diplomacy rted matters because of his connections with some high ranking officials in various countries. As for Xiu Mei, in the four years of being Lu Corporation¡¯s secretary, her extensive connections to various people are not limited to businessmen but also some high profile people as well.


    She even developed some rtionsh.i.p.s with some foreigners for some materials they need for their clothing lines before. If wepare to her second brother, she would be the best choice in gaining contacts abroad.


    "Will you be okay with that?" Xiu Mo Ruo frowned, worrying whether it was too much to make his younger sister find that person. After all, that person is now under suspicion of harming her and causing her traumas.


    "I¡¯ll be fine, I think. If we don¡¯t use what we have right now, what¡¯s the use right? Besides,..." Xiu Mei leaned back to the couch of the sofa and sipped on her slightly cold tea.


    "...I want to find the truth behind my kidnapping as well." Xiu Mo Ruo could feel the gloominess in her voice when she said that.


    He stared at her figure for a few seconds as if he was realizing something then he reached out his hand and pulled her into a hug.


    "Little Princess, you¡¯ve grown up really well." He patted her in the head whenplimenting her.


    It seems like their little princess grew up quickly when they weren¡¯t watching ah.


    And he was realizing just now how much he and his family were shielding her from this pain that they didn¡¯t even see that she was suffering for so long because they didn¡¯t let her face the pain at all.

 Chapter 151 - A day in the office

    <h4>Chapter 151 - A day in the office</h4>


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei were thrown into back into work the very next day. Gone is their free time to flirt and beingidback once in a while. Even though they¡¯ve already pacified the public¡¯s anger and barely dodged being called to the court to exin themselves, they still have to do some fix the aftermath left.


    "Good grief!" Xiu Mei nced at her assistant who groaned almost banging her head on the table. "I need coffee! I need caffeine, or I¡¯ll die."


    Then she stood up from her seat and began running towards the pantry to get herself a cup of freshly brewed coffee that she wanted. Xiu Mei followed her to the pantry to prepare a cup of tea for her and Lu Chen.


    "How¡¯s it progressing on your side?" Xiu Mei casually asked while she grabbed the tin can of tea leaves at the storage cab.


    "Terrible. I haven¡¯t gone through with all the emails I¡¯ve received since yesterday. I don¡¯t think we can finish it by today, Ms.Xiu." Her assistantined, pulling out two mugs for Lu Shao and her own.


    Recalling that unread emails in her inbox, she felt like crying with no tears.


    "That¡¯s fine then. Just submit a summarized list for me once you¡¯re all done so I could report it to the president. I haven¡¯t even gone through with some of the emails too."


    "Is the aftermath that bad?"


    "We¡¯ll have to wait for the other branches to revert to us to answer that."


    "Who could do such a terrible thing ah?! Don¡¯t they know that we¡¯ll have to pull a week of overtime topletely resolve the problem?! Ahhhhh!! I¡¯m so done with overtime."


    "Well, I could give you three minutes alone with the culprit once we find out who he is. You can beat him up by then." Lu Shao suddenly appeared behind them, walking straight to the snack storage.


    "Red Bean Jelly? Or do you want the Crispies?" He added asking the two females in the room.


    Seems like the three of them would have to make do with biscuits for lunch.


    "Should we go for delivery?" Xiu Mei suggested. At this rate, they¡¯ll die from hunger instead of overworking for the week.


    "That¡¯ll take another hour to arrive." Lu Shao said.


    "And we have a meeting in the next hour." Her assistant added after him. "Ah, it¡¯s a deadly schedule!"


    "Oh, then let¡¯s just eat the food after the meeting. I¡¯ll inform the reception to keep it for us first since we can¡¯t let any of the staff below toe up here for a while." Xiu Mei suggested, remembering that they strictly controlled the authorized people who cane to their floor.


    "I¡¯ll go bring this in first." Then she carried the tray with teapot and 2 cups and brought it to the president¡¯s office.


    "Thought you might need a cup." Xiu Mei uttered as soon as she entered Lu Chen¡¯s office. The first thing she saw though was the stack of reports on his table and some are even stacked on the center table.


    Seeing the current situation in his office, she nodded her head and affirmed. "You really need a cup."


    After drowning himself in the reports and continuous conference calls for the past five hours, seeing his wife¡¯s figure smiling and bringing him a cup of tea surely relieved some of his pent up stress. He didn¡¯t think twice and closed the folder he was looking at and walked towards the couch.


    In front of him is a freshly brewed ck tea that he likes to drink every afternoon.


    Lu Chen pulled his wife to sit beside him when she served his cup. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t argue with him either and settled beside him.


    "Do you want to take a short nap?" Lu Chen asked as soon as he saw her face bring his hand under her eyes. He saw the dark circles under her eyes and he thought that it might have been because they didn¡¯t have proper sleep yesterday.


    She caught his hand and ced it down. "I"m fine. It¡¯s just temporary that it will be like this. Besides," She narrowed her eyes at him and pouted.


    "...you don¡¯t point out a woman¡¯s dark circles carelessly like that. Especially if it¡¯s your wife." She warned barely suppressing herself from clicking her tongue.


    Because Lu Chen pointed it out to her, she felt slightly over conscious and worried.


    If it¡¯s that obvious, maybe she has to redo her make up before the meetingter? It would be very embarrassing to look like a zombie when she attends the meetingter.


    Xiu Mei took note of that in her mind. She picked up the cup of tea and took a sip.


    "I¡¯ll remember that next time. Sorry, wife." He helplessly smiled at her as he smoothened out her hair. Just like him, his wife was having a rough day as well since she came to her office with some of her hair looking a bit out of ce today.


    "Is Lu Shao not done yet?" He asked, picking up his cup. He smelled the tea first as a habit before drinking it.


    "Not yet. He narrowed the list down to three but we still can¡¯t find conclusive evidence that they did it or figure out the motive at all. He was so stressed and annoyed about it that I actually saw him ring at hisptop and the papers almost an hour ago. Right now, he¡¯s having his shot of caffeine with my assistant in the pantry. They¡¯re both going crazy with all the work." Xiu Mei casually shared, chuckling at Lu Shao¡¯s poor figure and her assistant who looked like she was gonna cry any moment now.


    Then her mood quickly dampened. She threw an apologetic look at Lu Chen and uttered, "Sorry, we wouldn¡¯t have gotten into this if I took proper measures when I wrapped up the incident back then."


    Even though no one was ming her, she still felt somehow guilty and responsible for not preparing a contingency n just in case things like this happen after that data leak incident. Then they wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard and get this much work to do after that.


    She¡¯s been Lu Chen¡¯s secretary for four years but even if she¡¯s been working that long for him, she would always find herself still making mistakes and needing to improve herself even further.


    However, Lu Chen thought differently.


    "No, don¡¯t me yourself on this one. I should be the one apologizing since when this incident happened, I just disappeared without even telling you at all and left you alone to clean up the mess. If I just properly supervised everyone before leaving, this wouldn¡¯t have happened." Lu Chen replied. He pulled her by the waist and made her lean her body on his chest. He brushed her hair from time to time while assuring her that it wasn¡¯t her fault.


    "I wonder if Lu Qiang will get mad if we don¡¯t tuck him in tonight..." She said in passing while thinking whether to stay at the office for overtime or bring all her work at home.


    "Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s used to it."


    Xiu Mei pinched the meat in Lu Chen¡¯s waist for his remark. He groaned when he felt the sting from her nails. Annoyed, she raised her head to re at him.


    "Don¡¯t make him get used to it. He¡¯s still a kid. At his age, normally the parents would apany him right now to go y on the yground or go somewhere for leisure. But look at us, both working in the day so Lu Qiang has no choice but to y alone in the morning until afternoon."


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t retort and humbly apologized. What the wife says is always correct. And she does have a point so now he¡¯s feeling slightly guilty.


    Though he thought that Lu Qiang would be probably too busy ying with his gadgets and going on technical instead of missing them. Since that was the routine he grew up with ever since he was little.


    The two of them casually talked about some mundane topics during their ten-minute break. Picking up the tray, she left the office and put it back in the pantry.


    "Xiu Mei,e here." Lu Shao suddenly called for her before she could even return to her workstation.


    Baffled, she approached his table. "Do you need my help?"


    "Kinda. Look here." Then he pointed something at his screen. She crouched a little bit to get a good look at what he¡¯s pointing at and saw a familiar face. Not just one face, but two faces.


    "Oh my god, isn¡¯t that the nning Director and Linda Yang?" She leaned a bit closer to the screen to check that she wasn¡¯t misperceiving it.


    On the video shing on Lu Shao¡¯s screen was two different videos. On the other side, it was a video of the nning Director and Linda Yang exiting a room hotel together and the other one... ehem... it was a video of them getting a bit steamy in the elevator.


    "...What a damn bitch. Oops." She quickly covered her mouth to stop herself from uttering anymore vulgar words. She was too surprised with what she saw that her cussing in her mind almost slipped out of her mouth.

 Chapter 152 - Devious Plan

    <h4>Chapter 152 - Devious n</h4>


    "...What a damn bitch. Oops."


    Lu Shao shot her a weird look so she sheepishly smiled. She innocently looked at him as if she didn¡¯t just blurt out something vulgar.


    He withdrew his gaze and returned back to his screen.


    "It seems that Linda Yang has been hooking up with our nning Director."


    "So it seems. But what about it?"


    It¡¯s not like she or the Lu Corporation cares that the nning Director and Linda Yang is hooking up ah.


    Recalling their previous meeting back in the airport, she grimaced.


    "I found the original post who leaked our data leak issue. Then I checked that blogger¡¯s finances and I saw a recently wired money on his ount. Six digits. Then when I traced back the ount, it pinged back to one of Linda Yang¡¯s assistants."


    So Linda Yang used her assistant¡¯s bank ount to wire the money? Isn¡¯t that in stupidity? If you were trying to hide your traces, then why would you use someone¡¯s bank ount that is closely connected to you?


    Ah, not that she¡¯s reallyining though. It is good news that she is stupid so now they knew how the news was leaked to the press. It must have been the nning Director who lea...wait a second.


    That¡¯s not it though. Something clicked in her mind.


    "But the nning Director wasn¡¯t supposed to know about the data leak though. I only called for the Marketing Director, Finance Director, Software and IT Director, and Operations Director back then. I did inform the PR Director so they could draft the apology email and refund to the customers but the nning Director wasn¡¯t involved in any way in it." Xiu Mei pointed out.


    "But aside from the Directors, there are others who knew about the incident right?"


    "Well, some marketing team members knew about it but I didn¡¯t mention that something was stolen from our database at all. I¡¯d say only the IT team who investigated the attack would know about it aside from me, my assistant, and the directors, I guess."


    Xiu Mei analyzed the whole picture again from the very start.


    "Then someone from the IT department must¡¯ve been bribed and opened their mouths or maybe they were just really loose-lipped." Lu Shao said, taking in all the other information Xiu Mei was sharing with him.


    "That¡¯s highly possible. But why though? Why would the nning Director target thepany when the president dumped him a very important negotiation? I doubt that being blinded by love would lead him to be a bbermouth to her."


    "Maybe the negotiations are going south?"


    "So before thepany could fire him, he wants to hit us first? Even if he really is nning that, with the foothold ourpany has in the whole industry, who dares to hire him again right? Ah! But the president did mention that maybe the leak was masterminded by ourpetitors. You know, maybe someone bribed him behind our back or he was already a spy for the otherpanies in the very beginning?"


    Since the nning Director was already at his position when she came to thepany, she wasn¡¯t sure how they did the background check for him before he got the position.


    "We did a thorough background check on him before so being a spy from the very beginning is impossible. Though he might have really taken bribes from ourpetitors after that. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re keeping an eye on all the Directors in ourpany."


    Xiu Mei nodded her head, acknowledging that it was possible. Pursing her lips, she pushed forward a suggestion to Lu Shao.


    "Since we haven¡¯t found any evidence yet proving that he took a bribe, why don¡¯t we make him confess his sins himself then?"


    Lu Shao raised his eyebrow, intrigued by her suggestion.


    "Oh? Then let¡¯s hear it."


    After hearing his agreement to cooperate, she revealed a devious smile.


    Aside from doing their work in cleaning up the dirtbags in theirpany as secretaries, she can consider this her petty revenge for all the stress and uing overtime that he caused.


    Calling for her assistant, the three of them huddled in Lu Shao¡¯s workstation and started building their n.


    A few dayster, a rumor started buzzing around thepany. A gossip going around was nothing new but apparently, it was about someone taking a bribe from otherpanies.


    Obviously, a lot of employees were already stressed and tired dealing with the aftermath in various areas so the object of the gossip became their target to relieve all those stress.


    Who is it?


    Of course, well, it was none other than the nning Director. Since the position he was upying was pretty high, everyone discreetly gossiped about him behind his back. It was only after the 2nd day did he be aware of the rumors going around. By then, it was already toote to rectify.


    "Ms.Xiu, I need to talk to the president." The nning Director sounded rushed and desperate on the other line.


    Unfortunately for him, instead of Xiu Mei, it was her assistant who received the call from the nning Director.


    "I¡¯m sorry, Ms.Xiu is currently out of her office right now. I¡¯ll be transferring your call to Mr.Lu Shao instead. Thank you." And without waiting for his response, her assistant clicked a button on her telephone directly transferring the call to the opposite table.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant shed an ¡¯OK¡¯ signal with her hand at Lu Shao beforepletely putting down her telephone. Lu Shao, receiving the baton pass from the assistant nodded and picked up the ringing telephone.


    "Hello?" Just like his boss, he answered the call in such a cold manner instantly intimidating the other person.


    The nning Director was taken aback for a second. He hesitated.


    He was looking for Ms.Xiu... why did he suddenly get transferred to Mr.Lu Shao?


    Ms.Xiu would have been easier to talk to....


    "If no one¡¯s speaking then I¡¯ll be dropping this call then." While the nning Director was still hesitating, Lu Shao pushed him into the corner.


    The day before yesterday, it was already announced that the President would be going out of the city starting tomorrow due to some business trips. Hence, anyone who needs to report back to him has to do so until today.


    "No! Ah, no. It¡¯s me, the nning Director. I would like to speak with the President this afternoon if he has time." He was tensed when he was saying that is if he was being pressured to do so.


    However, Lu Shao quickly shot his request down. "I¡¯m sorry, Mr.Bai(nning Director) but the President does not have any free time left for the rest of his afternoon. If you¡¯d like, you can tell it to me first then I will notify it to the President."


    "No! It is imperative that I talk to the President immediately. I-It¡¯s... It¡¯s uh, rted to the negotiations for the Green Energy Industry project we¡¯re taking over."


    "Apologies, Mr.Bai but we really can¡¯t amodate your request at the moment. The earliest that I could schedule your appointment would be on Friday next week. Will that be alright with you?"


    "But..."


    "If it¡¯s really important, I would be more than d to deliver it on your behalf to the President."


    The nning Director was cornered. On the other side, the people behind him were pressuring him for some information. The Lu Corporation suddenly put pressure on some handful of theirpetitors affecting their stocks. Right now, they are forcing him to convince the President to release the pressure on theirpanies.


    With that in mind, he finally gave in and epted to meet Mr. Lu Shao instead of the President.


    Though at the back of his mind, it would¡¯ve been better if it was Ms.Xiu instead. In his experience, women are easily fooled than men.


    After the call, Lu Shao looked at the two women at the opposite table. He shed a triumphant smile and announced, "He bit the bait."


    Xiu Mei smiled knowingly as if she already knew that it would have gone that way as she expected while her assistant grinned at her.


    Quietly, she cleaned up her desk and picked up herptop and purse leaving no trace of her presence there. Since she was supposed to be out of the office, she will not let him pick up any signs that he was being tricked.


    Knocking on the door to the President¡¯s office, she opened it and met Lu Chen¡¯s eyes who was currently in the middle of a conference call with someone. Keeping her footsteps light, she approached the sofa and put down her stuff there.


    She quickly opened herptop and after clicking a few more stuff, a live video stream in the seventh-floor conference room shed. She smirked. It was the setting she chose where the nning Director would confess all the things he did behind their backs for all those years.

 Chapter 153 - Lu Shaos Stage

    <h4>Chapter 153 - Lu Shao''s Stage</h4>


    Outside the President¡¯s office, the elevator dinged open revealing the nning Director inside. Despite his efforts to look so unbothered, the creases in his clothes, some of his hair a bit out of ce, and sweating despite the low temperature of the room revealed his true feelings.


    Even though Lu Shao said that he¡¯ll call him back to set the ce of their meeting, he still wanted to give it a shot and see if he could talk to the President. He went up to the President¡¯s office on the top floor without giving a heads up to any of the secretaries upstairs.


    Just as what Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant said, he saw the other secretary¡¯s space empty. With his arrival, Lu Shao and Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant was startled. Lu Shao pursed his lips when he stood up. Picking up his tablet, he stopped the nning Director from further entering the room.


    "Mr. Bai, hello. Unfortunately, the conference room on our floor is reserved for use for the next half an hour so we¡¯ll have to use one of the avable conference rooms downstairs."


    Then he gestured him towards the direction of the elevator again.


    The nning Director threw a hesitant look at the President¡¯s door as if he was hoping that the President would suddenly walk out the door so he could talk to him directly. But he didn¡¯t know he was doomed to fail from the very start.


    Lu Shao guided him to the conference room that he and Xiu Mei chose beforehand.


    As soon as they settled on their seats, Lu Shao opened his mouth.


    "You wanted to discuss about the negotiation with the foreignpany we¡¯re partnering with for the Green Energy Project?"


    The nning Director nodded. "They¡¯re demanding a higher budget for the operations. Since the expenses were higher than expected and they need more budget to fulfill the conditions set."


    Lu Shao opened the file about the project. He looked at the breakdown of the budget and how much they are investing in this project. Xiu Mei was the one monitoring this project so he already studied the entire report about this beforehand. But for the sake of acting like he wasn¡¯tpletely aware of the necessary details about the project, he read the file on it again in front of the nning Director.


    After reading it, he continued discussing it with the nning Director.


    "How much are they demanding to be added?"


    "Around 5 Million RMB."


    Lu Shao froze for a second beforeposing himself. It¡¯s not that big of an amount for the whole Lu Corporation¡¯s assets, but demanding that much amount to be added to the estimated budget, isn¡¯t the discrepancy way too big?


    Waaaa, if it¡¯s true, then the foreignpany must be belittling them right? Do they think that they can easily fool us?


    Then he nced at the nning Director.


    ...Well, maybe some people.


    Oh, he¡¯s drifting from the topic.


    "That¡¯s too much difference from the initial budget they requested. Didn¡¯t they say that the one they gave us was the current price of the materials in the market?"


    The nning Director discussed how their conversation went with his previous meeting for negotiation.


    "So they¡¯re implying that if we don¡¯t give in to their demand that we add the requested budget, they¡¯re going to break their agreement?" Lu Shao held back the scoff that was threatening to escape from his lips.


    "Yes, and ording to our sources, they¡¯ve been interacting with ourpetitorpany for this project. It seems like they want to steal this project from us."


    Lu Shao¡¯s gaze turned cold for a split second.


    "I see."


    Lu Shao acted as if he was contemting about it. The longer he was silent, the more the nning Director¡¯s anxiety grew.


    "I heard they are being offered with a higher budget than ours so it¡¯s very important that we inform the President about this." The nning Director added.


    "How much are they offering to them?"


    "Almost double of what we¡¯re offering to them."


    "I see." Lu Shao put down the tablet and took a deep breath as if he was deciding the greatest decision that thepany was making.


    "Then we¡¯ll give up on them." Lu Shao dered.


    The nning Director¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the secretary with disbelief.


    "Pardon?"


    Lu Shao looked at him straight in the eye and repeated his words.


    "We¡¯ll give up on them." He repeated without batting an eye.


    The nning Director turned speechless. Lu Shao ignored his reaction and continued on what he was saying.


    "Please submit a report of the current expenses already spent on the project then I¡¯ll personally discuss this with the President. I will inform you of his response once I¡¯ve thoroughly discussed it with him."


    Lu Shao stood up and acted as if he was already done with the discussion and prepared to leave the room. The nning Director returned to his senses and stopped him from leaving.


    "Wait, Mr.Lu Shao. We can¡¯t do that."


    Lu Shao paused. He sat down on his seat again and asked the nning Director to borate to him why they can¡¯t cancel the project.


    "T-They¡¯ve already spent about half of the budget that we provided to them. It¡¯s going to be a big loss if we let this go. Besides, thepetitor offered just about 95 million RMB, I believe the President would be fine withpeting with them if they¡¯re offering that."


    "..."


    Lu Shao gave him a dead stare as soon as he finished his statement. Seeing that, the nning Director felt a chill down his spine and felt something ominous. He quickly shrugged it off and stood his ground against Lu Shao.


    "Mr.Lu Shao, I believe the President¡¯s secretary can¡¯t carelessly decide this. I need to have a word with the President first then he will decide if we¡¯re going to stop cooperating with them or not." The nning Director responded using Lu Shao¡¯s position as an advantage.


    Even though the President¡¯s Secretary is a position a bit higher than theirs, he pressed on the fact that the secretaries don¡¯t have the say for the final decision of this project.


    "So are you implying that the President should waste 95 million RMB for a foreignpany that can easily be bought with otherpanies once they offer higher deals than ours?"


    "W-What...?"


    "Mr.Bai, I believe you¡¯re being blinded by the fact that the Lu Corporation does not invest withpanies who are that vulnerable."


    "But this is an important project for our entry in the Energy Sector in the country!"


    "Finding a differentpany would be easier than wasting our time with them."


    "But we already spent so much...!!"


    "Ah, now that you mention it. Do give me a breakdown of the expenses for the project as well. We¡¯ll have to investigate if the foreignpany is trying to swindle us in the first ce with their initial report. We¡¯ll have someone from the Legal and Finance Department trace all the expenses and see if it was really a legit item purchase."


    "To go that far..."


    Lu Shao hardened his gaze.


    "No, Mr.Bai. We¡¯re not doing it that far. You should be aware of how the President does not tolerate this kind of behavior."


    "But if we just add a few million on the budget, everything woul--"


    "The President will surely not agree with that. You, yourself know that very well."


    "But a lot of people already put the effort in this project! How can we waste that?"


    "Mr.Bai, I believe you already understand where I¡¯ming from with this decision. Or is it because you¡¯re trying to hide something?"


    "What?"


    "A 95 million RMB invested by ourpetitor... I wonder where you got information from, Mr.Bai?"


    "...!"


    "I highly doubt that the foreignpany would reveal confidential information to us. After all, if it¡¯s an agreement between them and ourpetitor, it¡¯s going to be a big problem if they like to share information like that."


    "...."


    "Or is it that you have some connection on thatpany?"


    "...No."


    "Then do share to us Mr.Bai, which source said that it was 95 million RMB investment and how did you know of it?" Lu Shao casually leaned back on the office chair and coldly gazed at the nning Director. The atmosphere in the room dropped as the tension inside the room turned heavy.


    Xiu Mei, who was watching from herptop in the president¡¯s office, wasmenting the fact that she should have brought some popcorn to snack on while enjoying how things are unfolding in the conference room.


    "How is it?" Lu Chen whispered from behind startling her. She spun her head to meet his gaze that was a few inches closer to her.


    "It¡¯s going well. Lu Shao looks so cool right now ah!" She eximed as she withdrew her gaze from him. She returned to watching the video again that she missed the frown that suddenly appeared on Lu Chen¡¯s face after she spoke.

 Chapter 154 - Slip up

    <h4>Chapter 154 - Slip up</h4>


    Xiu Mei returned to watching how things unfolded in the conference room when she felt something heavy on her head. She wanted to look up to see what it was but she couldn¡¯t with the weight preventing her to do it.


    "Don¡¯t move." A deep voice murmured. Before she could react, a pair of arms circled around her shoulders from behind pulling her backward. Then the heavy weight on her head disappeared and moved to rest on her shoulders.


    "What are you doing?" Her forehead creased in confusion. She thought he was so busy to take a break and now he¡¯s being all affectionate with her. Why so suddenly?


    "Nothing. Just recharging." Lu Chen casually replied as he inhaled her scent. Her warmth instantly rxing the tension in his body.


    Xiu Mei clung to one of his arms hugging her.


    "You want to take a break? Come on, sit here." Then she patted the empty space beside her.


    Lu Chen shook his head.


    "I¡¯m fine hugging you like this."


    Xiu Mei sighed in distress as sheined, "but I can¡¯t watch Lu Shao catch the nning Director at this state."


    She was leaning back on the couch while theptop was on the center table. With him hugging her like this, she couldn¡¯t go close to the screen to watch it. If it weren¡¯t for the airpod in her right ear she was wearing, she might not even hear the contents of the conversation at all.


    Then wouldn¡¯t all the nning be for naught? And she was having fun too.


    "Stop watching." Lu Chen retorted to herint. Because Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t see his face, she missed the pout that appeared on his face while he was saying that. She didn¡¯t even see how the President red at his other secretary that was showing on herptop screen.


    "But I wanna watch." She replied, trying to go against his pull. She tried to push herself forward but Lu Chen was very firm.


    He may be acting really petty just now but hearing Xiu Mei praise another man in front of him suddenly made him very frustrated at that person. And to think he was getting jealous because of his secretary. So childish.


    "No." Like a child throwing tantrums, he firmly held her in his arms and hugged her. Xiu Mei struggled within his arms that she didn¡¯t even notice that the airpods she was wearing fell out from her right ear already.


    "Seriously, I want to watch the nning Director get caught redhanded ah!" Xiu Mei protested in his arms.


    "Why are you being so childish? Come on, don¡¯t you have work? Aren¡¯t you busy?"


    If he doesn¡¯t wanna sit beside her then he shouldn¡¯t y around like this ah. It¡¯s not like she¡¯s not working. How can she miss this opportunity to catch someone redhanded, even if she¡¯s not the one who was personally doing it?


    It was only when she felt that she kicked something with her feet did she pause on her movements. Since she couldn¡¯t lean over to see what it was, she slightly moved her feet as if trying to figure out what it was.


    That¡¯s when she realized that her airpod fell out of her ear.


    "Then let me just pick that up! At the very least let me listen!"


    If she can¡¯t watch then at least let her eavesdrop on the conversation. Even just the audio would be fine right now.


    "Just let Lu Shao do the work." Lu Chen uttered, his eyes glued on the video. Even though he couldn¡¯t hear the exchange by just watching the video, he can still see the small movements that the nning Director was doing seeing his agitation.


    Once his attention shifted on the screen, he didn¡¯t expect an attack from Xiu Mei.


    Xiu Mei eventually grew annoyed with his antics. In the end, she bit on his arm hard enough for Lu Chen to be surprised and loosen his hold on her.


    And that¡¯s what happened.


    Feeling a sudden pain shot from his arm, his eyes returned on his wife who suddenly bit on his arm. But before he could even look at her, Xiu Mei took the opportunity that he loosened his hug to escape from him.


    Without any dy, Xiu Mei almost dived towards the floor to grab the airpod that fell out and almost knelt on the floor so that Lu Chen wouldn¡¯t be able to reach her again.


    She hastily wore her airpods and almost threw it away again while yelping in pain when a screeching voice resounded in it.


    Her eyes darted back to the screen. She saw the nning Director arrogantly standing up against Lu Shao. He even mmed the table heavily as he continued yelling at him and sometimes pointing at him.


    "What are you trying to imply, Mr.Lu Shao!?" The nning Director exploded in anger. mming his hand on the table, he stood up and angrily red at the secretary in front of him.


    He pointed his finger at him as if using him. "You¡¯re just a secretary! How dare you try to use me of such things!"


    Even though the nning Director was fuming with rage and spouting nonsense and cursing him, Lu Shao was never shaken in his seat. He simply sat there and stared at him nkly as if he didn¡¯t care whatever he was saying.


    It was as if he was watching a monkey ying a show in front of him.


    Noticing that the person he was scolding didn¡¯t look interested and wasn¡¯t even paying attention to him, the nning Director grew livid.


    He mmed his hand on the table once again, the sound resounding throughout the small conference room.


    "You!!!"


    "Mr.Bai." Lu Shao broke his silence. Before the nning Director could even finish his sentence, he cut him off.


    "I haven¡¯t even said anything aside from asking you where you got the information from. But seeing that you¡¯re being defensive like this, it seems like you do have something hiding from us causing you to be so wary like this."


    "..."


    "Which is actually very interesting. I heard there is some rumor going around thepany that someone from within is receiving a bribe from otherpanies to leak some confidential information of Lu Corporation. I wonder, is it this secret that made you so wary and defensive like this?"


    "...No, I-!"


    "It¡¯s not? Well, there¡¯s one thing that we¡¯re very sure you¡¯re keeping from us."


    Lu Shao pressed something on his table and pushed it towards the nning Director so he could see what was on the screen.


    It was a still image taken from the video of him entering with Linda Yang in a hotel.


    The nning Director stiffened. H-How did they...?


    Lu Shao was thrilled to see his reaction and continued on. He slid his finger on the screen to show the next image. It was a proof of transaction of Linda Yang¡¯s staff paying a mediapany. It wasn¡¯t indicated there what and why they are paying the mediapany but Lu Shao didn¡¯t borate it at all.


    If the nning Director was truly innocent, then the first thing he would surely think is what is the reason why they are paying some mediapany right now.


    "I didn¡¯t do it!" The nning Director said in fright as he pushed away the tablet in front of him.


    "I wasn¡¯t the one who did it!" He said in panic as he tried to defend himself. "I wasn¡¯t the one who told it to her! Yes, we¡¯re sleeping together but I never shared any information with her. I only shared it with ourpet¡ª"


    Before he could even finish his sentence, the nning Director finally realized the words he was spouting. His movements stopped as his eyes widened. He finally realized that he slipped up by mistake in front of the secretary.


    "Mr.Lu Shao, that wasn¡¯t¡ª I didn¡¯t¡ª" He tried to exin himself again but Lu Shao didn¡¯t even look at him anymore.


    Even though he didn¡¯t finish his statement, Lu Shao caught on the message. Even though he denied his involvement in the data breach issue, at least there was proof that the nning Director was indeed the person taking a bribe from other people. He wasn¡¯t even expecting it to be this easy.


    Gathering his things, Lu Shao stood up from his seat. Before he left, he towered over the nning Director who was almost groveling on his seat with guilt. He already knows that it¡¯s all over the moment he slipped up.


    "Mr.Bai, this conversation will be ryed to the President. As the President¡¯s secretary, we will temporarily suspend you and all the projects you¡¯ve been working on as you are now under suspicion for leaking confidential information and taking bribes. You not to undertake any projects starting today nor be involved with anything rted to Lu Corporation." Lu Shao coldly dered as he sentenced him to his end.


    Without waiting for his response, he left the conference room without looking back.

 Chapter 155 - Next Step

    <h4>Chapter 155 - Next Step</h4>


    The two people in the President¡¯s office watched everything develop before their eyes. Even though Lu Chen couldn¡¯t hear the audio of their conversation, just pretty much how the nning Director acted in front of Lu Shao says it all.


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei who was listening and watching everything, pumped in the air celebrating their sess.


    The rat¡¯s in the trap! Finally!


    Listening in on their conversation, whether it was true that the nning Director has no involvement with the Data breach leak to the press, leaking the confidential information of thepany would be enough to put him under investigation.


    "Things will get a bit busy again I guess." Xiu Mei announced as she stood up straight. Fixing her creased attire, she turned to Lu Chen who was now looking at her as well. She crossed her arms and smiled triumphantly.


    "Mr. President, Lu Shao and I will surely deliver a satisfying result in your table a few days or weeks from now." She confidently dered.


    Though it actually is their responsibility to do a good job in the investigation but right now, all Xiu Mei could think of was letting off some steam from all the stress that piled up for the past few days. And what¡¯s best to relieve them than figure out the dirt of someone right?


    "You seem to be enjoying this so much." Lu Chen observed. Somehow, his wife was very energetic ever since she shared her n with him. It was like she was having fun cleaning up the nning Director.


    "Who wouldn¡¯t?" Her smile reached her ears. "It¡¯s not like I get to do this everyday."


    Lu Chen blinked.


    His wife so nonchntly said that as if she was simply saying she likes this vor of ice cream. It sounded so casual that it didn¡¯t even sound like she was going to make a man jobless.


    ...But he likes it.


    He smiled. Somehow, they really were simr in some ways.


    "Okay, but don¡¯t push yourself too much. I don¡¯t want you fainting from fatigue or overwork." He carefully reminded her.


    He watched her fold herptop and pick up her things again. Picking it up, she gave him onest word before leaving his office.


    "You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I¡¯ve been doing overtime for four years already. I¡¯m so immuned to it by now."


    "..."


    Darn it, that somehow hit him where it hurts.


    It¡¯s not like he can retort against that. He can¡¯t even deny it.


    Lu Chen reflected by himself as soon as Xiu Mei left the room. He tried to think about all the things he did with her for the past four years.


    "...all we did was work." He realized.


    No matter how much he tried to squeeze information from his head, he fully realized something.


    ...that he really only interacted with Xiu Mei about business stuff.


    When they were going on business trips together, it was only about work.


    When they were going for dinner, it was with other partners or some team dinners.


    When they were spending overtime alone in the office, it was because they were doing work.


    Damn it! He... was too workaholic.


    And Xiu Mei too.


    He sighed.


    Then he stared at the pile of work on his office table and the center table.


    "..."


    He pondered whether he can ever get out of his habit of being a workaholic at all.


    On Xiu Mei¡¯s side, she met up with Lu Shao outside the President¡¯s office.


    "How did it go?" Her assistant curiously asked. Since she was busy holding the fort for the both of them, she wasn¡¯t allowed to watch the video while outside the President¡¯s office since someone might suddenlye in their floor.


    It would be bad if someone finds out that they¡¯ve set up against the nning Director.


    Lu Shao made a ¡¯peace¡¯ sign to the two of them.


    "Missionplete." He dered.


    Xiu Mei walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.


    "Then should we move on to the next step?" Then she winked. The other two people in the room nodded.


    The next day, the suspension of the nning Director shocked almost every employee in the building. In thepany, his image as a superior was friendly and kind. He was very nice with the employees no matter how high or low their position is. So imagine everyone¡¯s reaction when they saw this announcement the very next day halting their involvement with the nning Director.


    Plus the rumor that¡¯s going around with someone receiving bribes from otherpanies, everyone¡¯s imaginations were going wild. Was it the rumors true? And that someone is the nning Director? Is that why he¡¯s being suspended?


    A lot of people are expressing their disappointment and suspicions. Some were siding the nning Director dering that they trust him enough that he wasn¡¯t the type of person to betray thepany.


    Oh well, the President¡¯s team will, unfortunately, prove them wrong in the next few days.


    Lu Shao already chose the people in their Investigation team to handle the investigation about the nning Director. They are Lu Corporation¡¯s employees that are located separately from the main building. This is to prevent them from making rtionsh.i.p.s with the employees and prevent having some bias in their judgment.


    For Xiu Mei¡¯s side, she and her assistant are now keeping a tight lookout on the other suspected employees. The sudden suspension announcement would have surely shaken up the spies within thepany.


    She was still following Lu Chen¡¯s orders though. That is to not clean them up for now.


    So right now, what she¡¯s doing is identifying all the rats nted inside thepany and record whomever they aremunicating with that¡¯s connected with theirpetitors.


    With the help of some investigation team people, she was being informed of the movements of a couple of suspicious employees.


    "Wow, this much paperwork?" Xiu Mei ran her fingers on the pages of the folder she received. It was half an inch thick, almost making her cry for doing this torture to herself.


    Is this how it feels to shoot your own foot?


    Nevertheless, she scrutinized every page and information recorded in the report. She noted in her head some of the important details.


    "Ms.Xiu, I¡¯ve already sent your flight ticket details to your email for the uing meeting with Zen Group in City S."


    Xiu Mei paused on flipping the page. What meeting? Why wasn¡¯t she aware of this schedule?


    "What meeting?"


    "With the Zen Group."


    She looked at her assistant, baffled. "Isn¡¯t someone from the Marketing Team handling that? Why do I need to go?"


    "Ah, haven¡¯t you seen the email from the Assistant Marketing Director yesterday? The Zen Group made ast minute request to have someone from our side to attent the meeting."


    "What time was that?"


    Damn it, she didn¡¯t see that email. She hasn¡¯t even finished going through it!


    She went to her email and scoured through the piled up unread emails. She clicked on the email that came from the Asst. Marketing Director, she read it carefully.


    He forwarded the attach request by the Zen Group to have one of the President¡¯s secretaries¡¯ attendance in the meeting.


    "...Fine." She gave in.


    Their coboration with Zen Group is quite important. It¡¯s not some kind of partnership that they could easily throw away. But what was with the sudden request?


    Then she thought about the current happenings within thepany.


    Hmm... maybe they were getting quite concerned with the stir happening in Lu Corporation?


    Anyways, no matter how much she try to reason it out, the end decision would always just be that she has to attend the meeting.


    She returned to the content of the email and saw that the meeting was scheduled for next week. It was at one of the Zen Group¡¯s resorts in City S.


    "So it would be me and the Marketing Team then?"


    Her assistant nodded. "Yes, that would be the Team 3 and their temporary leader which is the Asst. Marketing Director, Ms.Xiu."


    "Okay. Send me my updated schedule for this week and next week including the President¡¯s."


    "Copy that."


    Her assistant resumed her work while Xiu Mei continued reading the email. It was a bit long since she was also reading the forwarded email. In preparation for the meeting next week, she decided to reply to the email to forward her to current status and content of the all the things about the negotiation with the Zen Group.


    Her eyes temporarily paused on the Asst. Marketing Director¡¯s name. Albert Chen.


    Then her eyes wandered on the inch-thick folder beside her. His name was included there wasn¡¯t it... Hmmm.


    Xiu Mei gave a brief reply to the Asst. Marketing Director and inquired about the necessary details.


    Then, she proceeded to sending an email to the Investigation Team. It was about her itinerary about Albert next week, and telling them to keep an eye on his movements before they go to City S and his behavior once they arrive at the resort.

 Chapter 156 - Old Xius

    <h4>Chapter 156 - Old Xiu''s</h4>


    The day before her flight to City S, she was suddenly summoned to the old Xiu¡¯s family home. With all the stuff going on ever since she was discharged from the hospital and right after she got married, shepletely forgot that she hasn¡¯t formally introduced her husband and son to a lot of her rtives.


    So she took this opportunity and brought the two of them back with her in the old Xiu¡¯s to introduce them.


    Quite different from the atmosphere in her maternal home, the old Xiu¡¯s live in a luxury subdivision in the main city. The majority of the people living around the subdivision were either superstars, politicians, businessmen, and wealthy families. Luxurious mansions and wide lots with lines of cars parked could be seen even from afar. Even the nts decorating the entire subdivisions were carefully groomed by professional gardeners.


    Overall, just one look from the entrance of the subdivision, they will know that it¡¯s a ce where no ordinary person can enter.


    It¡¯s very different from the old Yu¡¯s home where they live in a secluded area a few kilometers away from the military barracks. Her rtives in her mother¡¯s side were all living in different areas of the country due to their assignments.


    And it¡¯s also very different from her parents¡¯ mansion where they stay somehow out of the famous areas in the city. With both politicians and military in the family, they couldn¡¯t stay low profile yet not that high profile either.


    Thinking back on her rtives in her father¡¯s side of the family, a lot of them are living within the subdivision so most probably, Lu Chen and Lu Qiang could even meet her aunts and uncles plus some of her cousins.


    "Aren¡¯t you bringing too much stuff?" Xiu Meimented on the numerous paper bag of luxury brands that the helper is putting at the trunk of the car.


    "Last time I met your other grandparents, I was caught unprepared so I couldn¡¯t bring them any gifts at all. So this time, I have to make sure to make a good impression on your grandparents¡¯ on your father¡¯s side." Lu Chen reasoned out as he hung his hand on her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.


    Xiu Mei subconsciously leaned her head on his chest as if they¡¯ve been doing it for so long.


    "But isn¡¯t it too much?"


    She was quite worried that her grandparents may think that Lu Chen is a very materialistic person if he shows up with all the luxury gifts. Then she thought how much he must have spent on that even though he does not spend that much on a normal basis.


    Lately, this habit of his was changing. Remembering his impulse purchase of the ring with a big stone, no one would ever believe that he was once a miser ah.


    "Don¡¯t worry. The one I¡¯m going to give to the elders is high-quality tonics specially made for them."


    "...Oh."


    "Mom! I¡¯m ready!" Lu Qiang screamed from behind them. Xiu Mei turned to look at the door and saw Lu Qiang¡¯s attire. He didn¡¯t look too formal but his attire for today is surely well thought of when Lu Chen was choosing his clothes.


    ncing at Lu Chen¡¯s appearance and hers, she realized just now that they actually look like they¡¯re wearing simr clothes. All three of them were wearing the same shade of solid color and even the pattern of the checkered lining is the same. So this is the reason why Lu Chen asked her beforehand what she¡¯s gonna wear today?


    As soon as Lu Qiang stopped before her, she slightly bent down and smoothened the adorable vest that he was wearing.


    "Then let¡¯s go."


    The moment they arrived at the old Xiu mansion, Lu Qiang and Lu Chen almost couldn¡¯t hide the awe in their faces. Thank god for the stiff expressions.


    The mansion looked so luxurious outside so when they came in, they werepletely blown away by the difference in style as soon as they got inside. It was almost as if they were in a traditional Chinese home.


    They were taken aback by the towering shelf that they first saw as soon as they entered the door. Instead of marbled floors, it was made of high-quality wood. The smell of tea and paper permeated in the air.


    Behind the towering shelves is the amazing interior of all furniture made of wood. The traditional paintings and scrolls hanging on the walls and the grandeur of the vases being disyed in different areas of the house showed the true wealth of the owner.


    Anyone who would see this interior would surely think that the owner of the mansion is a wealthy schr person.


    The old Xiu¡¯s steward guided them to the open garden where the two elders are currently having their tea.


    "Xiu Mei greets grandfather and grandmother." Xiu Mei greeted with confidence and grace in the presence of the two elders.


    Following suit, Lu Chen and Lu Qiang did the same.


    "Lu Chen greets Elder Xiu and Madame Xiu."


    "Lu Qiang greets Grandfather Xiu and Grandmother Xiu."


    Back in the car, Xiu Mei already exined to them that the two Xiu family elders ce great importance on manners and etiquette at home. Grandmother Xiu was once a professor at a top university while Grandfather Xiu hailed from a family of politicians and was trained with manners at such a young age.


    Both of them are very well respected around their circle for being intelligent and good etiquette. Though they may look strict at first, they are actually a very warm person and don¡¯t really scold them that much either when they make mistakes while in public.


    Grandfather Xiu smiled warmly at the two a.d.u.l.ts while holding a cup of tea on his hand.


    "Both of you, take a seat. Little one, can you sit with Grandfather?" Then he patted on the avable cushion beside him.


    Lu Qiang nodded and sat beside the elder while the two a.d.u.l.ts sat on the opposite side.


    Grandmother Xiu raised the teapot nning to pour tea for the two of them while Grandfather Xiu ordered for a cup of juice to be brought for the child.


    "Grandmother, let me do it." Xiu Mei attempted to snatch the teapot from her but she was quickly stopped by her grandmother.


    "It¡¯s fine. This is our first meeting with your husband and child ever since you got married so I¡¯d like to do this for them right now." Grandmother Xiu responded as she continued pouring the tea on the two cups.


    Xiu Mei grew ashamed when her Grandmother was implying that she didn¡¯t introduce them after they got married. Even though she wasn¡¯t scolding her, she was still ashamed of failing to introduce them to her family properly.


    In her head, she was already nning to schedule her meeting with her rtives from the Yu family that are only a few hours away from where they are.


    After being served with tea, Xiu Mei started introducing the two of them to the elders. After Lu Chen gave his presents, which pleased the elders so much and talking with Lu Qiang for a short while, the two elders didn¡¯t prolong the topic anymore and went direct with the reason why she was summoned back here today.


    "The Old Man Yu contacted me a week ago about the results of your appointment with Doctor Lee." Grandfather Xiu stated. His tone sounded very heavy as he continued, "And I immediately ordered someone to look for Xiu Su Yi abroad."


    "Xiu Su Yi?"


    "That¡¯s my cousin¡¯s name based on the sketch that your other grandfather gave me."


    So it really was his grandfather¡¯s cousin?


    "I also heard from your second brother that you also mobilized your contacts to find him."


    Xiu Mei nodded. "Yes, it would be easier for me to find him if he was really hiding somewhere abroad."


    Grandfather Xiu fell silent for a while. He stared at his cup for a few seconds before speaking again.


    "There¡¯s no need for that anymore."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s forehead creased as she looked confused.


    "Did you find him, Grandfather?"


    Grandmother Xiu shook her head as she answered her question. "It was the Old Man Yu who found that person instead."


    "Really? Where is he? Still in the United States?" Xiu Mei was thrilled to hear the news. Finding that person means that there is now a great possibility of resolving her kidnapping years ago. If that person is really involved with it, then maybe they could even find the person who masterminded her kidnapping too!


    The two elders nced at each other.


    "The thing is when Xiu Su Yi migrated to America, we didn¡¯t keep track of his activities abroad. But what we did is we ordered some people to immediately inform us once they receive some alert if Xiu Su Yi ever steps into Chine again."


    Grandfather Xiu looked straight in her eyes as he continued.


    "A few days ago, your Old Man Yu confirmed that Xiu Su Yi is already here in within the country."

 Chapter 157 - Xiu Family

    <h4>Chapter 157 - Xiu Family</h4>


    Xiu Su Yi... is already within the country?


    It took a full five seconds for Xiu Mei to connect all the dots together.


    Thest news her grandparents have on him was when he went abroad.


    They put an order for them to be immediately informed once he returns to the country.


    But her Grandpa Yu found him within the country?


    ...didn¡¯t that mean he sneaked back to China unscrupulous means?


    "Are you saying he...?"


    "ording to our investigation, it seems that he sneaked back to the country by getting on a ship then he transferred to a boat to enter the country." Then Grandfather Xiu handed Lu Chen an envelope, probably containing the investigation report that they have about Xiu Su Yi.


    "Once you read the report, I advise you to be careful of your next stepster on. I¡¯m already doing what I can on our side, and that would be the same for the Old Man Yu as well. He¡¯s not only targeting you or your father but also the other family members as well." He reminded them as he heavily emphasized the danger that they were all in.


    Sensing this, Xiu Mei noticed something odd.


    "Why is he targeting us? Did he have some kind of disagreement with our family that¡¯s why he left to America?" She couldn¡¯t stop herself from prying. To think that a member of her family would deliberately harm them, it was sure not something like a simple quarrel at all.


    Her grandparents fell silent. Noticing their reaction, just like she thought, the reason wasn¡¯t something simple at all.


    But before Xiu Mei could pry even further about the reason, she heard someone¡¯s rushed footsteps closing on in them.


    "Is that my adorable nephew?! Kyaaah!" A familiar voice entered in her ears. And as if a gust of wind passed by, her cousin would have nearly crashed on Lu Qiang if it wasn¡¯t for her Grandfather pulling him closer towards himself making her cousin kiss the wooden floor instead.


    "Xiu Qi." A stern voice resounded from behind her again. Xiu Mei automatically looked behind her and saw the figures of her Third Uncle and his wife, Second Aunt and her son, and her cousin from her Fourth Aunt and Uncle.


    Xiu Mei briefly nced at her cousin¡¯s sprawled figure on the floor before standing up from her seat. Lu Chen also stood up from his seat and stood beside her.


    "You¡¯ve gotten fatter, Mei¡¯er." Her Second Aunt first uttered to her as soon as she approached her figure and kissed her cheek. Xiu Mei pouted knowing that her second aunt didn¡¯t mean anything bad when she said that.


    "So are you saying I¡¯m ugly, Aunt Qing?"


    "No, I¡¯m just saying you look better than before. It seems that your husband is taking good care of you pretty well?" Her second aunt turned to Lu Chen¡¯s direction, sizing him up.


    Lu Chen subconsciously straightened her back while he was being scrutinized by Xiu Mei¡¯s second aunt. He could also feel the heavy res from the people behind her who was also sizing him up.


    He gulped nervously as he took the liberty of introducing himself to the others.


    "Hello, it¡¯s an honor to meet all of you. My name is Lu Chen." He introduced himself. Xiu Mei quickly added something.


    "He¡¯s my husband, so no bullying okay?" Then she threw a pleading look at her Uncle, Aunts, and cousins who were ring at him.


    Even though they are all taught with manners and etiquette, everytime they gather like this, all the masks they wear when they are in publicpletely disappears. In contrast with their controlled behavior, the Xiu family are the type to frankly say their opinions. So Xiu Mei is already used to her family¡¯s style of speech and she doesn¡¯t get offended by it.


    And even though Lu Chen won¡¯t be affected by it that much, she still wanted her rtives to hold themselves back even for just a little bit when interacting with him.


    Her stern third uncle grew grim.


    "So is this what I¡¯m going to feel like once Xiu Xiu gets married?" Then he briefly nced at the teenager sprawled on the floor.


    Seeing her poor figure, he quickly changed his mind.


    "No, I think the person who¡¯ll marry our daughter would be a Buddha instead. Look how active our daughter is, can someone even tolerate her just like how we tolerate her?" At this point, it was like he was just talking to himself.


    Third Aunt pped him on his back before scolding Xiu Xiu. "Xiu Xiu, do you want to be grounded?"


    The woman sprawling on the ground finally moved after hearing her mother¡¯s warning. As soon as Xiu Xiu stood up properly, she saw her grandparents¡¯ stern gaze and her mother¡¯s re. Then like a puppy being bullied, she acted pitiful in front of them.


    Lu Qiang noticed that the woman close to him was being scolded, so in an attempt to change the atmospher, he stood up from his seat and stood beside his mother. Then he beamed his childlike smile at the other a.d.u.l.ts and introduced himself.


    Immediately, all the a.d.u.l.ts¡¯ attention turned to him. Xiu Mei¡¯s two aunts couldn¡¯t hold themselves from pinching his soft cheeks while her Uncle smiled warmly at the child. Her two male cousins, An Nuo and Mu Ji Huang stroked Lu Qiang¡¯s head for a few seconds before stepping back again.


    Then the pitiful female cousin, Xiu Xiu, helped herself by pinching Lu Qiang¡¯s cheeks as well.


    Seeing that their attention were all on Lu Qiang, Xiu Mei was d but somehow... it seems she felt that Lu Chen was being ignored?


    She nudged Lu Chen on the side and eyeing him. She was urging him to bring out the presents that he brought. Right now, he needs to score some brownie points from these guys who arepletely forgetting her presence right now.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s adorable skill was too high for her rtives to held back from ah. They¡¯re all very vulnerable with children.


    Understanding her wife¡¯s message, he immediately had someone bring the other paperbags he left inside to be brought here. Then he personally distributed it to Xiu Mei¡¯s uncle and aunts, and to her cousins.


    "Oh my god, brother-inw is too dazzling. Isn¡¯t this the limited edition bag this year from Burberry?" Xiu Xiu didn¡¯t hide her astonishment when she opened the paper bag. It was the bag that she had been begged her mother to buy for her but they won¡¯t allow her to.


    So seeing that bag in front of her right now, she looked at Lu Chen with a stupefied expression. Instead of a human, it was as if she was seeing him as the god of wealth instead.


    "..."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei was also surprised with what Xiu Xiu said. She couldn¡¯t help but look with disbelief at Lu Chen and raise her brow.


    Did he really buy something that expensive just to please her family?


    ...Now she was suddenly worried. She didn¡¯t even want to know what¡¯s inside the other paper bags he had given and the ones left inside ah.


    "Qing¡¯er, bring the child with you inside first. Luen, stay here." Grandfather Xiu ordered. After the younger ones greeted the elders briefly, they followed the two women inside the mansion.


    Luen sat beside Lu Chen so Lu Chen grabbed the teapot and poured him a tea. Seeing this action, Luen faintly smiled at him and epted his good will.


    "Father, do you need me for something?"


    "Luen, you exin to them why Xiu Su Yi left the family." Grandmother Xiu uttered as she sipped on her tea. Hearing her words, Luen¡¯s teacup almost slipped from his hold from the shock.


    He looked at his mother in confusion and then to his father. It seems like they were both keen on unearthing that story again after so many years.


    Luen nced at the direction of his niece and her husband. They were also confused yet they looked very much attentive to listen to what he was going to say.


    Seeing that his parents were ordering him to reveal the story to them, something must have happened. Luen turned to his father and spoke.


    "Then we¡¯ll use your study room temporarily." He replied. His father nodded giving him permission.


    Luen stood up and ordered the two young ones to follow him to the study. After ordering their steward to keep anyone away from the room for a short while, he locked the room and made them sit on the farthest seat from the door.


    Seeing her Uncle this cautious, Xiu Mei grew nervous. What was it? What was the reason and what story is it that they¡¯re both making her grandfather and uncle this secretive?


    "So you¡¯re trying to know more about Uncle Su Yi, uh no. I can¡¯t call him our Uncle anymore. Since he¡¯s not part of the Xiu family ever since he left abroad."

 Chapter 158 - Hidden Secret of the Fan family

    <h4>Chapter 158 - Hidden Secret of the Fan family</h4>


    Xiu Mei received a huge shock when she heard this news.


    "Did he leave the family voluntarily?" She couldn¡¯t help but ask it.


    "He did."


    "Bur if he left the Xiu family voluntarily, why did he do it?"


    Luen sighed as he finally opened the story from years ago that their family wanted to keep buried forever.


    "Xiu Su Yi was originally a madman ever since he was young. As a kid, he liked fighting and joining gang fights. He almost didn¡¯t graduate from high school because of his terrible grades. He never went to college and kept the lifestyle of going to bars daily, drinking, and indulging himself with women."


    ...Damn, she met such a terrible man?


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t like how the conversation was going from the very start and unconsciously inteced her hands with Lu Chen to seekfort. Feeling his wife¡¯s hand, Lu Chen interlocked their fingers and covered the back of her hand with his other hand and lightly patted it.


    This disy of affection entered Xiu Luen¡¯s eyes but he acted as if he didn¡¯t see it. But at the back of his mind, he was feeling very awkward having to witness his niece¡¯s and her spouse¡¯s public disy of affection.


    "He was the ck sheep of the Xiu family back then. He was in a constant spotlight in the news because his name was Xiu, and the family couldn¡¯t do anything to him at all. He was a hopeless case, as per Grandfather¡¯s words."


    The Grandfather he was pertaining to in his mouth was definitely her great grandfather, which is grandfather Xiu¡¯s father.


    "But then one day, he brought home a woman. Then he introduced her to be a member of the Fan family and dered that he would marry her. The entire family was surprised but they were thrilled to hear the news. For Xiu Su Yi to finally settle down after being a bachelor for so long. By then, your father and I were already married so imagine that it was only at that time he decided to get married."


    Xiu Mei blinked as it took a little while before shepletely absorbed her Uncle¡¯s story.


    Wait, the Fan family?


    A woman from a Fan family?


    That sounded very familiar. Where did she hear about this again?


    Xiu Mei fell silent for a short moment to think until she was finally enlightened where she heard the familiar story.


    "Isn¡¯t this about the Fan family member who was revealed to be a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e?" Xiu Mei didn¡¯t hold back her words and asked. If others were to hear it, it would¡¯ve surely sounded very rude towards the Fan family even if it was the truth. Then it would surely spark some tension between the Xiu family and Fan family.


    Xiu Luen didn¡¯t hesitate to answer her and nodded his head, affirming her thoughts.


    It was only now that Xiu Mei was realizing that this may be the reason why her Uncle ordered the steward to keep out anyone from approaching the study room. Because this was about the scandal that the Fan family has and as a member of the Xiu family, it won¡¯t be proper for them to gossip and spread this news to other people.


    After all, a member of a prestigious family is revealed to be a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e hanging around the red light district, it would be a stain enough that the Fan family wouldn¡¯t be able to erase in their entire life.


    "Is that why the family is very against the woman? Because she¡¯s a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e?"


    Or at least that¡¯s what she read on the report.


    "Not at first. It was even before we found out that the woman was a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e. A day after Xiu Su Yi introduced the woman to the family, we found out that the woman was already arranged to marry another man."


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei turned silent.


    They briefly nced at each other and sighed. They knew that they were talking about something really serious but they couldn¡¯t stop their thoughts.


    ...It¡¯s like some kind of drama plot that they see on TV.


    Unaware of their thoughts, Xiu Luen continued.


    "It was a really big issue back then because once the media gets a wind that Xiu Su Yi got involved with someone from the Fan family that¡¯s already engaged, it¡¯s going to be a big problem not only on how we¡¯re going to protect Xiu Su Yi but also the name of the Xiu family. So Xiu Su Yi visited the Fan family to break the arranged marriage agreement of that woman to the other man. But they didn¡¯t listen to him and proceeded with the marriage."


    ...Yes, a typical drama plot ah.


    "And then somehow, I didn¡¯t know how Grandfather found out but he discovered that the woman was actually a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e. I didn¡¯tpletely understand it back then, like how could someone from the Fan family be a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e? Everyone didn¡¯t really believe him back then."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts nodded. It was actually one of the things she couldn¡¯t understand when she read the report.


    A prestigious family like the Fan family, why would someone be a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e?


    "Was she an illegitimate child?" She asked. It was the only reason she could think of.


    Why would someone from the Fan family work in a red-light district when they have enough money and prestige to live in luxury?


    On the other hand, Lu Chen, who was listening quietly on the side was having a full-on realization of howplicated his wife¡¯s circle was.


    It was very different from the business circle and the underground circle that he was often involved in. In both circles, people are very ruthless and would take every chance to taint you with any dirt that they could find. All are trying to pull each other down to reach the top.


    But on Xiu Mei¡¯s circle, he thought it was pretty simr but it was still somehow different.


    Even though each family knows some unspeakable secrets of each other, they won¡¯t move each other unless the other attacks. Just like how the Xiu family kept the secret of the Fan family for all these years.


    If it weren¡¯t for Xiu Su Yi¡¯s involvement with Xiu Mei, he wouldn¡¯t have known this at all.


    "No, she was not." Xiu Luen replied. "She was a legitimate child of the third branch of the family. But from what I heard, it was the father of that woman who sold her daughter to the red-light district because he couldn¡¯t pay his debts from the loan sharks back then."


    Xiu Mei frowned. "Her father sold her to pay his debts?! Such a bastard exists in the Fan family?!"


    She subconsciously raised her voice in disbelief of what she just heard. Even if he was from the third branch, is their life that terrible that he has to sell his daughter? Does that person even deserve to live? How can he sell his own blood for his own benefit?


    Noticing her outburst, Lu Chen squeezed her hand lightly as if to distract her attention. Feeling the pressure on her hand, she nced at Lu Chen¡¯s direction. With hisforting gaze, he calmed her down.


    Oops.


    Realizing what she had just done, she threw an apologetic look at her Uncle.


    "Sorry, I was too emotional." She apologized.


    Xiu Luen was very understanding and sympathized with her. "That was also how we reacted when we learned about it too so it¡¯s very understandable. Because the Fan family is more known for their outstanding conduct and expertise in art, it was a great shock when we learned that something that worse was happening in their family. That was why they already arranged the woman to somemoner man for marriage in an attempt to marry out the woman from their family. Basically, it¡¯s topletely cut their ties from her under the reason that she wanted to marry a normal man that they didn¡¯t agree with so she left the family on her own. A reason as simple as that would be enough to wash off their hands from the dirt that the third branch did."


    "But shouldn¡¯t there have been at least a rumor or something? A scandal this big would have been very difficult to keep under wraps." This time, it was Lu Chen who asked. After reading the report on Xiu Mei¡¯s case, he did send someone to the Fan family to investigate and monitor them.


    "No, it was cleaned up and hidden after we learned about it."


    Hearing that, the couple froze.


    Cleaned up?


    They both felt that Xiu Luen was going to blurt out something ominous.


    "By clean up you mean... did they silence them?"


    Xiu Luen nodded.


    "Terrible as it may be, unfortunately, yes. One day, we heard the news that the woman¡¯s father jumped from a building causing his death. And when we thought it was already fine, a few days after that incident, news came that the woman was caught in a car ident causing the death of one body, two lives."

 Chapter 159 - Activities

    <h4>Chapter 159 - Activities</h4>


    It was already raining heavily when the family of three returned. The dark grey-ish sky reflecting the solemn mood inside the car as they drove back to their home after visiting the old Xiu¡¯s.


    Xiu Mei watched the drops of water rolling down the window and the hazy figures of the buildings along the way. Lu Qiang was busy opening the gifts that he received from his ¡¯aunts¡¯ and ¡¯uncles¡¯ and ying with the presents. Lu Chen was reading the doc.u.ments that Grandfather Xiu handed to them.


    The sound of the rain hitting their vehicle fell in a calming rhythm that slightlyforted Xiu Mei¡¯s mind. However, she couldn¡¯t get off her mind the thing her Uncle just told her a while ago.


    A short shback of their conversation.


    "Xiu Su Yi¡¯s woman was pregnant? With whose child?"


    "It was still too young to confirm whether it was Xiu Su Yi¡¯s or not but he repeatedly imed that it was his child."


    "Well, if it was the Fan family who was behind it then why did Xiu Su Yi leave the family?"


    "When he learned that his lover died from a car ident, Xiu Su Yi came here blinded with resentment and blind with rage. He assumed that it was us who was behind her death and I remember he got into an argument with Father and Grandfather back then. Even though we tried convincing him that it wasn¡¯t our doing, he wasn¡¯t himself anymore."


    "Is that why he left the family?"


    "Yes. And before he left, I remember that he was saying something along the lines that he¡¯s ming us that if we didn¡¯t stop them from getting married to each other in the first ce, he said that she wouldn¡¯t have died at all."


    shback end.


    Xiu Mei deeply sighed. She didn¡¯t why but her hands had been trembling since a while ago.


    As she continues to recall the contents of their conversation, the shes of that night kept appearing in her mind.


    Her memory was hazy but she could slightly feel the lingering feeling of the disgusting hands touching her body that night. Just like a snake wounding up its cool body around her trying to encage her with its body.


    She didn¡¯t know why she was remembering that now. Maybe it was because of the shudder and chill when she tried to imagine the seething anger from that man¡¯s eyes and the possibility that maybe it led him to kidnap her in an attempt to get back to her family.


    Or was it because of the cold death of the mother and unborn child caused by their own kin.


    "Death of two lives, one body." She mouthed.


    It was this tragedy showing her proof of how ruthless a person can be even to its own family.


    Even though the dirt of this circle has been known to her for so many years, it seems like she would always be an innocentmb who is truly blind to how dirty it really is.


    They all think that power and wealth is everything. But for Xiu Mei, it is also a heavy weight on her heart. Power and wealth also have two sides as well¡ªthe good and the bad side.


    She was leaning her head on the ss window, contemting her entire life when she felt something warm covering her left hand.


    She looked down and saw that it was a pair of hands, one small and big, gripping her hand firmly.


    She raised her head to see Lu Qiang¡¯s beaming smile and Lu Chen¡¯sforting gaze on her. Her heart felt lighter so she couldn¡¯t help but smile back at them.


    "Thank you." She dropped a kiss on Lu Qiang¡¯s forehead. Then she turned towards Lu Chen and mouthed another thank you again.


    She shrugged off her depressing thoughts and distracted herself by ying with Lu Qiang instead. Her mood stayed like that until they got home.


    After tucking Lu Qiang to bed that night, Xiu Mei and Lu Qiang had a short meeting in the study room that night. She hasn¡¯t read the contents of the doc.u.ment that her Grandfather Xiu handed to her but Lu Chen already made the necessary preparations to tighten her security for her business trip tomorrow.


    "Lee In will be overseeing your business trip tomorrow at the resort." Lu Chen briefed her about her security detail.


    "She won¡¯t be in your sight, but she will keep your eyes on you for the entirety of the trip to secure your safety. Then the other would be the people second brother-inw assigned on you."


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯tin about the tight security detail they put on her. She knew it wasn¡¯t the time to whine about it. Her safety prioritizes above anything on her list right now.


    "What about the doc.u.ment?" She inquired about the papers he was reading back in the car.


    Lu Chen reached over the envelope and pulled out the papers. Then he flipped it to a specific page.


    "It¡¯s aption of all the activities that Xiu Su Yi has been doing for the past twenty years, even including before the ident. It seems like he has been involved in some shady activities since before but it visibly got moremon after the ident. You see, there¡¯s even this conversation he had with someone from the underground. I¡¯ll be ordering some of my subordinates tomorrow to look into the people he interacted with that¡¯s connected underground then maybe we can find something rted to your kidnapping."


    Xiu Mei skimmed through that page. It was a security camera screenshot of when Xiu Su Yi was talking with someone in a bar. She flipped it to other pages and saw his interactions with different people. Even his activities internationally and then when he was spotted back in China.


    It seems like he was too busy to say that he was just visiting the country. It was very obvious that he sneaked back here with the intention of doing something. Especially with all the suspicious transactions he had been doing for the past year.


    "He seems to be onto something." She muttered while skimming through the file.


    "He is, and I think he¡¯s up to no good. He had been acquiring some illegal gunpowder from the ck market."


    "Maybe he¡¯s nning on bombing someone or somewhere?"


    "That¡¯s most likely to happen. I¡¯ll be informing second brother-inw about this then we¡¯ll coordinate ordingly with the police. If his intention is bombing, then we¡¯ll have to trace the amount of gunpowder he acquired and estimate the radius size of the impact with it."


    Xiu Mei had a passing thought. If we¡¯re talking about a somewhatrge amount of people...


    "If he¡¯s targeting the Xiu family, wouldn¡¯t it be the uing reunion this December? The Xiu family even from the other branches gather together for some lowkey party. Even Xiu Su Yi is aware of this tradition so it¡¯s most likely that he¡¯ll remember it and maybe, use it to his advantage."


    Lu Chen¡¯s pursed his lips as if thinking.


    "If he knows it then that¡¯s definitely the most likely ce he will want to wipe out. Is there any possibility of canceling it?"


    Xiu Mei shook her head hesitantly. "I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t remember any instance that it was canceled at all ever since I was little. But if we consider the danger this time, we can convince them to cancel it or just handle it probably, at home if it¡¯s safer that way."


    After discussing about the doc.u.ments for quite some time, Xiu Mei already decided to call it a day. She still has to pack up some of her stuff for her flight tomorrow and she still has to get up early to catch her flight.


    Xiu Mei yawned after closing the file. Lu Chen already noticed that she was already exhausted enough.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow." Lu Chen lowered his head and dropped a kiss on her forehead while almost hugging her. Xiu Mei feltfortable with his warmth and didn¡¯t think twice when snuggling into herself into his arms.


    "You¡¯ll drop me off there?"


    "Of course, I will. Call me once you arrive and then call me every morning and night okay?" He said whilebing her hair with his fingers as he rested his head on hers.


    "Mm, will do."


    "..."


    "..."


    Both of them fell into aforting silence. Xiu Mei snuggling without a care in the world on Lu Chen and Lu Chen weing the intimacy that his wife was showering him with. While enjoying this simple intimacy, a thought hit him.


    Lu Chen pondered whether he should bring it up to her or not... but wouldn¡¯t right now be a perfect time?


    "Wife."


    "Mm?" Xiu Mei¡¯s response was a bit muffled as she was buried on his chest.


    "Can I stay with you tonight?"


    "...What?" Xiu Mei slightly loosened her hold to him and pulled away to look up to his face. She thought she must have heard it wrong. Her thoughts temporarily went wild for a second when she heard him.


    "Ehem." Lu Chen cleared his throat as he resolutely repeated his request.


    "Can I stay with you in your room tonight?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s heart did a flip.


    Okay, Xiu Mei. Calm down. Let¡¯s calmly think about this. No wild thoughts. Just simple ones.


    "...Like what we did back in the hotel?"


    Lu Chen nodded.


    "Yes, just sleep together."


    "...Oh."


    Xiu Mei:...so she really was just overthinking it ah.

 Chapter 160 - Sleeping

    <h4>Chapter 160 - Sleeping</h4>


    Standing in front of her bathroom mirror, Xiu Mei could see her reflection. After removing all her make up and washing her face, the dark circles that Lu Chen pointed out a few days ago could still slightly be seen on her face. Even that small es that was popping on her skin was the warning signs how stressed she had been for the past few weeks.


    If it wasn¡¯t enough, her body was aching especially the back and her neck after sitting for long hours in her desk. In summary, she was going to show the most awful state of herself to Lu Chen at any minute now.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s e on her forehead:...


    Her eyes immediately darted to her e cream and desperately applied it on her face as if wishing that it could just magically disappear right now.


    Goddamnit, why did he have to request it today of all days?


    And why the heck did she say yes?! Was she out of her mind? Was she spacing out again a while ago?


    "Argh!" She groaned in annoyance as her hands fumbled on the tube of e cream. She almost tossed it on the counter angrily bearing the brunt of her frustration.


    Ah, fudge it. She¡¯ll just open the bedsidemp instead. Maybe in the dark, he won¡¯t be able to see the true tragedy of her face.


    After patting down the creases of her long-sleeved patterned pajamas, she walked out of her bathroom. She stopped on her tracks when she saw Lu Chen observing the small bookcase she built inside her room. He was wearing blue long-sleeved pajamas with simr patterns simr to hers except for the color.


    "...."


    Seeing that he was preupied with her other stuff, her eyes shifted from the main light switch of the room and then to the bedsidemplight. She wondered if he¡¯ll be suspicious if she suddenly switches off the main light switch...


    Or what if he suddenly assumes that she was being sneaky because she was nning something... uhm...


    She was still considering her options when it seems that he finally noticed her presence inside the room as he nced back briefly behind him. Xiu Mei made a weird expression for a second before finally returning to her senses, shrugging off her formted ns a few seconds ago.


    She walked over to where he was and ran her eyes on the bookcase as well.


    "What are you looking at?" She casually asked.


    "I¡¯m just looking at what type of book my wife likes so I can read it and we could share your interest." Lu Chen replied with interest as he pulled out a book from her shelf and read the summary at the book.


    While his attention was reading the back of the book, Xiu Mei was in a trance as she stared at him.


    ...he wants to read a book from her shelf so they could share her interests.


    She ced her hand on her chest. Her heart was pounding so crazily that she could clearly feel her heartbeat even through her clothes. She was feeling a bit fl.u.s.tered so she quickly looked away from him.


    Ah, seriously. How can he always say something that cheesy so easily with a straight face?


    Dammit, her heart can¡¯t take it anymore you know? If he continues at this pace, who knows maybe her fort would crumble sooner than expected?


    "I-I¡¯m going to bed first." She said before she briskly walked over to her bed. She flipped open her bedsidemp before reminding Lu Chen to turn off the light before he goes to bed. Then she immediately buried herself under the nket and closed her eyes.


    Lu Chen chuckled at her reaction. He closed the book on his hand and put it back on the shelf while thinking how thin Xiu Mei¡¯s face is every time he tries to flirt with her.


    Her reaction would always be like this and instead of backing down, he was getting more tempted to tease her even more like this.


    He quickly wiped off the smile on his face after turning off the main light. Standing at the opposite side of her bed, he could see the view of her back towards him. The light from themp at her side of the bed creating almost a hazy glow surrounding her body.


    ¡¯If only every night it would always be like this...¡¯ is what he thought, wishing that they could always stay together in one room just like this like a normal husband and wife.


    He lifted the nket then climbed on the space of the bed just beside his wife. His movements paused for a second when he saw how Xiu Mei¡¯s back stiffened as soon as heid beside her.


    He suppressed his smile and settled down beside her. And without any hesitation, he scooted closer beside her and wrapped one of his arms around her waist. He could almost hear the sharp breath she took when he moved closer to her.


    "Goodnight, wife."


    And then using his other hand, he used it as a support as he nted a kiss on her cheek. When he pulled away, he could see how her eyshes trembled after the contact. He smiled.


    Then he reached over to themp and switched off the light filling the room with darkness once again. Afterying back down beside her, hugging her from behind, he inhaled deeply breathing her familiar scent.


    Slowly, he fell into slumber along with Xiu Mei who gradually rxed in his arms.


    The next day, Xiu Mei woke up from the sound of her rm ringing loudly in her ears. Out of habit, she buried her face under her pillow to block the sound so with her eyes shut, she grabbed the pillow under her head and dove under it.


    A minuteter, the sound of the rm finally stopped. She breathed a sigh of relief and continued sleeping.


    "Wife, wake up."


    She wondered where the macarons she had been eating had runoff.


    "Wife, you¡¯re gonna bete."


    She swore she also saw some madeleine calling her name out somewhere too. Where did her food go?


    "Wife, you need to wake up."


    Goddamnit, can¡¯t that person see that she¡¯s quite busy here? She¡¯s so hungry and someone stole her food ah.


    "Wife..."


    The pillow she had been hiding under disappeared, so the cool air suddenly hit her cheeks again. Even with her eyes close, she could almost imagine how high the sun hung in the sky.


    "Wife, you still have a flight to catch." A voice whispered in her ear.


    "Mhm." She groaned in reply in frustration. Without thefort of her pillow, she was slowly being forced to wake up.


    "Wife,e on." Someone was shaking her shoulder,pletely preventing her from falling asleep again. In the end, she didn¡¯t have a choice but to open her eyes and wake up.


    "Wife, good morning." Seeing her open her eyes, Lu Chen attacked her with his blinding morning smile.


    "..."


    Xiu Mei was still dozing off as she stared at the man beside her, still drowsy from her sleep.


    ...who is this? She wondered.


    "Wife?"


    Xiu Mei rubbed her eyes and yawned. She freely stretched her arms to wake her body up.


    Wife? Who is he calling his wif... wife?


    Xiu Mei returned to her senses. She blinked and turned to the figure beside her.


    He was still in his pajamas fromst night but weirdly, the upper part was unbuttoned revealing his corbone and chest hidden underneath. Since he was also leaning over her, she had a very good view of it too.


    She subconsciously gulped. What a view to wake up to ah...


    She casually looked away from the tempting view in front of her and met his gaze. He was smiling tenderly at her as he reached out to her head, smoothening her hair and tucking some of the strands behind her ear. She faintly blushed from the action.


    "Good morning." She greeted as she immediately raised her hand to run it through her probably messy hair. She unconsciously wiped her lips to check if she drooled in her sleep or not. That would be really embarrassing if Lu Chen saw her drool ah.


    Lu Chen smiled in response to her greeting. He leaned over and quickly pecked her in the lips.


    "Had a nice sleep?" He murmured without moving away from her face. She blushed from the sudden intimacy.


    Xiu Mei nodded in response. "Mhm."


    "Good." Then he pecked her on the lips once again and pulled away. He caressed her face and said, "Go wash up first."


    Like in a trance, she could only nod and obediently follow his words. Lu Chen climbed off the bed and walked over to her side and knelt in front of her. Then holding her slippers, he slipped her feet into those as if she was a kid who doesn¡¯t know how to wear one.

 Chapter 161 - City S - Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 161 - City S - Part 1</h4>


    "Don¡¯t forget to call me before you get on the ne and when you arrive, okay?" Lu Chen reminded her for the nth time as he zipped her luggage close.


    Xiu Mei turned her head and helplessly smiled to her husband as she stood in front of the mirror in her walk-in wardrobe. After fixing her stuff, he stood up to hold her hand. Taking out a small box from his pocket, he opened it before her and insideid a lowkey bracelet. He took it out and unsped it to wrap it around her wrist.


    "Why are you suddenly giving me a bracelet?" She asked in confusion.


    "This is just a precaution in case Lee In lose sight on you. This was designed with a tracker in it so in case you suddenly disappear, we can still track you through this." Lu Chen exined while sping the bracelet around her wrist.


    She took a closer look at the small design in the middle and wondered how small the tracker should be to fit inside this...oh.


    Speaking of trackers, Xiu Mei suddenly remembered her past conversation with Lu Qiang. Because she was too busy for the past week, she almost forgot about the watch that Lu Qiang gave to her to give to Lu Chen. The original purpose was to know where Lu Chen had been going to everytime he disappears but since that¡¯s already a solved problem, the main purpose for it ispletely gone.


    She roamed her eyes, pondering what to do with the watch. After Lu Chen left her walk-in wardrobe with her luggage, she walked over to a drawer. Grabbing the box containing the watch, she ced it inside her purse then casually exited the room.


    In her mind, she thought that since it was supposed to be given to Lu Chen, then she should just give it to him after the trip. Perhaps using an excuse that she bought it or so. Anyways, it¡¯s a men¡¯s watch so she can¡¯t wear it and it¡¯s not like she¡¯ll use the tracker anymore.


    In the dining room, Lu Qiang bombarded her with requests and reminders while eating their breakfast, much like his father.


    "Mommy, let¡¯s video call at night okay?"


    "Mommy, don¡¯t forget to text me every hour!"


    "Mommy, send me pictures too!"


    "Can you also bring home some desserts from there, Mommy?"


    Xiu Mei:...


    Genes never lie.


    Since it was the first time that Lu Qiang and Xiu Mei would be away for almost a week, she could understand Lu Qiang¡¯s concerns so she didn¡¯t hesitate to ept his requests and promised him that she would call him every night.


    She thought that was the end of her son¡¯s clingy episode for today but it was when the little kid was desperately clinging to her body right now that she realized that this was the true trial that she must face.


    "Mommy, don¡¯t go." Lu Qiang whimpered. Since he could only reach her, he could only hold on the square pants cks she was wearing.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s heart broke seeing his cries. She knelt in front of him and gave him a big hug, patting his back.


    "Darling, Mommy will be back soon." She said gently as sheforted him. The kid shook his head whilst as he drilled his face on her neck.


    "But you won¡¯te home for five days."


    "You just have to sleep for four nights then Mommy will be finally home."


    "Five nights are still long."


    "Then Mommy will try toe really early for darling, okay?" She released him and pinched his face. Dropping kisses on his forehead and cheeks, she coaxed him.


    "Promise me that you¡¯lle home?" Lu Qiang¡¯s voice broke while saying that.


    Both Xiu Mei and Lu Chen who heard that paused. In her mind, the memory where she first met Lu Qiang shed. She immediately understood what was running in the child¡¯s mind right now.


    Her breath hitched as if she couldn¡¯t breathe. She cupped his plump and supple face and looked at him with a serious expression.


    "Baby darling, I wille home no matter what happens. I promise."


    Lu Chen also knelt beside the kid and stroked his head.


    "Daddy won¡¯t let anything happen to your Mom so you don¡¯t have to worry anymore."


    Just by that one line, he understood his son¡¯s worry. After all, he is his father.


    Listening to his parents¡¯ promises, after some contemtion, Lu Qiang finally nodded and stopped clinging onto his mother.


    "I love you, Mommy." He eximed, crashing into her arms again for thest time. Xiu Mei¡¯s heart melted like goo as she weed her son¡¯s hug.


    "I love you too, my baby."


    To remove his worries, the couple decided to bring him along when Lu Chen drops her off at the airport. The small and big buns saw her off after repeating all their reminders for the nth time. Since it was almost the time of her departure, she did not roam around anymore and went straight to her destination. She didn¡¯t have to worry about beingte and all since the original flight of the Marketing team was yesterday.


    As soon as she arrived at City S after the four-hour flight, she went straight to the resort to meet up with the others. After checking in and settling her stuff in her room, she already scheduled to meet up with them over lunch.


    "Ms.Xiu, we¡¯re here!" A voice called out to her. She roamed her eyes around the restaurant and finally found the source of the voice.


    "Sorry, was Ite?"


    "Not at all, Ms.Xiu. We just finished ordering right now. Here¡¯s the menu so if you want to¡ª"


    Xiu Mei saw that they were gonna push the menu to her direction so she immediately stopped them. Smiling, she replied "It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m not very picky with food so anything you ordered would be fine with me."


    All of the expenses will fall in thepany¡¯s card so she really didn¡¯t mind eating any food right now. She saw a couple of seats empty and wondered.


    "Where are the others?" She asked.


    "Oh, they suddenly had to take a short meeting with the Captain. They said they¡¯ll be back in fifteen."


    "Mhm, well let¡¯s wait for them and have our lunch before we officially start."


    She wasn¡¯t in a rush and she was just going to receive some brief reports from each of them and updates on how they¡¯ll go about with the meeting with their client tomorrow onwards.


    The food was already served when the other missing members returned to their seats.


    "You¡¯ve finally arrived, Ms.Xiu!" A voice called from behind her. She turned her head to look at her side and saw Albert Chen beaming a smile at her while casually taking the avable seat beside her. She blinked before returning the greeting to him and the others.


    They finally started eating when a piece of meat was suddenly dropped in her bowl. Her movements with her chopsticks paused as she stared at her right with furrowed brows only to be met with a smiling face.


    "Mr. Albert, I appreciate the thought but I can get the food myself." She uttered as she returned to meat to his bowl.


    She couldn¡¯t ept the food that the Asst. Marketing Director gave her, especially if she doesn¡¯t want to get entangled in a rumor that she was cheating with him while in a rtionship with Lu Chen.


    As the President¡¯s secretary and Lu Chen¡¯s girlfriend, she has to be cautious when mingling with men outside. One mistake can make her have a scandal and instantly appear in the headlines the next day.


    "Sorry, I was just concerned that you were eating so little so I thought of giving you some more food." Albert Chen apologized sheepishly. Then he looked at the others worriedly as if he was concerned that someone saw them and think that they were clipping each other some food.


    Seeing that no one saw their small interaction, Xiu Mei brushed it off.


    "It¡¯s fine. Mr. Albert just needs to focus on his lunch and I¡¯ll focus on mine." She rigidly said as she continued clipping some vegetables and fish on her bowl.


    "Ms.Xiu is so cold ah." Albertmented at her cold response.


    "I¡¯m just reminding Mr.Albert that there¡¯s a line that one should not cross."


    "Of course you¡¯re our superior so we should still need to show our respect."


    A vein in Xiu Mei¡¯s head felt like it was gonna snap anytime soon. She thought, does this guy love acting stupid so much? Thank god that the others are too busy chatting that they couldn¡¯t hear much of their conversation.


    She smiled sarcastically at him.


    "That, and Mr.Albert should remember that I am already in a rtionship."


    She put down her chopsticks. She suddenly stood up from her seat that almost everyone in the table looked at her direction.


    "I¡¯ll just go to the restroom for a bit." She uttered as she excused herself from the table.

 Chapter 162 - City S - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 162 - City S - Part 2</h4>


    She sshed her face with water as soon as she arrived in the restroom. She stared at her reflection in the mirror while scolding herself. She didn¡¯t know why she suddenly snapped at Albert today at all.


    It¡¯s not like this was even the first time he made a pass on her, but it seems like her suspicion was causing her to subconsciously be hypersensitive of his actions. At this rate, if he really is someone who is to be suspected, he¡¯ll surely put his guard up and be more careful with his actions because of her thoughtless actions.


    After gathering herself for a full minute in there, she reminded herself once again that she should just act normal as if she didn¡¯t know anything. Then she returned to her seat again and had her meal while chatting with others.


    Xiu Mei examined the restaurant for a little bit to observe the influx of the customersing in and thought that there are too many people so she couldn¡¯t casually inquire about the status of the n with the Zen Group.


    "Are there any ns for today?" Xiu Mei asked Albert since he was the acting captain of the Marketing Team 3.


    "We were supposed to visit the testingboratory for today but since the ns changed and they requested your attendance, they moved it up to tomorrow morning."


    "Okay so after this, let¡¯s huddle somewhere private to talk about the contract signing then that will be all for today. Just tell me about everything that wasn¡¯t written in the report then everyone can do whatever they want to do for the day after that."


    Albert Chen nodded in agreement with her suggestion.


    So after taking their lunch in that ce, they moved into some traditional teahouse ce where Xiu Mei sent a short notice for reservation in a private room.


    "So where are we with the contract signing with the Zen Group?" Xiu Mei inquired while sipping her tea.


    The second ount Executive of the Marketing Team 3 spoke up to discuss the current status of their negotiation with the mentionedpany.


    "We¡¯re all clear with the mobile upgrades partnership so we¡¯re just waiting for the finalization of the budget of both sides for the final product so they could sign the contract. Since it¡¯s still in the trial stage, tomorrow the Zen Group will bring us to the testingboratory to discuss the progress of the project."


    "Both sides are doing their estimation for the budget, correct?"


    "Yes, the final estimation just came in yesterday from the nning Department so if Ms.Xiu would like to see it, I¡¯ll be happy to forward the file to you anytime today."


    "Thanks. Then forward it to my email letter so I could check."


    Her head turned to Albert Chen.


    "Brief me about the progress in your conversation with them for the past few days since tomorrow, I¡¯m quite sure they¡¯ll ask about the data breach news. I¡¯ll need to feel out first their stance before we could proceed with the contract signing."


    "I understand. Then I¡¯ll brief you about itter today."


    Xiu Mei and the team spent almost an hour discussing about their ns for tomorrow. Since she¡¯ll still need a brief discussion with Albert, she let the other members go on their own way first, leaving the two of them alone in the private room.


    Caught up in her train of thoughts about work, she went straight to the point in her questions and discussions with Albert Chen. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t pull a stunt in the middle of their discussion as he also took their meeting seriously. They finished discussing after half an hour, going through 3 pots of tea.


    Xiu Mei was still noting some stuff on her phone about work to finalize their short meeting when Albert offered to bring her out for some dessert.


    He stared at the cold pot of tea in the middle of the table and eximed, "I think we drank too much tea for today. Should we go grab some desserts to alleviate the taste?"


    He was talking about the bitter aftertaste of the tea after they drank it cold.


    Pressing ¡¯save¡¯ on her phone, she nced at her own cup of cold tea before turning to Albert. She didn¡¯t think much about his offer but since she was also tasting the bitterness of the leaves in her mouth, she agreed with his suggestion.


    After walking a few stores down the street, they entered a dessert cafe. She casually ordered some slice of cheesecake and a small packet of fruits. She was waiting for their food to be served when she noticed how Albert was grinning at her.


    "...Why are you smiling so scary like that?" She suspiciously asked.


    Albert shrugged. "Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s the first time you ever agreed on my requests to take you out?"


    Oh, he was indeed right.


    He was actively inviting her to eat with him a couple of times before but she¡¯ll always shot him down. She thought, was it her gut instinct sensing that he was some person she shouldn¡¯t be hanging out with?


    "It¡¯s just by chance." She perfunctorily replied.


    "Still, it¡¯s a great achievement after all that many attempts."


    "Don¡¯t celebrate too much. It¡¯s just by chance that I¡¯m craving for something sweet after drinking so much tea--oh thanks."


    Their desserts were finally served on their table. She picked up her pastry fork getting ready to dig in when she noticed numerous tes of desserts on Albert¡¯s side.


    "..."


    Is he a pig?


    "Didn¡¯t we just finish our lunch?" She almost doubted whether this guy ate this lunch if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that she was sitting beside him the whole time.


    They just had their lunch like less than two hours ago... and this guy is eating like he hadn¡¯t eaten anything?


    Albert yfully smiled as he readied his fork.


    "Like they always say, there¡¯s a different space of desserts in our stomach."


    She couldn¡¯t help butugh at his statement. "Just don¡¯t get a stomachache because we have a really important meeting in the next few days."


    "Do you want some?" Before she could reply, he dropped a couple of macarons and ced a serving ice cream in front of her. She almost shuddered at the amount of sugar in front of her.


    "I can¡¯t eat this much." She tried to push back the te back to Albert¡¯s but he stopped her by holding it from the opposite end of the te.


    "Just think of it as stocking up food for the impending stress for the next days."


    She looked at him weirdly. It was the first time she heard someone put it that way.


    "What do you think am I? A bear nearing its hibernation?"


    Albert Chen put a spoonful of the chocte slice in his mouth, grinning.


    "Make it two bears approaching hibernation."


    "..."


    Reason won¡¯t work for him at this moment ah.


    In the end, she surrendered to the sugar monsters in front of her and gobbled it up like mad just like Albert. After eating their desserts, since she thought it wasn¡¯t really appropriate to keep hanging out with him alone any longer, both of them went on their own ways.


    She visited a couple of souvenir shops to buy some stuff just in case she couldn¡¯t find the time to buy once she gets too busy in the next few days. After all, she can¡¯t just go home without buying anything for the little one.


    Keeping her promise to her son, she kept steadily messaged him throughout the day. She knew how anxious Lu Qiang must have been right now, and Lu Chen chose to work from home just to keep an eye on the kid for today.


    Xiu Mei stared at the sky. It was almost sunset and she was bound to go back to the hotel anytime soon. After paying for the items she bought, she walked along the streets in tranquility. She casually took a picture of the sky and the scenery before sending it to the two men at home.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s reply came quickly and as she was typing her response, she stopped on her tracks when she heard somebody calling her name.


    "Sister MeiMei?"


    Wasn¡¯t that Wan Wan?


    Xiu Mei struggled whether to turn around or act as if she hadn¡¯t heard her at all but seeing that there weren¡¯t many people around and the surroundings were actually pretty quiet, wouldn¡¯t it be pretty obvious if she acted like she hadn¡¯t heard her?


    Oh, but didn¡¯t she already tell her that she didn¡¯t know her thest time they met? Then she guessed it would be fine if she ignored her right now.


    Xiu Mei continued walking down the street until she reached the road to hail a taxi but before she could even raise her hand, she felt a sudden chill on her back.


    ...Yes, not behind her back but ON her back.


    Xiu Mei turned to look behind her and saw Wan Wan sheepishly smiling at her while holding an ice cream cone. Then she lowered her eyes and saw her clothes stained with a scoop of strawberry ice cream.


    Xiu Mei:....isn¡¯t this scenario quite simr to the tactic being used by street robbers she read from an article months ago?

 Chapter 163 - City S - Part 3

    <h4>Chapter 163 - City S - Part 3</h4>


    Xiu Mei frowned at the ring chocte stain on her blouse. Then she shifted it to the reflection of herself in the mirror. After getting her blouse dirtied with ice cream, she changed into the in dress she bought just now.


    Silent, she sighed. She stepped out of the changing room and saw Wan Wan waiting for her. She immediately stood up as soon as she saw her.


    "Sister Meimei, I would like to apologize again. I really didn¡¯t mean to do that." She approached her and apologized insistently. She reached out to touch her arm but Xiu Mei discreetly avoided her.


    Grabbing the rest of her stuff, she turned towards her.


    "It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to worry about it anymore." Without waiting for her response, she walked over to the cashier to pay for her clothes. She stepped out of the store but stopped on her tracks when Wan Wan blocked her way.


    She frowned at her insistence.


    "Ms.Ying, I believe we don¡¯t have any business with each other."


    "Sister Meimei, can¡¯t you really remember me? Or can¡¯t we just at least have a cup of coffee?" Wan Wan looked at her as if she was going to cry any moment right now but Xiu Mei steeled her resolve.


    "Ms.Ying, I am very busy so if you could please excuse me." She tried to go around her but Wan Wan¡¯s arm appeared in front of her to block her way again. She heaved in frustration as she tried to suppress herself from getting angry. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.


    "Ms.Ying, can you promise me that you¡¯ll leave me alone if I grant you your request to have a cup of coffee?"


    Wan Wan never stopped following behind her ever since she spotted her. Xiu Mei was worried that this girl would even dare to follow her to her hotel if she didn¡¯t give in to her request.


    In the end, they ended up in a nearby coffee shop with a steaming hottte served in front of her. On the opposite end of her table was Wan Wan, smiling from ear to ear like a child that was finally given with her long time wished toy.


    Xiu Mei stared at thette in front of her and swallowed.


    "Sister Meimei, can you really not remember me?" Wan Wan pouted, tilting her head as she looked at her with puppy eyes. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t get easily affected by her cute act as she took a sip of her drink with a deadpan expression.


    "Apologies, but no." She perfunctory replied.


    Wan Wan looked at her in shock as if she couldn¡¯t believe her response. Xiu Mei saw her lower her head and her shoulders shocked so she thought she was crying. She suddenly felt guilty.


    Was her response too cold and heartless?


    For a moment, she felt like she should apologize but steeled her heart again after remembering why she was being cold to her in the first ce.


    Because right now, she is Mrs.Ying¡¯s daughter.


    And she didn¡¯t want to provoke Mrs.Ying¡¯s anger if she knew that she was interacting with her adopted daughter. She already sinned her enough.


    "Then we¡¯ll just start all over!" Wan Wan dered her resolve as she heavily mmed her hand on the table causing it to shake.


    Xiu Mei almost jumped in surprise at her sudden deration.


    Xiu Mei:...this doesn¡¯t feel good.


    Ignoring the looks of the other customers, Wan Wan leaned over on the table as she looked at her with glittering eyes.


    "Sister Meimei, what¡¯s your itinerary tomorrow?"


    "..."


    Back at the hotel, Xiu Mei dropped her stuff on the nearby sofa and threw herself on the bed.


    She stared at the ceiling thinking about all her decisions in life. Recalling Wan Wan¡¯s never-ending chatter in the cafe, she barely stopped herself from pulling out her hair in front of her.


    "All I just wanted was peace...but it seems so far away." She murmured to herself.


    The more she wanted to stay away from her, the more Wan Wan wanted to stick with her. She barely escaped from her clutches if it weren¡¯t for the help of her second brother¡¯s bodyguard that helped her shrug Wan Wan off her tracks.


    After staying like that for almost half an hour, she finally found the energy to change into morefortable clothes. After showering and doing her usual routine, she picked up her phone and read the messages from her friends and her family.


    Seeing her son¡¯s messages, her expression softened. Remembering her promise with Lu Qiang, her finger slid to the video call button on her phone.


    She sat on the edge of the bed and after two rings, her call was immediately epted.


    "Mom!!" Lu Qiang¡¯s close up face appeared on the screen. Seeing his energetic and warm greeting, she couldn¡¯t help but giggle.


    "Hi, darling. How was your day?" She asked him the usual question she would often ask as soon as she got home from work. Lu Qiang eagerly answered her question as he went on telling about his academic lessons and violin practice while Xiu Mei listened to him earnestly.


    "Lu Qiang, it¡¯s time for bed." She heard someone say on the other line.


    Lu Qiang paused to look over his phone and saw his Dad going down the stairs. Lu Chen saw the little kid sitting on the sofa while holding his tablet up in his other hand. Seeing his son¡¯s thrilled expression and the gadget on his hand, he quickly realized that he must have been talking to someone on the tablet. And who could it be that can make Lu Qiang so happy?


    Of course, that could only be Xiu Mei.


    Ignoring his son¡¯s annoyed expression, he walked over to sit beside him.


    "Is that your Mom?"


    Lu Qiang¡¯s eyes shifted from his Mom¡¯s video on the screen and to his Dad. Seeing that his Dad was going to sit beside him, he quickly hugged the tablet into his arms refusing to show Xiu Mei to him.


    Xiu Mei:...why did the screen suddenly turn dark?


    On the other side of the phone, Lu Chen looked at the childish act of his son speechlessly.


    "Lu Qiang." His voice subconsciously raised thinking that he hung up on Xiu Mei so carelessly because of his childishness.


    Lu Qiang flinched at the tone of his voice but held his ground. He hugged his tablet into his arms firmly as he shook his head.


    "No."


    He bravely red at his Dad as if he was saying that ¡¯I won¡¯t let Mom talk to you.¡¯


    "It¡¯s your fault why Mom had to leave in the first ce! Hmph!"


    "..."


    What¡¯s his son grumbling about?


    The two were in the middle of a ring contest when a female voice came out of Lu Qiang¡¯s tablet.


    "Darling?" Xiu Mei uttered in confusion staring at the ck screen.


    Did their call suddenly disconnect? But she could still hear their conversation a few seconds ago ah.


    Her phone¡¯s not in low battery too. Was the hotel¡¯s Wi-Fi terrible?


    While wondering whether it was a connection problem on her side, her phone screen finally brightened and Lu Qiang¡¯s face appeared again.


    Before Xiu Mei could even react, she saw Lu Qiang¡¯s sulking expression. Then she remembered what Lu Qiang roared at Lu Chen seconds ago and understood why he was getting sulky.


    "Baby, it¡¯s not Dad¡¯s fault that Mom had to go here."


    More like, it was partially her fault of not handling things properly in the first ce. So she couldn¡¯t let Lu Chen get med by his son because of this even though it¡¯s just one of his seldom childish tantrums.


    "But Mom is working for Dad. Dad should have been there instead."


    Xiu Mei who was on City S:...


    Lu Chen who was being scorned by his son:....


    "Mom, can you stop working for Dad?" Lu Qiang asked while sulking. Both Lu Chen and Xiu Mei didn¡¯t see his questioning.


    "Baby..." Xiu Mei was at a loss on how to respond to her son.


    If she wasn¡¯t careful with her words, Lu Qiang might throw tantrum even more.


    Thankfully, Lu Chen was the one who spoke first.


    Lu Chen reached out to his son and embraced him by his shoulders. Cradling him in his arms, he asked.


    "Why do you suddenly want Mom to stop working?"


    He thought it was more important to know his son¡¯s line of thoughts first before they answer his question. It wasn¡¯t normal for Lu Qiang to suddenly request Xiu Mei to stop working under him.


    He pondered whether it was because of his short burst in the morning that was rted to his biological parents.


    Lu Qiang lowered his head as if realizing that he was being so stubborn in front of his parents. He hesitated answering his Dad.


    Wouldn¡¯t they think he was being selfish?


    Seeing the little kid unresponsive, Lu Chen, and Xiu Mei looked at each other before sighing.

 Chapter 164 - City S - Part 4

    <h4>Chapter 164 - City S - Part 4</h4>


    Parenting never gets easy. As Lu Qiang¡¯s mother, Xiu Mei was very worried seeing her the troubled expression her son was making.


    At home, Lu Qiang is sometimes childish but he was still very obedient.


    With other people, he is always sensible and adorable.


    He would sometimes throw tantrums but it was still at a reasonable point.


    So seeing his troubled expression right now, Xiu Mei felt her heart ache. For a moment, she actually considered his request.


    Before she married Lu Chen, she would always wonder why some women would choose to stay at home instead of continuing to work. After all, her belief is that women also have the right to choose whether to be a career woman or a housewife.


    But right now that she has be a mother, Xiu Mei can now somehow understand their thoughts. It wasn¡¯t because they didn¡¯t want to work anymore but rather, children need love and attention especially when they¡¯re at a young age.


    Xiu Mei knew very well that she and Lu Chen owes Lu Qiang so much because of theck of time they spend with him everyday. He finally had a mother but that mother still can¡¯t give him the proper time and affection he years for.


    She thought that the child was very understanding of the situation all this time but with his outburst just now, it seems that she thought wrong.


    "Baby, can you look at Mom for a second?" Xiu Mei softened her voice, trying to soothe Lu Qiang¡¯s panicking self.


    "Lu Qiang, your mother¡¯s telling you something." Lu Chen lightly nudged the child in his embrace. He dropped a kiss on his hair as he continued appeasing him.


    The little kid shook his head, expressing his rejection to listen to his parents. Lu Chen stroked his back as he tried convincing his son again.


    "Do you hate Mom?" This time, he tried a different tactic.


    Lu Qiang flinched and immediately shook his head.


    "Then are you dissatisfied with Mom?"


    The kid shook his head again.


    "Then is it to Dad you¡¯re dissatisfied with?"


    This time, Lu Qiang hesitated for a second before shaking his head again. Seeing his different reply, Lu Chen and Xiu Mei helplessly looked at each other before returning their attention again on the little kid.


    A pained expression appeared on Lu Chen¡¯s face for a split second before it quickly disappeared. He grabbed the tablet in his hand and ced it on an upright position on the table so his wife could still see what was happening then he pulled Lu Qiang into hisp.


    Lu Qiang subconsciously adjusted his position in his father¡¯s embrace when he was pulled into hisp. He wrapped his short arms around his neck, fully embracing his father. Lu Chen tried to imitate the tone that Xiu Mei would often use when she¡¯s trying tofort Lu Qiang.


    "Can our baby tell us why is he dissatisfied with Dad?"


    Gone is his indifference and cold expression. Now, he was trying his best to be a concerned father who is now very worried as to why his son was suddenly dissatisfied with him.


    Was he being too strict with him for the past few days? Or did he do something that angered him? But Lu Qiang never held back expressing his thoughts everytime he gets angry with him.


    Lu Qiang was silent as his hold on his father tightened. It was like he was afraid that his father would suddenly push him away.


    On the other line, Xiu Mei watched the father and son interact through the phone. She felt so useless because she couldn¡¯t do anything when she¡¯s so far away from them. She can¡¯t even hug or console her husband and son. All she could do was to be silent and leave everything in Lu Chen¡¯s hands to figure out what was wrong with Lu Qiang.


    After sitting like that for a few minutes, Lu Qiang shifted in his arms so Lu Chen slightly loosened his hold on him. The little kid pulled away from the hug and looked very apologetic to his Dad.


    Lu Qiang was biting on his lips as his eyes trembled from trying to meet his father¡¯s gaze. It looked like he wanted to say something but he was hesitating.


    "Do you want to say something to Dad?" He rubbed his head to ease his worries.


    Lu Qiang opened his mouth and paused as if he was thinking about it again. In the end, he said what he wanted to say.


    "I...I lied. I wasn¡¯t actually dissatisfied with Dad." He uttered while unconsciously pulling on Lu Chen¡¯s sleeves. He added, "Because Dad is always with Mom, but I could only be with Mom every night."


    Lu Chen blinked. He finally understood what was the little on thinking.


    It seems like his son was sulking because he was thinking that he was monopolizing Xiu Mei¡¯s time.


    ...Though it wasn¡¯t exactly wrong either. Lu Chen does stick to Xiu Mei a lot these days even at home.


    "Is that why you want Mom to stop working with Dad?"


    Lu Qiang nodded hesitantly. Thinking that his Mom might be disappointed with him, he quickly exined his reason for thinking that way.


    "I just thought that if Mom stopped working with Dad then maybe,... she could finally spend more time to y with me." Lu Qiang looked at Lu Chen with watery eyes, looking very aggrieved as if he was being bullied. He fiddled with his hands in nervousness.


    Even though the father and son duo was almost whispering with each other with their low voices, Xiu Mei could still faintly hear the gist of their conversation. She gasped after listening to Lu Qiang¡¯s grievances to the two of them.


    Right now, she was really considering her decision to keep working as Lu Chen¡¯s secretary. She realized that if she had to choose between her son and career, she would choose her son with no regrets at all. Despite being so attached to her career, it wasn¡¯t as important as Lu Qiang.


    Because Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t exactly in the mood to hold a conversation with either of them, Xiu Mei encouraged him to go to bed and sleep instead. After convincing him that she will call him back in the morning to make up with missed conversation tonight, Lu Qiang eventually gave in and obediently climbed upstairs to go to his room, leaving her and Lu Chen alone in the line.


    After waiting for his son¡¯s figure to disappear upstairs, Lu Chen finally spoked to his wife.


    "It seems like we made him too anxious." He eximed.


    Xiu Mei nodded in agreement. She shared her thoughts with him after hearing their recent conversation.


    "Chen, maybe I should resign." She wanted to hear his thoughts so she didn¡¯t hesitate to voice out hers.


    Lu Chen already saw iting as he replied, "But you love working there." his tone was serious but she could still feel the worry in his voice.


    Xiu Mei fell silent for a moment. She couldn¡¯t refute Lu Chen¡¯s statement at all. Her work was quite stressful from the very start but eventually, she grew to love her work for the past four years. It was the only think she had aside from being the princess of the Xiu family. But most especially, she enjoyed being able to interact with her coworkers without having to worry about her manners and etiquette. It was almost simr yet different in her usual circle.


    Even after her marriage with Lu Chen, her boss, and the Lu Corporation¡¯s president, the idea of resigning never appeared in her mind. Even when Lu Chen was being so stubborn when he was proposing to her.


    Okay well, probably aside from the time when she was back at the hospital and she was fooled by him to sign the marriage registration form.


    Who would¡¯ve thought that a time wille when she¡¯d have to choose between her career and her son.


    Recalling Lu Qiang¡¯s aggrieved expression, her heart ached. If she really had to choose, it would still be her son over her career.


    "Lu Qiang is more important." She resolutely replied at Lu Chen.


    Lu Chen stared at her for a few seconds before he lowered his head. It was as if he was contemting about something.


    "Wife."


    "What is it?"


    "Before we forget, even if you resign right now, it¡¯s not like you can stay with him everyday at all."


    Xiu Mei frowned. What was he suddenly talking about?


    "Wife, we enrolled Lu Qiang into a school for this school year right? So even if you resign right now, once school starts, Lu Qiang still won¡¯t be able to stay with you at all." Lu Chen exined.


    "So instead of resigning, maybe what we could do is to fix our work schedule until Lu Qiang starts school. After that, we can return to our normal setup just like our previous days since all three of us would have mostly the same schedule."


    Xiu Mei:...How can she forget that she was talking to her boss ah? She would be a fool if she couldn¡¯t feel that Lu Chen didn¡¯t want her to resign at all.

 Chapter 165 - City S - Part 5

    <h4>Chapter 165 - City S - Part 5</h4>


    After that brief conversation with her husband, unfortunately, the talk about Xiu Mei¡¯s work status in the near future has been put into on-hold for now.


    Right now, she was here in City S to fulfill her duties as the President¡¯s secretary. Lu Qiang¡¯s request, both of them would have to deal with that once she gets back.


    Just as she promised, Xiu Mei had a short chat with Lu Qiang the very next day before she left for work. Thankfully, Lu Qiang¡¯s mood was way better than it wasst night and the mother and son were able to have a very fruitful conversation.


    After spending a quick breakfast in her room, Xiu Mei met with the others in the lobby while waiting for the assigned vehicle to pick them up to bring them to the meeting ce.


    "Ms.Xiu, it¡¯s very nice to see you once again." The Vice-Chairman of the Zen Group uttered as soon as they met. The others were sitting behind them while the ount Executive and Albert Chen are sitting beside her.


    Putting on her business smile, Xiu Mei stood up and shook hands with the Vice-Chairman as well. It was during the International Conference for Technology that she met first met the Vice-Chairman of the Zen Group. Both left with good impressions with each other after their brief conversation back then hence, the partnership with the uing tech became possible.


    Xiu Mei and the others went straight to business after the formalities. Just like she suspected, it was the Data Breach issue that caused them to be hesitant to continue with the project. She exined the circ.u.mstances that it wasn¡¯t what they thought it was and assured them that this matter definitely won¡¯t happen again. It took them quite a long time to convince the Vice-Chairman before he finally signed the project budget contract.


    With the signing of the contract, Xiu Mei got even busier. Albert Chen split up the team to divide their tasks. Bringing 2 members from the Marketing Team 3, Xiu Mei apanied the Vice-Chairman in doing the random quality check and progress in both Lu Corporation and Zen Group¡¯s testing centers.


    She was too busy that she almost forgot about Lu Qiang¡¯s issue and Wan Wan¡¯s stubbornness that she would follow her everywhere during her stay in City S. It was only on the third day did Wan Wan appear in front of her when she was taking her dinner alone in a restaurant a few blocks away from the hotel.


    "Sister Meimei!" Wan Wan vigorously called her name as she suddenly popped out of nowhere in front of her


    "..."


    Did she have some kind of tracker or something? How the hell does she always appear perfectly in front of her when she was alone?


    Then she remembered the bracelet she was wearing.


    Oh. She does have a tracker.


    Xiu Mei frowned. Did Wan Wan somehow nt some kind of different tracker on me that¡¯s why she could always find her?


    Without waiting for Xiu Mei, Wan Wanfortably upied the seat opposite her table and waved for the waiter to order. She did it so naturally as if she was originally meant to eat with her in the first ce.


    She nced at her unfinished food and sighed. It¡¯s going to be a waste of food if she leaves without finishing this.


    She stared at the beaming Wan Wan for a few seconds before deciding to just stay and finish her meal first before leaving her here.


    "Sister Meimei, I couldn¡¯t find you at all yesterday. Were you so busy?" Wan Wan blinked cutely as if she was asking a very normal question.


    Xiu Mei somehow shuddered at her question. She thought, isn¡¯t that what a stalker would say to her targets?


    ....or was she thinking too much?


    Swallowing the food in her mouth, she halfheartedly answered, "I am busy so I rmend Ms.Ying to y on her own."


    "But I wanna hang out with you." She pouted at her


    "As I said, I¡¯m not interested in spending time with you Ms.Ying."


    "Then I¡¯ll make it interesting for you!"


    "Don¡¯t make it interesting."


    "Then I¡¯ll make it fun."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s expression hardened. With pursed lips, she looked straight into her eyes.


    "Don¡¯t make it fun."


    Wan Wan continuously ignored the tone of her voice and pressed, "So where do we go tomorrow?"


    "I¡¯m not going anywhere with you tomorrow."


    "Should we go to the park? Or the mall? Or the temple?"


    "..."


    Fine, she¡¯s not listening.


    Xiu Mei speeded up eating instead. She can¡¯tst any longer with Wan Wan like this or she¡¯ll go crazy. Xiu Mei deppresingly sighed. She didn¡¯t know how Wan Wan grew up in Ying family but surely, she didn¡¯t have the normal kind.


    What kind of normal person would use an ice cream to stop her from leaving like a robber? And who would enthusiastically tell a person that she was trying to find her the whole day yesterday?


    This time, she¡¯s not avoiding her because of Mrs.Ying. She¡¯s avoiding her now because Ying Wan Wan turned out strange than she had expected. She even worried whether she picked up back in the orphanage or in the Ying family.


    As soon as she finished her dinner, she nced at Wan Wan who have yet to finish hers. She rejoiced in her mind and quickly collected her stuff.


    "I¡¯ll go first."


    And before she could let Wan Wan react, her steps elerated towards the payment area. Handing arge bill, she said, "I don¡¯t need the change. Thanks."


    Without waiting for the cashier¡¯s reaction, she quickly left the restaurant. Passing by the window, she couldn¡¯t help but nce to see Wan Wan¡¯s reaction. Her eyes automatically shifting to her previous seat, her eyes widened not seeing Wan Wan¡¯s figure there. Her eyes darted towards the payment area but she couldn¡¯t see it from the window.


    Fudge, is she leaving the restaurant now? Without even finishing her food? Goddamnit is she seriously going to follow her?!


    She didn¡¯t think about it any further and dashed towards the area with many people. She tried mixing in the crowd in hopes that Wan Wan wouldn¡¯t spot her. Without looking back anymore, she made a beeline back to the hotel without stopping until she arrived to her room.


    Leaning on the door, she was already panting with how quick she was walking.


    Oh god, why did she suddenly feel so scared with Wan Wan ah?


    Was it because she was clearly sensing the stalker potential in her?


    Xiu Mei shuddered at the thought.


    After calming down and thinking for a few minutes, she quickly sent a short message to Lee In.


    Xiu Mei: Can you monitor Wan Wan for me?


    Lee In: Yes we can. Do you want me to put someone on her 24/7?


    Xiu Mei paused to think before sending her response.


    Xiu Mei: No. Just let me know about her whole stay in City S and why she is here.


    Lee In: Copy that. I¡¯ll let you know once we¡¯re done investigating her.


    Xiu Mei: Thank you.


    She nced at the dark sky from the window of her room. The image of her back while staring at the night sky looks gloomy and mncholic at the same time.


    Her thoughts were floating into somewhere again as she crossed her arms.


    Strange. Why does she suddenly feel weird all of sudden?


    Kinda like that something¡¯s gonna happen very soon?


    Is this intuition? Or was she just too tired and thinking too much?


    The very next day, Xiu Mei worked as usual. She was now on the way with the Vice-Chairman to the research area for the mobile technology their creating. It was the ce where they are developing the features they want to include for their future products.


    She was on the car talking about some business stuff with the Vice-Chairman when she suddenly felt the vehicle speed up than normal. She turned her head towards the front and nced at the Vice-Chairman who looks very rxed.


    Was it just her imagination? Or was it the stress taking a toll on her body?


    Xiu Mei took a deep breath. Why was she being so jumpy today ah?


    After spending more than half a day right there, the Vice-Chairman left to attend to some other appointment so Xiu Mei stayed there for a little longer to watch. It was already past 3 pm when she decided to leave the ce. Since the other two groups are using thepany vehicles temporarily, Xiu Mei had to hail her own cab to return to the hotel.


    Luckily, she was able to get a cab in such a short time despite the busy time. She was reading the doc.u.ments on her tablet while waiting to arrive at her destination when a loud screeching sound resounded on her right.


    Xiu Mei raised her head and turned towards the deafening source of the sound.


    Her eyes widened. Everything happened so quickly that she didn¡¯t have enough time to react at all.


    BANG! CRASH! CRASH!


    "Oh my god!! Somebody call the ambnce!!" She heard a faint voice scream in the background.

 Chapter 166 - City S - Part 6

    <h4>Chapter 166 - City S - Part 6</h4>


    The loud sound of continuous honking of arge truck resounded throughout the intersection. Almost everyone in the vicinity immediately turned to look towards the highway to find where the sound wasing from. Aside from that, the screeching sound of the tires braking noise


    The screeching sound temporarily deafened Xiu Mei¡¯s ears causing her to raise her head from the doc.u.ment she was reading to turn towards her left.


    For others, everything happened so fast before they could even let out a shriek. Strangely for Xiu Mei, it almost felt like everything was slowed down.


    The fear that appeared across the truck driver¡¯s face.


    How the mother pulled her kid into her arms and ran to the inner side most of the sidewalk.


    The pedestrians who had barely crossed the street immediately ran for their lives towards the opposite side of the street.


    And how her taxi driver sped up in an attempt to outrun the truck that was threatening to crash into their vehicle.


    BANG! CRASH! CRASH!


    The sound of the cars colliding with each other and sses shattering echoed across the intersection. Along with it are the sounds of other cars pulling their brakes and car rm noises that reached even until to the next street.


    "Oh my god!! Somebody call the ambnce!!" She heard a faint voice scream in the background.


    Rattled by the sudden halt of the vehicle she was riding on, she couldn¡¯t stop the inertia of motioning into y. Her body was forced to lean forward almost mming her head into the headrest of the car seat in front of her if it weren¡¯t for the seatbelt she was wearing.


    It was then that Xiu Mei realized that the taxi had been a few centimeters away from getting caught by the truck before itpletely collided with other cars.


    The moment the taxi came into a full stop, Xiu Mei was hit by a pang of pain in various parts of her body. Before she could even scream out from the pain, the door beside her suddenly opened. She turned her head to her left with great difficulty and saw her second brother¡¯s bodyguards. Knowing the current state she was in, they immediately moved her out of the car carefully including the driver at the front that fainted out of shock.


    Her breathing grew ragged as seconds passed. Her vision was getting hazy by the second with the intense pain attacking her entire body.


    "Ms.Xiu, please wait a bit. We¡¯ll immediately bring you to the nearest hospital." The bodyguard that was carrying her eximed as he carefully made his way out of the chaotic wreck of multiple cars.


    Even though she was immersed in so much pain, Xiu Mei did not forget that there were people who are in more grave danger than her. She tugged the person who was carrying her.


    "No, I¡¯ll be fine so put me down. I want you to focus on rescuing the injured people." She knew she wasn¡¯t in good condition either but she knew if the others weren¡¯t rescued on time, they¡¯ll be in more danger.


    At first, her bodyguards immediately disagreed at what she said so instead, she had to use her authority as the daughter of the Xiu family and ordered them to rescue others. With this, even though they¡¯re under the orders of her second brother, they still have duties to follow her orders as well.


    They hesitantly put her down inside the car they were using before rushing to the scene to start their rescue. Since the bodyguards are well trained for first aid, they¡¯ll be very helpful in earning more time for the injured people.


    Xiu Mei shifted ufortably in her seat as she clutched her chest and shoulder in pain. The force of the seatbelt that prevented her from being seriously injured resulted in a burning pain in her shoulders. She evensubconsciously used her hand to push herself back when the car halted so her wrists are probably injured as well.


    Even if she was straining, she turned her head towards the direction of the ident. She could already hear the sound of ambnce and police cars approaching. Some people are crowding around the area either filming it or calling for more help. Some children who were scared cried very hard at the side.


    Amongst the chaotic crowd, the person in ck calmly standing at the back stood out. He was looking at the scene very calmly as if he wasn¡¯t feeling anything at all after witnessing such a scary scene.


    Then that person suddenly turned to her direction. She didn¡¯t know why but Xiu Mei suddenly shivered, a chill crawled down her spine. Even though that person was quite far from where she was and the car that she was was tinted, she almost thought that the person in ck could see her even through that.


    And the next thing that he did startled her even more.


    That person started walking forward, approaching her direction. His face that she couldn¡¯t make out was getting clearer and clearer as their distance lessened.


    A secondter, her eyes widened.


    "Y-You!" She eximed in shock as she finally realized who that person was. Her body unconsciously moved upright, but because of this movement, a shooting pain ran through her body once more.


    She groaned in pain, clutching her chest. She raised her eyes again to look at the person but a body suddenly came in between the two of them. It was a familiar petite woman that she met a few weeks back.


    It was Lee In.


    Her back was obstructing her view of that man in ck so Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know what she was doing.


    On the other hand, Lee In who was devoid of emotions pointed a gun at the man in front her without hesitation. She sharply red at that person as she threatened him.


    "If you take another step, I assure you that this bullet will be inside your brain in the next millisecond."


    That man stopped on his tracks. He proudly raised his head, as if he wasn¡¯t scared by Lee In¡¯s threat. Instead, he smiled smugly with a mix of triumph and evil on his face. The scar on his face made his expression even more terrifying.


    He suddenly slipped his hand inside his windbreaker causing Lee In to flinch and pull the trigger. She purposefully missed the man to give him a warning. Lee In was using a silencer hence, the others didn¡¯t hear the gunshot.


    "Move a muscle and the next shot won¡¯t miss anymore." Lee In narrowed her eyes towards the man. But the man seemed like he doesn¡¯t fear her at all. In a split second, a piece of paper appeared in his hand.


    "You may think I¡¯m the person behind all of this but unfortunately for you, I¡¯m just a piece of pawn for that person. Today¡¯s ident is just an excuse for him to let me deliver his message to that person." After dering that, he dropped the paper and let it fall to the ground.


    Fearlessly, he turned his back from Lee In and started walking away nonchntly as if a gun wasn¡¯t being pointed to his head. Lee In¡¯s grip on her gun tightened as she cursed inside her mind.


    If her objective to this trip wasn¡¯t to assure the safety of the Chief¡¯s wife, then she would have surely gone after that person and stabbed a piece of knife on his head heartlessly. But even if she wanted to do that, she couldn¡¯t forget her objective. She could only give up and watch that man walk away unscathed.


    She raised her hand and tapped themunicator in her ear five times.


    Lee In¡¯s expression hardened as she watched that person disappear in front of her eyes. Today, she could only leave it to her colleagues to follow that man, and hopefully, they¡¯ll be able to catch him. Then maybe she could have her fun in torturing him during the interrogation.


    She scanned the surroundings for thest time before cing her gun back to her gunholster. She bent down to pick up the paper on the ground and stuffed it inside her coat without looking at the content.


    She pulled out a differentmunicator and uttered a few words in it. After hearing the affirmation of the bodyguards on the other side, she turned towards the car that Xiu Mei was in. She seemed to be in a lot of pain so Lee In quickly hopped inside the car and started driving towards the nearest hospital.


    As soon as they arrived, Xiu Mei was immediately pushed inside the emergency room for treatment while Lee In waited at the receiving area.


    She stared at the television showing the live video of the ident at the intersection. Then she pulled out her phone and dialed Lu Chen¡¯s number.


    As soon as the call connected, Lee In didn¡¯t wait for Lu Chen to speak and directly reported what she witnessed a while ago.


    "Boss, Xiu Su Yi appeared on the ident site."

 Chapter 167 - City S - Part 7

    <h4>Chapter 167 - City S - Part 7</h4>


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know when she suddenly lost consciousness but the next moment she opened her eyes, she was weed by the view of the white ceiling along with the familiar smell of disinfectant in the air. She quickly realized that she was in the hospital.


    She closed her eyes for a bit, trying to remember what had happened before she fainted. She recalled that she was almost caught in a car ident. Then she was transferred into a different car. Then while waiting, she...


    Her eyes shot open. Her breathing turned heavy as she remembered whom she saw before she lost consciousness.


    Xiu Su Yi.


    Even though her consciousness was already barely hanging by a thread back then, she was sure that she wasn¡¯t hallucinating at that time.


    It was really Xiu Su Yi. He showed up in front of her. And somewhere at the back of her mind, she thought that he must have been the one behind the car ident.


    The door of her room suddenly slid open startling her. She craned her neck towards the door and saw someone¡¯s figure that wasn¡¯t supposed to be in City S in the first ce.


    "Chen, what are you doing here?" She asked foolishly. It was only after she finished her sentence did she realize how stupid she sounded.


    Of course, why would he be here? He came to see his wife that was apparently prone to getting herself caught in idents. Xiu Meimented at the fact that she already got hospitalized twice in the span of less than six months.


    Seeing his wife awake, Lu Chen rushed towards her side and clicked the button to call for her doctor. Then his attention returned to her figure.


    "Do you feel pain anywhere?" He asked, his tone full of worry and concern.


    She shook her head lightly as she propped her body up with her arm that wasn¡¯t too painful anymore.


    "Just a bit of body pain here and there but it¡¯s not that bad. My right shoulder should be pretty bad though. Did the seatbelt leave a mark??? She answered her question without hesitation.


    After resting for quite a bit, the pain in her body already subsided but she wasn¡¯t sure about the burning pain on her shoulder hours ago. She couldn¡¯t feel any pain as of the moment most probably because she was given anesthetics.


    Lu Chen ced his hand on her shoulder, stopping her movements.


    "Lie down first. I¡¯ll help you up once the doctor arrives, okay?"


    She was very obedient this time and listened to him.


    "Is my wound that bad?"


    Lu Chen shook his head. "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s going to be fine. The doctor said that it won¡¯t scar since it wasn¡¯t that deep."


    "Thank God."


    A minuteter, a doctor and two nurses streamed inside the room. The usual check-up was done including the dreadful injection that she terribly hated. Seeing her stiff expression, Lu Chen held her other hand trying to distract her from the stinging pain.


    Since her wounds were only superficial and most of it was just simple body aches, if her test results turn out normal, the doctor said she would be fine for discharge tomorrow. They didn¡¯t stay long in her room and immediately left.


    Lu Chen adjusted her bed just like what she wanted. Then taking out the packed food he ordered at the restaurant next door, he dutifully fed her the soup spoonful by spoonful. Xiu Mei enjoyed the treatment and after finishing the food that she asked him who was taking care of his work in thepany and what about Lu Qiang.


    "Lu Shao is temporarily taking care of the things back there. Lu Qiang wanted toe but I assured him that you will be flying back soon so he didn¡¯t press on following you here anymore." Lu Chen replied as he cleaned up the empty bowls and threw on the trash bin.


    "Will Lu Qiang be really fine? You know, because the other day..." She didn¡¯t finish her sentence but Lu Chen understood what she was trying to say.


    He lightly stroked her hair and tenderly smiled at her. "No need to rush about that. Right now, you have to focus on recovering. I didn¡¯t tell Lu Qiang that you got caught in an ident so he didn¡¯t insist oning with me but if he realizes that you got injured while you are away, that little kid would surely get apprehensive the next time you leave for business trips again."


    "..." He was right. How could she forget about that?


    If she returns with serious injuries... then wouldn¡¯t she traumatize the kid any further?


    He lost his parents when they were both away and looking at her situation right now, won¡¯t it trigger his fear further?


    Xiu Mei swore to obediently listen to Lu Chen this time around so she could appear well in front of Lu Qiang once she returns.


    "Sorry for making you worry everytime."


    Ever since she married Lu Chen, it was like she only brought him more headaches and worry than when she was just simply his secretary. She didn¡¯t even realize that she was such a handful when she was still living alone ah.


    "I¡¯m always worried about you so it doesn¡¯t make much of a difference. As long as you¡¯re fine, then that¡¯s the greatest relief for me." He dropped a kiss on her hair as he continued stroking her hair.


    "Aren¡¯t I such a handful?"


    "No way. My wife would never be a handful for me. I¡¯ll never get tired pampering and spoiling you forever."


    Xiu Mei giggled. "Where did you learn such a cheesy line?"


    "I had to learn it to woo my wife, of course."


    "Liar."


    "It¡¯s true. The path of chasing the wife is very difficult you know."


    Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "Are you saying that I made it difficult for you?"


    Lu Chen immediately changed his stance and coaxed her.


    "Of course not. It¡¯s just that this husband has a very low EQ so he doesn¡¯t know how to chase his wife."


    She blinked in surprise. Does he really?


    "But wife, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll allow you to go alone in the next business trips again."


    "What? Why not?"


    It¡¯s not like she can stay cooped up in thepany while working right? And there is a lot of stuff that she needed to personally visit for work.


    Lu Chen pinched her cheeks in frustration. "Because this adorable wife of mine always gets caught in idents. How can this husband sleep peacefully at night without her by my side next time?"


    She puckered her lips as she tugged at his clothes. "It¡¯s not like it always happens..."


    "I¡¯ll be happier if it doesn¡¯t happen at all."


    Thinking about the amount of danger she was surrounded with, she pouted.


    "Wouldn¡¯t that be pretty impossible? You know how much enemies we have."


    Lu Chen sighed in defeat. "Won¡¯t it be better if you don¡¯t y outside in the future?"


    "Are you telling me to stop working?"


    "No, I¡¯m just saying that you should avoid going to business trips like this where I can¡¯t go with you."


    "But you know that¡¯s not possible. It¡¯s either you go or I go."


    "Then I¡¯ll go next time."


    Her mouth fell open. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from hitting his arm after hearing his ridiculous statement. "Are you crazy?"


    "Wife, if I was crazy, then I¡¯d immediately ground you at home first thing when we get home."


    Xiu Mei:...fudge.


    Before things take turn for a worse and before Lu Chen really decides to stop her from going on business trips, she immediately shifted to a different topic.


    She lightly coughed, clearing her throat. "Can you get me my phone? I¡¯ll contact the Marketing team 3 for a bit for news and give them some final instructions before we leave here."


    Lu Chen realized her intention but he still went along with it. He originally wanted her to focus on resting first but Xiu Mei was very much like him when ites to work. So he didn¡¯t argue with her and gave her the phone.


    The early she wraps up her work here, the earlier they could fly back home.


    He left her side for a moment while she was talking with someone the phone when his ears perked up after hearing her speak Albert¡¯s name. He frowned after hearing that name, remembering that he was included in the list of people being monitored by the Investigation Team that was submitted to him. Now he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if that guy has something to do with the ident...


    And then there¡¯s Lee In¡¯s report about Xiu Mei¡¯s order to investigate Ying Wan Wan.


    And the appearance of Xiu Su Yi with the intent of sending a message.


    Lu Chen¡¯s frowned deepened. He wondered whether it was just a pure coincidence or if it was everything done on purpose.

 Chapter 168 - City S - Last Part

    <h4>Chapter 168 - City S - Last Part</h4>


    After getting discharged, Lu Chen restricted her from leaving her hotel room until they leave for their flight hence, Xiu Mei could only give up on continuing her work with the Vice-Chairman of Zen Group. Lu Chen took her ce while she was being monitored by Lee In.


    She casually watched the drama currently airing on TV. It was a story about a president and a poor woman who moved from the countryside to the city. The episode showing right now was when the president apanied the woman all the time when she fell sick for days. Seeing that, Xiu Mei sneered.


    In the dramas, thepany presidents would always stay by the side of their wives if they get sick. Like pushing away their work just to apany their loved ones or so but the reality is, Lu Chen has apany to run and employees to feed.


    That¡¯s why even back when Xiu Mei was hospitalized, Lu Chen would usually go back and forth from thepany to work or bring his work at the hospital.


    Lunchtime was probably the only time the two of them could surely spend together on usual days. And when either one of them is going for a business trip, one has to hold the fort in thepany just in case something happens. It would be either Lu Chen or Xiu Mei, thepany secretary, who holds the fort since Lu Shao wasn¡¯t that very much involved inpany activities as Lu Chen¡¯s personal secretary.


    Feeling that the drama was getting to cringe for her, she turned it off and distracted herself with other things instead.


    She was ying around with her phone and other stuff as she waited for Lu Chen to return to the hotel. She can¡¯t even simply call Lu Qiang even when she has so much free time just so her son wouldn¡¯t wonder why she was suddenly so free like this.


    After memorizing almost every corner of her room, it was already lunchtime.


    She went downstairs to take her lunch since she was getting bored being cooped inside the room. Trying to carry her te with one hand was a difficult feat since her other shoulder was still in a bit of pain.


    She sat down in one corner and started consuming her lunch. Her movements stopped when she saw another te appear across from her table.


    "Ugh!" Xiu Mei instantly covered her mouth so that she won¡¯t spit her food out.


    Raising her head, she was scared witless by the sudden appearance of Wan Wan in front of her.


    Xiu Mei:...


    At this point, her smile felt so eerie for Xiu Mei that her subconscious reaction was to escape from here. Of all ces, how the hell did she suddenly appear here in her hotel?


    Regret started to set in her head. Why didn¡¯t she just have her lunch in her room ah....


    "Sister Meimei, I couldn¡¯t find you again yesterday. Where did you go?" Wan Wan sounded so pitiful when sheined to her like that as she nonchntly sat on the empty seat across her table.


    The charred cherry tomato that was stuck on her fork fell off making a plop sound on her te. The sound waking up Xiu Mei¡¯s senses. Xiu Mei lightly coughed as she made an excuse.


    "I was working so I wasn¡¯t around." Then she stuck her fork on the cherry tomato again, resuming her lunch.


    Wan Wan observed her for a few more seconds, shifting from her face to her food before her eyes sparkled to life. She pped her hands together while eximing, "Seeing that you¡¯re here... does that mean Sister Meimei is free now?!"


    Xiu Mei:...can she say no?


    She gulped down her food with difficulty as she desperately thought of a reply.


    If she said no, she¡¯ll surely ask why she was here.


    If she said yes, she¡¯ll surely drag her away to y.


    It was death either way.


    ...dammit.


    Why can¡¯t Lu Chen give her something like a panic button that she could press whenever she needs help?


    "I¡¯ll need to go to work after this." In order to make it sound like the truth, Xiu Mei tried to sound nonchnt as possible.


    "So, no. I¡¯m not free." I expressed my position on this predictable conversation.


    But no matter how much I wish for this conversation to be thest, I underestimated how persistent Wan Wan can be.


    "Then can I follow you to work?" Just like what she tried to do two nights ago, she tried to blink her eyes adorably yet, it felt creepier than ever.


    "...Ms.Ying, I am so sorry but may I ask how old are you again?"


    Wan Wan was clearly baffled by the sudden question but she answered it properly.


    "Neen years old."


    "Neen." Xiu Mei echoed. Nodding her head, as if she affirmed something, she looked at Wan Wan straight in the eye trying to enlighten her. "Then Ms.Ying should already be old enough to understand that work doesn¡¯t equate to the word, ¡¯y¡¯."


    As harsh as it may sound, she said those words. Ying Wan Wan fell silent as if she realized she was being scolded.


    "Ms.Ying, I¡¯m not entirely sure why you¡¯re here. Or whatever you¡¯re doing here. But Ms.Ying should understand that I don¡¯t have the time to hang out with you. Plus with all our previous conversations, I¡¯m pretty sure you already know very well that I¡¯m not very interested in interacting with you."


    Realizing that she was being too harsh, she added. "I do apologize if I hurt you when I said that. But I had to say it just so you can finally understand my stance."


    This time, even though she¡¯s yet to finish her food, she decisively left Wan Wan alone on the table. Walking out of the dining, she strode towards the elevator.


    She left feeling a bit heavy with guilt, because she knew she sounded too harsh but she knew that she had to do it no matter what.


    Not only because Xiu Mei felt that Ying Wan Wan was one the verge of bing her stalker but rather, she wanted to stay away from the Ying family. It¡¯s the only thing she can do to respect the family.


    She stepped inside the elevator following behind a couple of people. Sliding her room card inside the elevator, she silently waited for the elevator to open to her floor. Reaching her floor, she was waiting for it to open when strangely, the number quickly changed into the next floor.


    Xiu Mei paused. Was her room card not working again? Did it demagnitize again from her purse?


    She scratched her hair in annoyance. God, does she really have to go back to the lobby again just to have her room card fixed?


    While the elevator kept ascending, she reached out to press the ground floor button when the elevator door when she felt a stinging pain shoot behind her.


    Xiu Mei instantly felt her energy slowly drain from her body, her consciousness slipping away. But before her visionpletely ckens, she could see a couple of people crowding around her then a cloth suddenly obstructing her vision. With that, shepletely fainted.


    .


    .


    .


    Xiu Mei dreamt of Ying Yue again. It was when she was still alive and they were both doing volunteer work for their summer credits in school. They both volunteered in an orphanage miles away from the main city, where help was scarce.


    This time, their school chose this orphanage to help for this school year.


    "Wow! Sister, how can you use gun so well?" The little boys surrounded the 12-year-old Xiu Mei who was holding a toy gun in her hands. She lowered it after hitting the red target perfectly that was hanging on the bark of a tree.


    Xiu Mei smiled tenderly at the little boys who was hovering around her.


    "Of course, I yed with it a lot when I was young like you." She replied, as if she wasn¡¯t a kid herself.


    "Then can you teach me how to hit it on the target please?" One boy chimed.


    "Me too!"


    "I want to learn too!"


    Xiu Mei giggled at the energetic little boys. Then her eyes darted towards the other crowd a few feet away from her.


    It was aplete opposite of hers.


    It was a crowd of little girls holding crowns of flowers and dolls, sitting and listening intently at the 12-year-old girl sitting on a tree root while holding a book. She was doing some read-aloud of fairytale stories that girls like to listen to.


    It was the 12-year-old Ying Yue who was in charge of ying with the little girls.


    "Sister! Can I ask a question?" Xiu Mei heard a little girl ask.


    "Of course, you may. What is it?" Ying Yueughed.


    "Can Wannie marry a prince once we grow up?" She heard the voice ask. Xiu Mei narrowed her eyes as she tried to see who asked that question. It was a little girl in twin pigtails and faded red dress.


    As she looked at her closely, Xiu Mei recalled the name of that little kid back when they were being introduced to them by the manager of the orphanage.


    What was her name again?


    Ah. It was Wan Wan.

 Chapter 169 - Rose and Iris

    <h4>Chapter 169 - Rose and Iris</h4>


    Growing up with twin brothers, Xiu Mei was knowledgeable about games that little boys like. Added with the fact that she would sometimes train under the tutge of her Uncle along with her brothers, she would¡¯ve grown up quite boyish if it weren¡¯t for her Xiu Grandparents training her with etiquette and manners appropriate for girls.


    That¡¯s why when she volunteered at the orphanage, Xiu Mei chose to y with the little boys instead of hanging out with the girls, unlike the other female students.


    On the other hand, Ying Yue was the princess type between the two of them. She grew up learning ballet, piano, and harp. So she ended up taking care of the little girls in the orphanage.


    Their volunteer projectsted only for a month, which was spending time with the kids for five hours 3x a week. The two of them got very well acquainted with a lot of the little kids, some she even saw got adopted throughout the service.


    Both of them would oftene with gifts for the kids. Sometimes, they would bring books that can help them with their education, and sometimes, it would be some groceries to help out in feeding the children.


    Among all the children that Ying Yue took care of, there were two kids that she got really close with. It was Wan Wan and Jia Yi, both of which are seven-year-olds at that time. Jia Yi became an orphan after her entire family passed away after andslide wiped out her entire vige in the province. While Wan Wan grew up in the orphanage since she was young after getting picked up by a priest from the trash outside the Church.


    Xiu Mei recalled Jia Yi getting adopted during their service. Meanwhile, Wan Wan was still in the orphanage after they finished their service. She was like a happy pill back then, full of energy that she could y from morning until afternoon without napping in between. She was simr to the little boys Xiu Mei would often y with, full of endless energy and unaware of the harsh realities of the world.


    She remembered that Ying Yue would sometimes throw Wan Wan to her care once she reaches her limit of ying with her. Ying Yue couldn¡¯t keep up with the children¡¯s energy hence Xiu Mei was the main sister for all the children in terms of ying outside.


    After their service, both of them would sometimes visit until their visits gradually lessened throughout the year. They kept donating to the orphanage, but Xiu Mei gradually forgot about them after so many years. After all, she was still a naive and foolish 12-year-old at that time.


    Then things happened. She was still in her senior high school when she caught wind of the news that the Ying family adopted a child named Wan Wan from an orphanage. Back then, she had an idea of who it was but she was doubtful whether it was the same child she met in the orphanage. Who knew that it was really the same person she thought it was.


    Xiu Mei watched her memories for the past few years shing in front of her eyes. And suddenly, her surroundings changed intoplete darkness. She was suddenly filled with panic.


    She was alone, in the middle of nowhere. She felt cold.


    "Hello?" Her voice echoed yet she received no response.


    "Is anyone there?"


    The ce was filled with deafening silence. While her mental state was slowly copsing, she suddenly heard the sound little steps behind her.


    Xiu Mei hastily spun around to look behind her. The scene suddenly changed. She was back in the little forest behind the orphanage, and she could see the sound of children ying outside. She saw Ying Yue, who was sitting on the grass, weaving some flower crowns with other girls. She watched a little girl, Wan Wan, tug on her dress as she gave her a flower. Ying Yue shed a smile as she dly epted the flower.


    Then she saw her whisper something to Wan Wan and a few minutester, the little girl ran in front of her. She hid her hands behind her back as if she was hiding some kind of surprise.


    "Sister Meimei." the little Wan Wan called.


    Xiu Mei felt like her body was on autopilot. She couldn¡¯t control her body as she knelt in front of the child, smiling tenderly at her.


    "Hi, what is it?"


    "Sister Yueyue said you like flowers." Wan Wan stared at her with her round eyes. Her voice sounded milky and cute so Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but rub her head and pinch her cheeks.


    Smiling, she replied to her. "Yes, I do. So is Wan Wan gonna give me some flower?"


    "Mhm!" She nodded enthusiastically. Then she finally pulled out her hand from behind revealing a rose.


    Seeing the rose, Xiu Mei involuntarily shuddered as her expression stiffened. Strange, why would she suddenly feel that way?


    She reached out to ept the white rose from her hand but as soon as she wrapped her fingers around the stem, she felt something prick her finger. She hastily pulled away her hand, lowering her head while checking her finger. Her pointy finger was bleeding after being pricked by the thorn of the rose. Realizing that it still has thorns, Xiu Mei suddenly panicked.


    Wan Wan was still holding that thorny rose!


    She was just about to open her mouth to warn Wan Wan but as soon as she raised her head, Xiu Mei froze as soon as her eyesnded on the flower once again.


    ...Why did the rose suddenly change into an Iris flower?


    "Sister Meimei." A voice called her.


    Xiu Mei broke out of her trance, as she raised her head again to look at the person who called her.


    This time, it was the neen years old Wan Wan standing in front of her. She was still in the same position, holding a flower in her right as she grinned in front of her.


    "W-Why...?"


    She was at a loss. What happened? Why did Wan Wan suddenly grow big? What was happening?


    "Sister Meimei." The big Wan Wan repeated.


    Before she could open her mouth, the big Wan Wan revealed what she was holding with her other hand. She held it in front of her, just beside the Iris she was holding.


    "This is also for you. My second gift." She slowly uttered.


    Xiu Mei was confused. What second gift was she saying?


    She lowered her head to look at big Wan Wan¡¯s hands.


    Then she saw an iris flower on her right and a red rose on her left.


    Somewhere within her was screaming not to ept the flowers. But her body seemed to be moving on her own as she reached out and epted both flowers. She didn¡¯t know why but she curiously gazed at the red rose and looked at it very closely.


    Weird. Why was there some white parts on the red rose petals?


    "Did you like it, Sister Meimei?"


    "Oh?" She raised her head again and met with her gaze. This time, she suddenly felt something heavy on her chest. She suddenly felt some difficulty in breathing yet, she still answered her.


    "Yes, I like it." She replied. She looked at the big Wan Wan at the same time, she could also see the figure of the small Wan Wan in front of her like an after-image.


    The big Wan Wan beamed at her. "That¡¯s great! I knew Sister Meimei would like my specially made red rose. It would¡¯ve been a waste of liters of blood if Sister Meimei didn¡¯t like it." She uttered. Her tone sounded very normal but when Xiu Mei listened to it, she shuddered.


    Wasted...liters of blood?


    Her eyes darted on the red rose on her hands.


    Red rose.


    Red. The color of blood.


    A white card shed before her eyes.


    A bloodstained rose of the first victim I killed as my second gift to you. Hopefully, you¡¯ll like it.


    ...bloodstained rose?


    Xiu Mei gasped. Her hands trembled. The red rose fell on the ground as she suddenly remembered the note.


    She remembered.


    The bloodstained rose that she received as a parcel in the office. The second gift.


    B-But why...?


    She lowered her head and stared at the red rose that fell on the ground. Its petals broke and scattered around her feet.


    Seeing it, she felt a chill run down her spine. Xiu Mei was thrown in turmoil.


    What was happening? What is this? Why is she suddenly remembering this?


    Why... is Wan Wan the one handing over the rose to her?


    "Sister Meimei."


    Xiu Mei flinched.


    It was Wan Wan¡¯s voice. But it was apletely different tone from how she called her a second ago.


    She hesitated for a few seconds before she raised her head again to meet her gaze. Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze shook as she saw the face of the person in front of her.


    It wasn¡¯t Wan Wan¡¯s.


    This time, it was Ying Yue¡¯s.


    She was smiling at her. It was a cold smile as if Ying Yue was mocking her with something.


    Xiu Mei fell into a trance as she stared in disbelief at her best friend¡¯s cold expression.


    A minuteter, that figure finally spoke.


    "Meimei, isn¡¯t that Iris really pretty?" Ying Yue uttered, as she pointed at Xiu Mei¡¯s hand.


    Xiu Mei subconsciously followed the direction she was pointing at.


    She looked down at her hand and froze.


    In her hand was a wilted iris.

 Chapter 170 - Abduction

    <h4>Chapter 170 - Abduction</h4>


    Xiu Mei woke up gasping for breath.


    Was that just a dream? No, that¡¯s more like a nightmare. How could she suddenly dream of Ying Yue and Wan Wan?


    Why did she suddenly dream that Wan Wan was the person who gave her the bloodstained rose? Dammit, maybe because Wan Wan was appearing too much before her these days that¡¯s why her mind was suddenly putting some strange ideas on her head?


    Her chest heaved up and down as she tried to catch her breath. But then she realized something wrong.


    Why was it so dark? No. It wasn¡¯t dark.


    It was her eyes. She was blindfolded.


    Panic suddenly set in. Her mind was thrown into chaos. She panicked even more when she realized that her arms and feet were also bound by something.


    Xiu Mei felt that she couldn¡¯t breathe. Her panic attack was setting in as she realized more of her situation.


    Her memory from ten years ago was ovepping with her current situation. Her mind went into haywire.


    Was she still dreaming? A nightmare?


    Or did she just suddenly went back in the past just like those novels she read in her past time?


    Thinking like that, Xiu Mei almost blurted out Ying Yue¡¯s name. Then she sneered pitifully at herself in her mind.


    What was she thinking? How could that even be possible?


    Ying Yue was long dead. And the reality is that she was being kidnapped again.


    Realizing her predicament, Xiu Mei counted slowly in her head again. She wasn¡¯t sure whether her panic attack would settle down, but at least she should prevent herself from breaking down right now. Lu Chen¡¯s not here to calm her down nor help her if she continued like this. No one would help her if her emotionspletely crumble like this.


    As she tried to take a grip on her emotions again, she tried to feel out where she was. Her senses became even more sensitive to the little sounds with her eyesight blocked.


    Xiu Mei examined her surroundings. Xiu Mei could smell the scent of earth. She wondered if it was because of the rain?


    Touching the ground, it was cold but it wasn¡¯t wet. She thought it was some kind of solid floor, but definitely not a marble floor. Maybe it was cold because thend was just recently wet?


    Xiu Mei pushed herself up. Thank god for the abs crunches.


    Xiu Mei slowly backed up, hoping to hit some wall or something. After a couple more small steps backward, her back finally hit something. As soon as she hit her back on it, it made a sound. It was the sound of wood. It wasn¡¯t as cold as the floor but the wood was definitely cool.


    Xiu Mei could clearly determine that she was in some ce where it just recently rained.


    When she checked her phone this morning, it wasn¡¯t supposed to rain at City S. Was she somewhere outside the city?


    Wait, wasn¡¯t the nearby province in City S that was half isposed of a remote area? It was one of the ces she went with the Vice-Chairman these previous days because they were sourcing some of the raw materials there.


    The topography was... surrounded by mountains and rivers.


    Since she finally has an idea of where she was, Xiu Mei shifted to the next step. The ce she was in was quite silent. She could only hear her shaky and deep breaths echoing within the room.


    At least she was alone.


    Recalling what her eldest brother taught her before, Xiu Mei untied herself from the ropes bounding her wrists and ankles.


    Because of her kidnapping before, even though she didn¡¯t want to, Xiu Mei was forced into learning this stuff in addition to her extensive self-defense sses.


    After shuffling for five minutes, Xiu Mei was finally freed. Hastily removing the cloth blocking her sight, Xiu Mei opened her eyes. Due to her vision being blocked by quite some time and the ce was also a bit dark, it took a few more seconds before her eyes adjusted to the darkness.


    She roamed her eyes around the room. She took a sharp breath at the almost simr room from when she and Ying Yue was also locked in a room back then.


    It was simr yet different.


    Her breathing never returned to normal, but her panic attack at least settled down for quite a bit. She paused for a little longer topose herself.


    Lu Chen. She was pretty sure that Lu Chen was looking for her right now.


    Then she remembered something. Her tracker!


    Didn¡¯t Lu Chen give her a tra¡ª


    Xiu Mei looked at her wrist. Gone. The bracelet was gone.


    Her panic returned. Did they throw it away? Where?


    Xiu Mei desperately wished that they dumped the bracelet somewhere nearby.


    Dammit.


    Then she remembered something again.


    The watch!


    Xiu Mei recalled the watch that Lu Qiang gave her. There¡¯s also a tracker in it. She always kept it with her inside her purse. Maybe that¡¯s still in her purse?


    But what if they discarded her purse somewhere far too?


    Ugh. Useless.


    To think that she has two trackers close in her body yet not even one was left with her. At this rate, would Lu Chen be able to find her soon?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes darted towards the window. It was the only ce keeping the room lit with a bit of moonlight. The window was covered with some nailed scrap woods, probably to prevent her from escaping through the window. But there is still some small space enough for her hand to pass through.


    Xiu Mei walked over the window and tried pulling on the wood. Maybe it was poorly done, the wood eventually loosened from being nailed down and she was able to pull the wood away.


    She groaned in pain when she got wood splinters on both her hand. But she tried to ignore the pain and continued on pulled the other woods to open up more space for the window.


    After pushing herself a few more times, there was finally enough space for her body to squeeze in. Without hesitation, she smashed a piece of wood on the window to shatter the ss. She didn¡¯t bother checking whether if someone had heard her, she immediately squeezed herself past the window. Ignoring the scratches she got after getting caught on the sharp edges of the shattered window.


    Shended with a thud one the moist ground. Xiu Mei propped herself up from the muddy ground as she scanned the surroundings outside. Her movements paused as her eyesnded on the area in front of her.


    Irises.


    A bunch of nted Irises was in front of her.


    Seeing the familiar flower, all she could think about was Ying Yue. Her bestfriend¡¯s face shed before her eyes, as she remembered how they both liked this flower back then.


    And now this same flower crumbled her rational thoughts in an instant.


    W-Why...Why is that here?


    Xiu Mei clutched her chest as her breathing turned for the worst. She couldn¡¯t breathe. She felt like her airways were being tightened and obstructed as she continued to take rapid shallow breaths. Her vision turning blurry by the second as shepletely lost her bnce again, her body slumping down on the moist ground.


    Her body curled up subconsciously while she was having a panic attack. Then she could faintly hear the sounds of footsteps approaching her direction.


    Xiu Mei was filled with desperation and urgency.


    Ignoring her troubled breathing, she remembered the most important thing.


    She needs to run away from this ce. She needs to get away.


    Xiu Mei tried to bnce herself again yet utterly failed. Her body wasn¡¯t listening to her anymore. No matter how much she wanted to run, her body was giving up on her.


    A few secondster, the footsteps stopped behind her.


    "Sister Meimei, do you need some help?"


    A familiar voice resounded in her ears. Her eyes widened as she took another sharp breath.


    Even though she already had faint suspicions about her, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but look at disbelief at the figure in front of her.


    "W-Wan Wan..." She murmured with much difficulty as she looked at the woman towering in front of her curled up figure. She couldn¡¯t make out her face because her consciousness was slipping away by the second but her voice was enough for her to recognize Wan Wan.


    She heard Wan Wan scoff.


    "Oh, did Sister Meimei finally remember me? So you won¡¯t call me Ms.Ying anymore?" Wan Wan spat as she looked at Xiu Mei¡¯s figure with immense hatred.


    Wan Wan thought, look at this woman right now. Before when she was clinging onto her so persistently, she never recognized her even though she clearly knew who she was. But look, this same woman who looked so pitiful groveling at her feet right now suddenly decides to recognize her by calling her with her name.


    Such hypocrisy.

 Chapter 171 - Torment

    <h4>Chapter 171 - Torment</h4>


    Her previously wounded shoulder was burning with pain. Her lungs felt like it was denying the entry of oxygen and her other bleeding wounds were stinging. But Xiu Mei suppressed herself from groaning in pain.


    When suddenly she felt someone yanking out her hair forcibly, making her lift her head in the process.


    "Sister Meimei." Wan Wan repeated. This time, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t avoid her gaze. She daringly met her gaze, unwilling to show her weakness against her enemy.


    Wan Wan who saw her expression looked at her with disdain making her grip on Xiu Mei¡¯s hair tighten even more. Xiu Mei bit her lip to stop herself from crying out.


    "Did you like my third gift?" Wan Wan continued her statement.


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion. Third gift?


    As if reading her mind, Wan Wan forcibly turned her head to face towards the small Irises field that almost immobilized Xiu Mei awhile ago.


    So the Irises was her third gift?


    Something clicked inside Xiu Mei¡¯s mind upon making the connection between the Iris flower and Wan Wan. Is she doing this because of Ying Yue?


    Before Xiu Mei could open her mouth, Wan Wan pulled her hair again and dragged her closer to the Irises. Since Xiu Mei was too weak to fight back against her at the moment, she could only let herself be dragged by Wan Wan.


    Xiu Mei groaned silently feeling her legs scr.a.p.e against the small stones hidden under the soil and the scattered branches. Her fisted hands tightened as she endured the immense pain. Because she just got caught in an ident two days ago, Xiu Mei was enduring double the pain. The burning pain on her shoulder and the other wounds she got.


    After dragging Xiu Mei, Wan Wan unceremoniously threw her on the ground once again.


    "Didn¡¯t you like it? Back when I was younger, didn¡¯t you like all the flowers I gave you? But now you dislike it?" Wan Wan scoffed at her still body.


    "Or did you dislike it because it is an Iris?"


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei wanted to refute but her body was against her actions. Because of her panic attack, her body wasn¡¯t allowing her to move in the way that she wanted it. If she was permitted, she¡¯d rather much stay like that lying facedown on the ground.


    Not receiving any response from her, Wan Wan knelt in front of her and yanked her hair once again.


    "Is that why you let Sister Yue die? Because you didn¡¯t like her anymore just like how you didn¡¯t like Irises anymore?"


    Xiu Mei wanted to scream ¡¯No!¡¯ but she couldn¡¯t.


    "You must be wondering why I¡¯m doing this, right?" Wan Wan brought Xiu Mei¡¯s face closer to hers as she threw a piercing re at her.


    "Of course you don¡¯t know. Just like how you don¡¯t know that I was originally meant to be adopted earlier that year into the Ying family. That Sister Yue was going to be my family soon. But because of you! Your family! She died!!"


    Overtaken by her emotions, Wan Wan pped Xiu Mei almost making her fall to the ground again.


    "You knew how much I liked Sister Yue back then. And just when she was going to be my family, you took her away from me! And you know what¡¯s worse? That is how she died and you survived." Blinded by her anger, Wan Wan continued to scream at her ear while pulling on Xiu Mei¡¯s hair. It seems like it was the only thing she could do right now to quell the rage she was felt right at this moment.


    Wan Wan finally freed her hair from her grasp. Just when Xiu Mei thought that it was over, two men suddenly appeared beside Wan Wan. With her head, she gestured to them to pick her up. Both her arms were suddenly confined by the two men before they pulled her up to stand up. Barely able to stand on her own, they mercilessly dragged her to a different locked room.


    They immediately pushed her inside the room and left. Wan Wan walked in just in time to see her pathetic figure lying on the wooden floor. Her hairpletely disheveled, her entire appearance dirtied with the mud outside and bleeding wounds here and there.


    Just by her appearance, no one would surely be able to recognize her as Xiu Mei at all. She simply looked very pathetic in contrast to the strong woman they see every day.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s heavy breathing echoed inside the room, as she struggled to prop herself up with her injured arms. Wan Wan watched her support herself until she was finally able to sit upright.


    "Sister Meimei, there¡¯s still one thing that I wanted to do to you." Wan Wan opened her mouth again while looking straight at Xiu Mei withplete disgust visible in her eyes. She clearly disdained her, but her desire to watch her crawl on the ground made her mood better.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s movement paused.


    What is it that she wanted to do to her again? Wasn¡¯t she contented enough to see her reduced so pathetically like this?


    She raised her head to look boldly at Wan Wan. Her foreheads creased but her eyes glowed up with fearlessness. Xiu Mei definitely won¡¯t back down andpletely give in to her wishes. She can torture her and hit her how much she wants but Xiu Mei would never beg and fulfill her desire.


    Wan Wan walked over to where she was and knelt in front of her again. Then she reached out to her.


    Xiu Mei slightly flinched but she instantly tried to hide her emotions. She let Wan Wan¡¯s finger brush along her cheeks and hair as if she were touching some kind of precious porcin. Wan Wan¡¯s gaze wandered around her face as if she was studying her face.


    "Sister Meimei is truly a wealthy man¡¯s daughter ah." Wan Wan coldly spat out. "Your face still looks very captivating despite your pathetic appearance. Rather, this pitiful appearance of yours can bewitch any men instead to take pity on you."


    Xiu Mei swallowed her saliva as she carefully listened to her words.


    Her gaze slightly trembled when she tried to read the message between her words. Wan Wan¡¯s words echoed inside her head when she said she learned how Ying Yue died. And then listening to her remark just now, her mind suddenly made a scary assumption to what Wan Wan was nning.


    And she was right.


    Wan Wan¡¯s cold expression distorted into a scary smile. And then sheid her judgment before her heartlessly.


    "Then the men I prepared for you tonight will surely enjoy you."


    Wan Wan stared at her expression for a few more seconds to see Xiu Mei¡¯s reaction. She wanted to see the color drain from her face and be filled with dread but instead, all she saw was Xiu Mei¡¯s unchanging bold gaze as if she wasn¡¯t scared at all of what she just said.


    The anger in her heart bubbled up again but Wan Wan held it back. Sheforted herself as she thought of Xiu Mei¡¯s personality. If Xiu Mei still wasn¡¯t moved by what she said, then Wan Wan could just watch her expression during the deed.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be a loss on her part if she didn¡¯t enjoy it to the fullest?


    Her men viting Xiu Mei. Just like what happened to her Sister Yue.


    If it¡¯s like this, the rage in her heart may dissipate even for a bit.


    As soon as Wan Wan left the room, Xiu Mei let out all the breath she was holding in. Gone was her strong and fearless front but reced by her, gasping for air and clutching her chest.


    Her panic attack was already worse, and with Wan Wan¡¯s statement, it made it even worst.


    Xiu Mei narrowed her eyes at the locked door while clutching her chest.


    Lu Chen, where are you?


    She chanted that question in her mind for how many times.


    Looking at Wan Wan¡¯s hatred at her, Xiu Mei knew that Wan Wan was very serious when she said that. And she¡¯ll surely do it very soon.


    She was afraid. She was very scared if that truly happens.


    Recalling what she went through when she was kidnapped before and thinking about the possibility that she will go through at it again tonight, it would be a lie if she wasn¡¯t horrified at all.


    She was already barely holding on with her slipping consciousness. If she really fainted right now, who knows if she¡¯ll wake up all bare and n.a.k.e.d after getting feasted upon by Wan Wan¡¯s men.


    After that, Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯ll still be able to take it, if her mind would be able to ept it at all.


    Her old thoughts resurfaced.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be better to die instead of going through that torment again?


    After all, it was she who knew better than any else how much torment and pain that kidnapping brought her aside from Ying Yue¡¯s death.

 Chapter 172 - Escape

    <h4>Chapter 172 - Escape</h4>


    Xiu Mei¡¯s body was almost at its limit. She was barely holding on to her senses when the door of the room opened once again.


    Her vision was already hazy with the fatigue and her panic attackbined. She sensed quite several people outside the room. She gritted her teeth and made up her mind.


    Back then when she was kidnapped with Ying Yue, she chose to stay put and waited for her family to rescue them. And look at what that resulted to. It was the decision she deeply regrets.


    And she¡¯s not going to choose that option the second time around.


    Xiu Mei would have to escape.


    She has to save herself on her own for now.


    If she doesn¡¯t do anything right now, she knew that her ending is already set by then. With her body¡¯s current situation, she won¡¯t be able to fight back against all of them. She¡¯ll be like a fish waiting to be chopped and cooked under their mercy.


    Grabbing the nearest object she could put her hands on, she pushed herself up to stand upright and walked over to the entrance. As soon as the first guy tried to step inside, she immediately smashed the wood on his head and pushed him away.


    She was going to lose if she really faced all of them, so she gritted her teeth, and using all her energy left, she sprinted away from those men.


    Thank god that she really grew up with her brothers. Running in this uneven ground and speeding up is quite an easy feat since she often yed tag in the secluded areas back when they were young.


    Xiu Mei heard them screaming behind her and she quickly picked up her speed.


    She can¡¯t stop.


    She must not stop.


    She mustn¡¯t look back.


    She has to look forward.


    Else, all that attempt of her escape would go down the drain.


    She won¡¯t be able to push them away nor fight them.


    So, Xiu Mei, you have to run.


    This is what Xiu Mei repeated inside her head as she continued running away. She was running barefooted, but Xiu Mei pressed on and ignored the sharp small rocks and branches that she stepped on.


    Somehow, she felt that she was alreadypletely numb with pain with all the pain she was having all over her body. Or maybe it was the adrenaline rush.


    She stayed away from the sound of water that she could hear from afar.


    That path is too predictable. Wan Wan and the others would surely look for her near any body of water since it¡¯s a person¡¯s instinct to stay close to the waters if they want to live.


    But she won¡¯t do it.


    Both options will get her killed. Hence, she ran opposite to the sound of water.


    She didn¡¯t know how long she had been running but she thought she must already be pretty far since she couldn¡¯t hear any voices from behind her anymore. All she could hear was her heavy breathing and panting as she continued to go down the slope.


    Ten minutes of continuous runningter, her bodypletely gave up on her.


    She tripped and fell multiple times. She hissed in pain while looking at the infectedrge gash on her knee.


    She took a deep breath and looked up at the moon hanging on the night sky.


    "Lu Chen... where are you?" She murmured to herself as she held onto the hope that Lu Chen would find her soon.


    She knew that the moment she went missing, Lu Chen would definitely look for her and save her as soon as possible.


    She trusted him so much that she was confident that he would be able to find her very soon. That¡¯s why she dared to escape from that imprisonment and stayed away from her basic need which is water.


    Xiu Mei is an independent woman that would never bend her back to anyone. But she was Lu Chen¡¯s wife. It didn¡¯t matter if their foundation isn¡¯t about love, because what they developed over the years was trust.


    It may have been shaken quite recently but it would never crumble.


    And Lu Chen never let her down even if it¡¯s about work or family.


    Hence, Xiu Mei willingly ced her cards for Lu Chen. He will find her.


    He will.


    So while waiting for him toe, she needs to hide first.


    Xiu Mei scanned her surroundings. She was thankful that the ce she was brought to was near the forest. At least it would prove difficult for them to look for her especially in the dark.


    She looked for arge trunk that could hide her body and leaned back on it. Her panic attack that seemed to disappear temporarily a while ago wasing back.


    She bit her lip and took continuous deep breaths. Tears were alreadying out of her eyes and the pain that she couldn¡¯t feel before was attacking her full force.


    It hurts!


    Xiu Mei whimpered in pain as she struggled which part of her body to soothe.


    It really hurts!


    She couldn¡¯t breathe and her body was hurting all over.


    Goddamit, it fudging hurts!


    Xiu Mei opened her eyes and looked at the nts growing beside the roots of the tree she was leaning on. Without much thought, she grabbed a nearby nt and forcibly pulled it causing it to be uprooted.


    She looked at it closely and examined whether she could recognize it or not if this was safe for consumption. Thankfully, it was one of the edible ones she could recognize.


    She didn¡¯t worry whether the nt was dirty or anything at all. After all, the nt looked cleaner than her as of the moment. Her clothes were tattered and since she was forced on the ground several times by Wan Wan, Xiu Mei was already disheveled and covered with mad. Her open wounds were probably already infected by now.


    Xiu Mei ate the nt to fill her belly and at least to gain some energy. She couldn¡¯t find the energy to move or stand up anymore so Xiu Mei ate whatever was within her reach that¡¯s edible.


    After eating, sheid still under the tree. She closed her eyes but she didn¡¯t sleep. Her guard is still on high alert on any small noises or people that might suddenly appear. If that happens, she needs to run away immediately. She can¡¯t let herself be found or all the effort will all for naught.


    She sat motionless like to for almost an hour. With her body in a state of rest, her eyes felt heavy. She was too exhausted hence her body already wanted to sleep but her mind screamed that she cannot just sleep randomly here.


    This time, her body won.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t notice that she had already fallen asleep in the middle of the wilderness.


    On the other side of the forest, what Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know was that the person she had been calling for countless times has already appeared near her.


    "Ying Wan Wan already disappeared when we arrived at the scene, Boss." Lu Shao reported to Lu Chen through the wirelessmunicator.


    "Keep looking for her." Lu Chen coldly said. "Don¡¯t stop until you find her. Bring her back to the headquarters once you find her."


    "Understood."


    And then their line cut off.


    "Did you find any clues?" Lu Chen turned to Lee In who was designated to look for Xiu Mei who disappeared in the locked room. After killing the six men who seemed to be running back then, she didn¡¯t hesitate to kill five of the men and kept the other one barely alive. She interrogated that person to ask nicely where Xiu Mei was and that person happily answered her before she twisted his neck so he could sleep forever.


    She informed Lu Chen that the Young Madame disappeared and that she was suspected to be somewhere in the forest so Lee In mobilized her men to scatter and look for her.


    After following the trail of the six men, she looked for some clues to where she might have gone. Lu Chen followed after her as soon as he received the report as well.


    Lee In reported the clues she found at the scene.


    "I found some blood in some of the rocks on the ground. The metallic smell is quite faint but I can confirm that it¡¯s the scent of blood."


    Lu Chen¡¯s blood ran cold.


    The smell of blood? Countless possibilities already appeared in his mind and all of them were Xiu Mei either injured or dead while covered in her blood.


    Did she get too injured? Or was she... Lu Chen didn¡¯t dare to think anymore.


    He followed Lee In to where she was talking about and took a deep breath to smell the air.


    Indeed. There¡¯s still a hint of that familiar metallic smell. Lu Chen slightly rxed when he realized that it didn¡¯t smell strong at all.


    He also saw the trail of blood that Lee In was talking about and based on these, at least he could conclude that Xiu Mei was probably not extremely injured as he thought she was.


    She was still able to escape from the clutches of the six men and ran away along this difficult path.


    Despite that, Lu Chen¡¯s fist still tightened.


    Still, that doesn¡¯t change the fact that his wife was injured somewhere in the forest, alone.

 Chapter 173 - Hallucination?

    <h4>Chapter 173 - Hallucination?</h4>


    A faint rattling noise suddenly echoed in the forest. The sound gradually got louder and louder until it reached Xiu Mei¡¯s ears startling her awake from the sound.


    "W-Wha¡ª!" She flinched from the sound. Her heart almost jumped from surprise as soon as she woke up.


    Fudge, what was she doing ah? How can she sleep like that?! Or did she faint?


    Goodness. Thankfully they hadn¡¯t found her yet. Maybe they ran towards the stream?


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know how long she had been napping and wit her body still in pain, she slightly shifted into a morefortable position while leaning on the tree.


    Then she heard the rattling sound again.


    This time, her senses were on full alert.


    She turned her head from side to side to observe whether someone was nearby but she couldn¡¯t even see a shadow at all.


    The rattling sound returned.


    Xiu Mei flinched. Her instincts finally kicked in as she realized that the sound may not be from a human at all.


    She took a deep breath as she listened carefully at the approaching sound again. The longer she listened to it, the more profanities appeared inside her head.


    Shit.


    Of all times, why did it have to be right now?


    Xiu Mei finally recognized what the sound was. Her uncle from her mother¡¯s side had a weird hobby of taking care of wild pets. There was one time he introduced her to his pets, one of which was a snake. He had quite a number of pet snakes, and she heard this familiar sound back then as well.


    It was the sound... of a rattlesnake.


    The rattlesnake she saw at her uncle¡¯s was quite big but there¡¯s one important thing that she recalled when she listened to his lessons.


    Rattlesnakes are venomous creatures as well. With her bodypletely weak at the moment, any venom can probably kill her.


    Goddamit. Is fate really ying a trick on her today? Of all animals to meet in this ce, why did it have to be a rattlesnake?


    Xiu Mei was torn between moving to a different spot or staying still hoping that the snake won¡¯t approach her.


    Right now, she wasn¡¯t sure whether she could even outrun a snake if she wanted to. If she stayed still, she couldn¡¯t even bet if the snake won¡¯t bite her so suddenly.


    Fudge. Seriously. Either option won¡¯t save her.


    She roamed her eyes around the stuff that she could reach out. She can see quite a lot of fallen leaves, small branches, and rocksying around.


    If she threw the stones at the snake... would it make it angrier instead?


    Xiu Mei bit her lips as she thought it all over again. After contemting for a few seconds, she finally made her decision.


    It¡¯s still better to move somewhere far away from the snake.


    She gritted her teeth as her body ached in pain when she attempted to stand up again. Holding the trunk for support, she barely aplished her mission to stand up. Leaning more than half of her weight on the trunk, Xiu Mei felt like cursing again.


    Damn it. It¡¯s so painful. If she was in so much pain before, then this time, the pain was making her go crazy. Maybe it was because her wounds were all infected and they sting so bad right now.


    Xiu Mei closed her eyes and listened to the direction of the rattle noise again. After identifying that it wasing from the west direction, Xiu Mei started moving towards the opposite direction.


    She carefully and briskly walked away without making any noise. She lightly stepped on the leaves and branches so as not to attract the attention of the snake..or snakes.


    She just started moving for five minutes when she heard a different sound again. This time, she quickly recognized what it was. It was the sound of footsteps.


    Her blood ran cold as she picked up her speed. Did they finally caught up with her?!


    Xiu Mei started running faster to increase her distance from the people behind her. But her mind was screaming in fear as she heard the footsteps continue to get louder and it sounded as if it was catching up quick this time around.


    Dang it! Was she running slower than before?


    Gritting her teeth, she ignored the pain in her legs and tried to run faster again. Maybe because she was panicking or because she wasn¡¯t looking at where she was looking at anymore, she didn¡¯t notice arge root on her path.


    What happened next was inevitable. Xiu Mei¡¯s foot got caught on the tree root and she immediately lost her bnce.


    "Ah¡ª!" She cried out as she braced herself from the impact. She tried to stretch out her arms to stop her momentum but she was still weak, her arm barely supported her body. It did soften the fall though.


    Xiu Meipletely fell facedown on the ground while the people who were going after her eventually caught up to her and paused a few meters away from her fallen figure.


    Xiu Mei flinched and propped herself up to start running again when a voice halted her movement.


    "Xiu Mei!" Lu Chen yelled out. His voice was mixed with surprise and relief when he said her name. But seeing his wife almost crawling on the ground, his heart squeezed in pain. Just by looking at her back figure, he could see that she looked very disheveled and the bruises at the back of her legs.


    His fists tightened as he quickly rushed to her side.


    Hearing Lu Chen¡¯s voice, Xiu Mei¡¯s hanging heart was finally put down. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, pulling her up and turning her body.


    After calling out his name multiple times, he was finally here. Lu Chen was finally here.


    He really came for her. He finally found her.


    As soon as she saw his familiar face, Xiu Mei suddenly burst into tears. She didn¡¯t know if she was crying because she was in so much pain or because she suddenly felt relieved knowing that he was finally here.


    Her sobbed so heartbreaking in Lu Chen¡¯s ears. Just by her cry, he could almost feel the grievances that she went through when he was still looking for her. Her arms subconsciously wrapped around his neck as she buried her head into his chest and continued crying. Her grip on his clothes tightened as if she was scared that he will suddenly disappear.


    At first, Xiu Mei thought that she was hallucinating. Because she was desperately wishing for Lu Chen to appear before her and save her, she thought that her desperation must have resulted in her to suddenly hear Lu Chen¡¯s voice in the forest. Since she had a previous case of hallucinating back when she was being treated for her PTSD right after her kidnapping ten years ago, Xiu Mei actually thought that this time she must be hallucinating again.


    But when she felt a warm hand hug her shoulder and when she saw that person¡¯s face in front of her, Xiu Mei realized that she wasn¡¯t hallucinating at all. As she sobbed in his arms, she clung to him tightly, as if trying to prove that he was real and that he wouldn¡¯t just suddenly disappear like smoke in front of her.


    Because if he really was just her hallucination, she didn¡¯t know what to do. She might get crazy.


    Lu Chen felt like his heart was being torn to pieces as he listened to her cries.


    What did his wife go through that she cried like this?


    And the scratches and wounds all over her body, did they do this to her?


    The anger in his heart increased as his desire to suddenly kill the person who did this grew.


    He would never let this matter go. To kidnap his wife under his eyes, that person must be asking for death to have the gall to kidnap Xiu Mei.


    His hold on her unconsciously tightened as he lowered his head and peppered her with kisses on her hair. He stroked her head and back trying to soothe and calm her down.


    He whispered gently in her ears.


    "I¡¯m sorry. I waste, wasn¡¯t I? " He uttered.


    Because he made her wait too long, she turned out like this. If he had just found her sooner, no, if he had just protected her better, then she wouldn¡¯t be in this situation at all.


    She wouldn¡¯t be kidnapped. Her trauma about being kidnapped won¡¯t be opened again. And she won¡¯t be this hurt if he had properly protected her.


    He promised that he would protect her, but look at how did that turnout. Hepletely failed her.


    He didn¡¯t hear any response from the woman in his arms, but instead, he felt her breathing turned heavier and heavier suddenly rming him.


    "Lee In, the medicine kit!" He ordered. While waiting for Lee In to finish setting up, she handed Lu Chen a small brown paper bag for Xiu Mei to breathe into. He quickly pulled away from Xiu Mei and ced the opening around her mouth and nose as he coaxed her to open her mouth and breathe in it.


    But Xiu Mei¡¯s body was at its limit and her body was finally released from the tension she was feeling before.


    Even after breathing through the paper bag, Xiu Mei¡¯s situation didn¡¯t get better. And her grip on Lu Chen finally loosened, slipping away from his neck, and falling limp on the ground.

 Chapter 174 - Long Slumber

    <h4>Chapter 174 - Long Slumber</h4>


    Lu Chen¡¯s heart stopped beating for a moment. He sat frozen staring at the woman in his arms and her hand that fell on the ground.


    His mind nked out momentarily then he was quickly filled with dread as Xiu Meiid motionless in his embrace.


    "Xiu Mei?" His voice cracked as he uttered her name yet he didn¡¯t any response from her. Lu Chen immediately held her wrist and continued calling out her name trying to wake her up.


    "Xiu Mei! Wife!"


    He ced his fingers on her neck to check her pulse. He sighed and let out the breath he had been holding for a while as soon as he felt the steady pulse underneath the skin.


    She¡¯s still alive. Thank god. It looks like she just fainted.


    For a second, he thought she was already...


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t stop himself from burying his head on her shoulders. His shoulders shook as he took a deep breath to inhale that familiar scent again.


    Maybe because he was constantly involved with death, he thought that he was already numbed about it when every time he kills every person who tried to harm him. But when faced with the possibility of Lu Qiang and Xiu Mei dying, his body felt cold and crazy thoughts started to sprout in his mind.


    If that happens, then he won¡¯t be merciful anymore.


    His grip on her tightened as if just by doing this he could assure himself that she was alive.


    "Boss." Lee In¡¯s voice sounded from behind him.


    Lu Chen pulled away from hugging Xiu Mei and epted the oxygen mask she was handing over to him. While Lee In turned on the device that will immediately release the oxygen to help Xiu Mei breathe properly.


    The other men following behind themid out a stretched beside him. Lu Chen immediately carried Xiu Mei and moved her to lie down on the stretcher. He firmly held her right hand as he immediately ordered a helicopter tond somewhere near the area. He immediately transferred Xiu Mei into a hospital to get prompt treatment.


    While waiting for them to finish Xiu Mei¡¯s treatment and results, Lu Chen waited outside the room. Xiu Mei¡¯s been in treatment inside for more than an hour when Lu Shao reported back to Lu Chen that the trail they¡¯ve been following were suddenly cleaned up after they got ambushed.


    Lu Chen¡¯s face darkened.


    He recalled the report that Lee In gave to him as soon as he arrived in City S.


    Xiu Su Yi dered that he was just a pawn. And the note that he left behind in the scene. He should¡¯ve realized that it was weird.


    Why did Xiu Su Yi or the person behind this suddenly appear before them so boldly?


    It¡¯s because they are starting now. And kidnapping Xiu Mei was just the start.


    While waiting for Xiu Mei toe out, Lu Chen has been monitoring the stock market and the news. And just like as he expected, Xiu Mei¡¯s kidnapping was a distraction. At first nce, the stock market seems normal like usual but for Lu Chen who had been ying in this industry for years and conquered the business industry like a storm, he won¡¯t miss any small ripples happening in the market.


    Some newpanies that had entered the stock market suddenly fell. It would¡¯ve been normal on different days but for more than a hundredpanies¡¯ stocks to drop like that was very unusual. And it was all relevant to the industry the Lu Corporation are currently eyeing for entrance too.


    And then there¡¯s the news of two politicians suddenly dying from their illnesses. Recalling their names, Lu Chen remembered that those politicians had previous dealings with his father-inw and second brother-inw before years back.


    Lu Chen took a deep breath.


    It seems like the person who nned all this is going for an all-out war. And to think that they are targeting both the Lu¡¯s and the Xiu¡¯s.


    He fell silent for a moment, thinking about the connection between them. Aside from Xiu Mei, Lu Chen couldn¡¯t think of anything that would be amon link between them.


    Hmm...


    After giving instructions to Lu Shao and his other subordinates, Lu Chen waited patiently for Xiu Mei¡¯s to be finished.


    Xiu Mei was immediately moved to the VIP ward. After settling her papers personally, Lu Chen finally arrived at the entrance of her room. He saw two people waiting by the door and five other men scattered along the hallway for security.


    He immediately recognized those men as Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s.


    His brows creased as he remembered how they kidnapped Xiu Mei under their noses. And to think it even slipped from two different securities.


    He pursed his lips as if he thought about something. It seems like he had to increase Xiu Mei¡¯s and Lu Qiang¡¯s security. The person they¡¯re dealing with was seriously keen on harming anyone at the moment.


    As soon as he entered the room, Lu Chen smelled the intense scent of disinfectant and medicine in the air. It must¡¯ve been the stuff they applied on Xiu Mei¡¯s wounds.


    While they were in the helicopter, Lu Chen finally realized terrible her situation was. Aside from the wounds and scratches, her clothes were tattered and he could see some bruises as if she had hit something or someone had hit her.


    His fists tightened.


    Thinking about how bad was Xiu Mei¡¯s situation a moment ago, Lu Chen felt like something was pressing something heavy on his chest again.


    He walked over to the person slumbering in the middle of the room. Her expression seemed a little bit better right now than it was before but seeing those gauzes and band-aid on her face, it made her look more pitiful.


    He stood there silently watching her. Patiently waiting for her to wake up.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t know what she went through, but her loud cries to him before she lost consciousness was enough to shatter his heart into pieces.


    He was afraid that because of this matter, she was going back to her old self again just like what he read on her case report.


    That¡¯s why Lu Chen decided to stay. This time, he won¡¯t repeat his mistake. When he left her for a moment, she got kidnapped. This time, he¡¯ll watch over her closely and make sure that she¡¯s safe.


    Unfortunately, Xiu Mei never woke up that day.


    A weekter, Xiu Mei was quickly transferred back to the city and confined to the military hospital where she was given treatment back when she was younger. Aside from Lu Chen, her family took turns in watching over her the entire them she was sleeping.


    They had to undergo Xiu Mei to multiple tests to see why she wouldn¡¯t wake up but everything turned out normal. So Dr.Lee could onlye up with one diagnosis why Xiu Mei hadn¡¯t waken up after so long.


    Because Xiu Mei had endured another kidnapping again, which was also the things she was intensely emotionally traumatized with, her body and mind were subconsciously closing herself from the world. Like a defense mechanism that suddenly activated to stop Xiu Mei frompletely breaking down.


    And so, Xiu Mei¡¯s family had no choice but to wait for her to wake up on her own. Lu Qiang who would always stay in his mom¡¯s room would always talk to her just like what they always do every time. On the side, Lu Chen would help Xiu Mei rub her body with a towel and give kisses from time to time just like the usual times.


    It was very heartbreaking for Lu Chen to watch Lu Qiang cling to Xiu Mei¡¯s body every time. He would repeatedly call her Mom but the kid never received any response. Even though the little guy tried to hide his expression, his small movements never missed his eyes.


    Lu Chen could only tap his son¡¯s back and hug him in Xiu Mei¡¯s ce. Then he would bring him to the next-door room to sleep while telling stories.


    Throughout the time that Xiu Mei was asleep, Lu Chen rarely ever left her side. He would do his work and conference meetings in this room. He would send Lu Shao and Xiu Mei¡¯s secretary for business trips in his ce. Unless it was really necessary, he would go but he would immediately return within the day.


    Lu Qiang dropped some of his sses to attend to his mother. He would meet with his tutor thrice a week in a separate room from his mother¡¯s but aside from that, the kid rarely left his mother¡¯s side just like his Dad.


    That was how the father and son duo lived for two months.


    Physically, Xiu Mei already recovered from the wounds and bruises she got from the kidnapping incident. If it wasn¡¯t because she hasn¡¯t woke up yet, she would¡¯ve have been at home already.


    Until one day, after Lu Chen tucked Lu Qiang to bed in the other room. As soon as he returned to Xiu Mei¡¯s room, he paused in his tracks when he saw that person¡¯s figure sitting upright on the bed, dazed.


    "Xiu... Mei?"


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.


    His wife is finally awake!

 Chapter 175 - Something wrong

    <h4>Chapter 175 - Something wrong</h4>


    Hearing his voice, the woman who just woke up from slumber turned her head to follow the source of the voice who called her name.


    Xiu Mei stared at Lu Chen for a full minute with an empty gaze. Before Lu Chen could even celebrate that she had finally awakened, he finally noticed something wrong.


    When she did not respond to him at all, Lu Chen felt a sense of foreboding. He suddenly grew nervous as he slowly approached her figure, to see whether she would suddenlysh out or just stay calm when someone would try to go near her.


    "Wife?" He repeated. But Xiu Mei just followed his movements until he stopped next to her. She slightly raised her head to meet his gaze while Lu Chen never looked away from hers.


    Seeing her eyes look so empty at a close distance, Lu Chen felt heavy.


    Before, she would often act like this after waking up back when she first woke up in the hospital and when he moved her to his home. She would always fall in a trance for a few minutes and then she would slowly return to her senses as if she had justpletely woken up.


    But right now, Lu Chen could sense that this time, it was something different.


    He raised his hand and gently ced it on her cheek. Softly caressing her, slightly bent down his head and whispered her name again.


    "Xiu Mei." This time, he called her name with so much longing on his voice. He didn¡¯t hide the yearning in his eyes as he carefully basked on his wife¡¯s gaze on him.


    God knows how much he had longed for her eyes to look at him like that again.


    "I missed you." He murmured as their foreheads finally touched. His voice sounded so tender and full of affection as he honestly voiced out his feelings.


    A tear escaped from his left eye as soon as he closed his eyes. He focused on the slightly cold skin he was holding but in his hands, it somehow felt warmer instead of cold.


    A secondter, he felt a slightly cold hand cover his hand holding her cheek. He opened his eyes and saw that Xiu Mei was covering his hand as well. He withdrew his gaze from his hand and met her gaze again.


    This time, her eyes were filled with emotions. Her lips slightly curled up as her eyes turned into crescents. He watched her open her mouth and waited for her to speak but... no sound came out of her mouth.


    Both a.d.u.l.ts froze for a moment.


    Xiu Mei opened her mouth again to speak but strangely, even if she could feel the air passing through her mouth, she didn¡¯t let out any sound.


    At first, she thought that she suddenly couldn¡¯t hear herself at all. But looking at Lu Chen¡¯s dumbfounded expression, she knew that it wasn¡¯t the case at all.


    Her hand that was holding Lu Chen¡¯s moved to her neck, cing it where her vocal cords are. She opened her mouth again, this time with desperation as she tried to make a sound yet not even a peep could be heard.


    This time, she waspletely frightened. The hand on her neck trembled as she realized that something was wrong with her. Her entire body shook in fear as panic was creeping into her again.


    No way. It can¡¯t be!


    W-Why...?!


    Xiu Mei swiftly raised her head and looked at Lu Chen. With her eyes, she was asking him for help. Her other hand clung on his arm as she continued to desperately look for him for help.


    Even Lu Chen was startled with the sudden turn of events. He thought that since Xiu Mei had woken up now, then there would be no problem anymore. But it seems that he was terribly mistaken.


    He waspletely startled just like Xiu Mei but he quickly changed his expression after seeing her reaction.


    This wasn¡¯t the time to be shocked!


    Lu Chen pressed the button on the bed to call the nurse as he immediatelyforted his panicking wife by embracing her and stroking her back. The military nurse stationed in their room swiftly arrived.


    The nurse paused for a second before she quickly entered her room. Before the nurse could even ask how the patient was feeling, Lu Chen already beat her to it.


    "There¡¯s something wrong with her. Can you call Dr. Lee?"


    The nurse was hesitant to listen to his words at first but as her gaze shifted on the trembling woman and the scary man, she swallowed down her words andplied.


    "I¡¯ll call Dr. Lee now." Then she immediately left the room to call Xiu Mei¡¯s doctor.


    Lu Chen was now sitting on the edge of the bed while Xiu Mei just buried herself into his embrace desperately. Right now, she didn¡¯t know what to do nor how to face it.


    She knew something was wrong with her. And that fact greatly scared her.


    Doctor Lee arrived in the room after ten minutes. Lu Chen eyed him for a minute before gesturing something to him. Doctor Lee understood what he was trying to say and instructed the other nurse to leave the room.


    "Little Princess, how are you feeling?" Doctor Lee approached her while observing her movements. As soon as he entered the room, he noticed the heavy atmosphere within then knew that there was a problem.


    Xiu Mei peeked over Lu Chen¡¯s shoulder to look at Doctor Lee and bit her lips as if contemting. In the end, she pulled away from her husband and properly sat up in front of the doctor so he could do his work.


    Xiu Mei shook her head in response to his question.


    Doctor Lee nced at Lu Chen before looking at Xiu Mei again. She took a deep breath and straightened her back. Then sheid her hand on her neck and shook her head again as she tried to tell him what was wrong with her. She even opened her mouth and attempted to speak just so he could easily understand what she was implying.


    Lu Chen took a sharp breath as he watched his wife¡¯s movements. Behind his back, he hid his fisted hands. His thoughts unbeknownst to anyone in the room.


    Doctor Lee didn¡¯t show the shock on his face as a professional but he was honestly very startled when he understood what Xiu Mei was trying to say.


    Selective Mutism wasn¡¯t umon for people who had traumatic experiences but it surely takes a lot of effort to encourage and help someone with this case in curing their mutism. Though right now, he¡¯s not yet sure if that was really the case.


    Doctor Lee spoke to Xiu Mei in a very gentle manner to not make her panic at all with her current situation. He¡¯ll be scheduling her for some radiology exams but he will be doing some initial tests on her first.


    Lu Chen moved behind Xiu Mei first to give them space as the doctor and patient talked. He watched her try to open her mouth a couple of times and Doctor Lee encouraging her from time to time. The more that Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t speak, the more her mood dampened.


    "Mr. Lu, if you coulde closer please." Doctor Lee instructed. Lu Chen quicklyplied and sat closely beside his wife. He subconsciously held her free hand and lightly massaged it with his fingers.


    "Can you try again, little princess?" Doctor Lee coaxed.


    Xiu Mei pursed her lips before opening her mouth again. However, even with the encouragement of both males, she still failed to speak.


    Doctor Lee grew silent for a few seconds before he made up his mind.


    "What about this? Mr. Lu and I will step out for a moment. Probably around ten minutes or so. When you¡¯re all calmed down and rxed, could you try speaking again?"


    Xiu Mei hesitantly nodded at his proposal. ncing at Lu Chen for a few seconds, she forced out a smile.


    Right now, her emotions were in aplete despite her calm exterior. She wasn¡¯t even aware that she just woke up after sleeping for two months.


    She was still feeling too shocked about her current situation.


    She was very confused when she woke up alone inside the hospital room at first. But as soon as she saw Lu Chen¡¯s figure and the expression on his face, her memories before she cked out surged back flooding her mind.


    It caused her emotions to heighten again. But when Lu Chen said that he missed her, Xiu Mei thought that he was talking about when he was still looking for her when she got kidnapped.


    But as soon as she wanted to say that she missed him so much too, no sound came out of her mouth. The shock and the fear that was whirling inside her mind was slowly tearing down her calm persona.

 Chapter 176 - Alone

    <h4>Chapter 176 - Alone</h4>


    As soon as the room was emptied, the room was filled with a long silence. Left on her own devices, Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes lingered on the door for a short moment before roaming her eyes around the room.


    She took Doctor Lee¡¯s advice to heart. Maybe if she was left alone, she could speak. But right now, she was too tense and pressured to speak. So Doctor Lee left her alone inside the room to see if she¡¯s calmed down, then maybe she could speak. So Xiu Mei did what he proposed and tried to gather her thoughts first.


    She saw a couple of fruits and some familiar workbooks on the nearby table. There were even some nkets and a handful of clothesying around messily on the sofa.


    Seeing those, she knew that Lu Qiang must have been staying with her again just like what he did before.


    She lowered her eyes and noticed her hands. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she looked at her hands closely. She slightly pulled down her sleeves and affirmed her thoughts.


    She... visibly thinned down a lot.


    Xiu Mei never dieted at all when she started working. Because she was prone to skipping her meals when she was too busy, she would unconsciously consume a lot of food once she finally remembers that she has to eat. She would sometimes lose some small weight because of this but it was never as drastic as right now.


    Her skin was sickly pale, but what surprised her was her fingers strangely slimmed down. Even her wrist seemed to turn thinner than she remembered.


    Xiu Mei felt a slight panic rose within her but she immediately suppressed it.


    No. She was doing the opposite of what she really had to do. She had to calm down, not to fuel her panic even more.


    So Xiu Mei hid her hands underneath the nkets instead.


    Out of sight, out of mind.


    She repeated inside her head. She closed her eyes and took steady patterned breaths. Since it wasn¡¯t a panic attack, she didn¡¯t have a difficult time concentrating. She opened her eyes and stared at the sole object in front of her which was the television.


    She kept her eyes on the ck rectangr screen to keep her focus. She didn¡¯t know if it was because it was too quiet, she could almost hear the steady heartbeat of her heart. In resounded in her ears like a drum.


    1...2...3...4...


    Xiu Mei cleared her mind. All the stuff she was worrying about was thrown at the back of her head.


    After staying like that for who knows how long, Xiu Mei turned her head to the window a few meters away from her bed. She recognized the window style and knew that she was currently in the military hospital at the moment.


    But she didn¡¯t let that fact faze her. Instead, the bright sunlight that could be seen even through the beige curtains bewitched her. She shifted on her bed, her feet dangling on the floor.


    Slowly, she climbed down from her bed, and with her two feet, she tried to keep her bnce yet she immediately failed. As soon as she tried to stand up, her feet that were stuck on the ground wobbled. Her knees felt weak, causing her to almost fall on the floor if it weren¡¯t for her reflexes to hold onto the bed immediately.


    She paused for a moment. Why did she be so weak ah...


    But she immediately shrugged off that thought and steeled herself. She wanted to reach the windowsill.


    With great effort, she pushed herself up again and supported her weight by holding onto the bed. And then it was the table, and then the wall. She could feel her legs shaking with every step, but she never gave up. She was already panting heavily when she ced her hand on the windowsill.


    Pushing the annoying curtains away, she finally saw the world on the opposite side. She ced her palm on the ss and felt the cool temperature seep into her skin.


    Xiu Mei looked at her hand and fell into a trance.


    It was so...cold.


    She slid her finger slightly across the ss and saw that the area where she ced her hand previously turned clearer before it slowly condensed.


    "Is it... winter?" She stammered.


    When she realized what she did, she was stunned in shock. She held her neck again and as her eyes and hands trembled in nervousness and excitement.


    She opened her mouth again.


    "I can s-speak?"


    Xiu Mei took a sharp breath. She gasped and with her eyes wide open, she looked at her blurry reflection on the ss window.


    Even though the sound was very light and her voice sounded very hoarse, Xiu Mei was able to make a sound.


    Gone was her feeling to suddenly freeze up when she tried to speak with Doctor Lee a while ago. She didn¡¯t feel stuffy nor ufortable at all.


    Xiu Mei felt like she just discovered something incredible. A smile appeared on her face as she felt like tearing up from happiness.


    Thank goodness.


    My god. So she wasn¡¯tpletely mute at all.


    She could still speak. Thank god.


    Xiu Mei stayed like that for the rest of the time until she heard a knock on her door. She spun her head and saw Lu Chen and Doctor Lee standing outside the room as soon as it opened.


    Both men didn¡¯t immediately enter her room, instead, Doctor Lee asked her first.


    "How are you?"


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t hide her thoughts and smiled brightly at the two. She nodded excitedly. Xiu Mei really felt like crying.


    She unconsciously opened her mouth again to say that she could still speak but that unknown pressure in her throat returned.


    Hearing no sound, Xiu Mei paused again as she fell into confusion.


    Why can¡¯t she speak again?


    This time, Doctor Lee and Lu Chen entered her room. Lu Chen directly walked towards her and embraced her shoulders while his other hand held her palm. His posture was letting her body lean her weight on Lu Chen¡¯s instead of using her own energy to support her weight.


    "Let¡¯s sit down first." Doctor Lee said.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t princess carry Xiu Mei but instead, he allowed her to walk towards the bed by supporting her. Even though it took her a bit longer to reach her bed, Lu Chen patiently walked small steps to keep up with her pace and helper settle back on the bed. He even inclined the bed to her liking and smoothened the nket that was covering half of her body.


    "So at least we can cross out the possibility that youpletely can¡¯t talk anymore. How did you feel when you were able to speak? Any pain?" Doctor Lee asked. Xiu Mei reached out to the paper and pen he handed over to her and wrote down.


    ¡¯Comfortable. No pain.¡¯ She wrote and held up in front of him. Doctor Lee hummed in response and nodded.


    "How do you feel if you try to speak right now?"


    Xiu Mei paused to think and started writing again.


    ¡¯Stuffy.¡¯


    Doctor Lee nodded again and wrote something down on his tablet.


    ¡¯Do you feel nervous or pressured if you try?"


    Xiu Mei fell silent. Her hands stopped midair before she wrote her response.


    ¡¯I think so?¡¯


    They finished after Doctor Lee asked a couple more questions. He stood up and looked both to Lu Chen and Xiu Mei.


    "I¡¯ll meet with you again for the radiology exams but I¡¯ll give you the final diagnoses once all the resultse out. Right now, I advise you not to worry and put pressure on yourself too much Little Princess. Since you are still able to speak if you¡¯re alone, that is a significant factor that tells us that you can still recover from this, okay?"


    Xiu Mei nodded awkwardly. Doctor Lee left the room shortly after finishing their conversation.


    Lu Chen walked over and stroked her head. He looked at her tenderly and spoke.


    "It¡¯s going to be fine." He uttered. As if like magic, Xiu Mei¡¯s chaotic feelings slowly calmed down. Her heart and mindpletely believing his words.


    Lu Chen let her side for a second to grab a ss of water. Then he held it next to her mouth. Seeing the water, her throat felt drier and she suddenly craved for the liquid in front of her. She opened her mouth obediently.


    "Slowly." Lu Chen reminded.


    She slowly sipped from the cup until she finally emptied its contents. And then he put the ss back on the table beside him and pulled the seat underneath the bed. He touched her arm and coaxed her to rest again.


    But Xiu Mei, who suspiciously felt that she slept longer than what she thought, was too awake to rest. Instead, she wrote something down and asked him the question that had been bugging her for quite a while.


    ¡¯How long was I asleep?¡¯


    This was the question that she originally wanted to ask as soon as she woke up. Just like what she did in the past every time she wakes up after cking out.

 Chapter 177 - Little Qiangs thoughts

    <h4>Chapter 177 - Little Qiang''s thoughts</h4>


    When Xiu Mei felt the cold temperature of the ss window against her slightly cold palm, Xiu Mei immediately realized the change in season. If her memory serves her right, it was still a hot and rainy season when she was kidnapped. It was already mid-August by then. Even if she slept for a whole week, it waspletely impossible for the climate to suddenly change into winter in one week.


    Even if her emotions and thoughts were in turmoil, Xiu Mei was still quite rational.


    Her hands and wrists that visibly slimmed down.


    The colder temperature outside.


    All these points are pointing to only one possibility.


    That is she had been out far longer than she thought she was. If it was already winter... then it must be already approaching November or maybe it was already November. Her room was devoid of anything that could indicate date and time except for the television if she turns it on.


    But this is just her assumption. So Xiu Mei didn¡¯t hesitate and straightforwardly asked her husband that question.


    Of how long had she been sleeping?


    Her previous cases of sleeping for days after fainting was a normal case. She didn¡¯t know if it was associated with her PTSD or not but for the past few years, the days she slept after cking out were getting longer and longer.


    And right now would probably be the longest.


    Lu Chen flinched but he quickly returned to his senses and met Xiu Mei¡¯s inquiring gaze. Through her eyes, somehow, he could even feel that his wife already knew the answer to her question. She looked so calm andposed if it weren¡¯t for him noticing how her fingers tightened on the paper she was holding.


    He couldn¡¯t help but hold her hand again and wrapped it in his warmth. He lightly massaged her willowy hand and carefully answered her question.


    "You have been sleeping for more than two months." Since that day, were the words that were left unsaid.


    The sound of the paper crunching under her fingers resounded inside the silent room. Xiu Mei lowered her head for a few seconds before taking a deep breath. Then she raised her head and forced out a smile to Lu Chen before nodding.


    She... wasn¡¯t really that surprised. Rather, she had somehow expected it to happen but she didn¡¯t know it would happen so soon.


    Xiu Mei bit her lip and fiddles with her hands. It seems like she needs to start her treatment with Doctor Lee again. Aside from her mutism, her mind and body were even starting to close herself to everyone. When she thought she was already slowly starting to get over her fears, she suddenly had to start all over again.


    The two of them fell into another bout of silence again. Lu Chen gave her time to slowly absorb it first else she bes too overwhelmedter on if she learns what happened for the past two months.


    After a few minutes, Xiu Mei remembered Lu Qiang¡¯s workbook that was on the table again. Then she remembered that her son was supposed to be enrolled at the school by this time around. She raised her hands and pointed at the scattered books on the table and looked inquisitive at her husband.


    Their thoughts are in so much harmony that Lu Chen understood what she wanted to say.


    "Lu Qiang is already enrolled in school. But he was stubborn and wanted to be tutored here first to take care of you. He promised he would attend his sses at school once you wake up." Lu Chen slowly exined as he stood up from his seat andpiled the scattered workbooks into one pile. He picked up one workbook and gave it to Xiu Mei to see.


    "He was working with his homework the whole morning so he¡¯s currently napping in a separate room right now." He shared in passing as he watched her smile after receiving the workbook.


    Xiu Mei looked at it with great interest. Her eyes brightened as soon as she opened Lu Qiang¡¯s workbook. She knew very well how intelligent Lu Qiang was so she wasn¡¯t surprised to see how good his answers are in the workbook, but if shepared it to his workbook when he was being homeschooled, Xiu Mei could see the change in detail that Lu Qiang did. His answers weren¡¯t so ¡¯stiff¡¯ or ¡¯a.d.u.l.t-like¡¯ anymore. Since the questions are meant to be answered by kids, Lu Qiang¡¯s answers eventually became more child-like the more she read through the workbook.


    Xiu Mei giggled in delight as she saw the slight change in Lu Qiang. If Lu Qiang could interact with other kids the same age as him next time, then he¡¯ll probably be more childlike then?


    She returned the book to Lu Chen so he could put it back on the table. In an effort to cheer up his wife, Lu Chen did all the talking and narrated to her how Lu Qiang was doing for the past months, leaving out the times when the kid would cry out pitifully beside his mother¡¯s bed as he waited for her to wake up. He only told her the positive stories he could remember and left out the other stuff that would dampen her mood instead.


    An hourter, Xiu Mei was moved to various rooms for her radiology exams. Lu Chen apanied her all throughout the exams and waited for her patiently outside the room. As soon as they returned to her private room, Xiu Mei was greeted by the sight of a little kid¡¯s back.


    Xiu Mei subconsciously called Lu Qiang out of habit, but she froze up again and nothing came out of her mouth. The little kid, however, noticed his parents¡¯ presence as soon as they entered the room.


    At first, he panicked when he didn¡¯t see his mother on the bed. He was just about to go out to report to the nurses when he turned around and saw his mother sitting on the wheelchair being pushed by his father.


    "Mom!" Lu Qiang eximed. His eyes brightened as he almost ran towards his mother but his father immediately warned him.


    "Don¡¯t run towards your mother. She can¡¯t hold you right now." Lu Chen sternly warned him. Lu Qiang quickly realized that he almost hurt his mother and apologized. His mother was too weak right now ah. He has to be really careful if he wants to hug her too.


    Lu Qiang slowed down and stopped next to Xiu Mei. He hesitantly touched his mother¡¯s hand because he was afraid that he would break her, and then he said, "Mom, I missed you so much."


    She immediately felt the yearning in his tone as he said that.


    Her first thought was, Lu Qiang really has the blood of Lu. To think that both father and son duo would utter the same line as soon as they saw her.


    Xiu Mei gently smiled and wrapped his little hand on hers. Then her other hand stroked his head. Since she couldn¡¯t speak and she didn¡¯t have her writing paper with her, she wanted to reply to him through actions. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead as a way of saying that she missed him so much as well.


    Lu Qiang noticed his mother¡¯s silence. He was very happy to receive a kiss from his mother, but when he noticed that she didn¡¯t call him ¡¯baby¡¯ or ¡¯darling¡¯ or the other usual nicknames she would always call him with, he immediately found it strange.


    His mom loves him so much... why would she suddenly not call him sweetly like before?


    "Mom?"


    Xiu Mei still didn¡¯t respond to him. Instead, she kept stroking his head.


    Lu Qiang raised his head to look at his father as if asking him what was wrong but Lu Chen simply blinked at him and pushed Xiu Mei¡¯s wheelchair again. Seeing that his father was putting her mother to bed, Lu Qiang followed behind them and with his short hands, he tried fixing her mother¡¯s pillow.


    He saw her mother nod at him lightly while smiling before lying down on her bed. Then like a filial son, he pulled over the nket over her body.


    "Take a rest first, okay?" Lu Chen murmured to his wife.


    Xiu Mei easily got tired after going through all those exams because her body was still so weak so she listened to Lu Chen.


    "I¡¯ll have some porridge prepared for youter once you wake up." He added. Xiu Mei closed her eyes again and returned to her slumber.


    Lu Chen and Lu Qiang stood by her side for a few more minutes before Xiu Mei¡¯s breathing finally stabilized, indicating that she was nowpletely asleep.


    Nudging his son, the two of them left the room temporarily to talk.


    "I¡¯ll give your grandparents a short call first and then we¡¯ll talk, okay?" Lu Chen uttered, pulling out his mobile phone.


    Lu Qiang nodded. Lu Chen strode to a different direction to make the call while Lu Qiang walked over to the room next door which was beside his mother¡¯s. He took onest look at his mother¡¯s closed-door before returning to the room he was temporarily staying in.


    Inside, he just stared at his workbook not moving a muscle at all. He got depressed on his own and lowered his head.


    His thoughts whirled around his head while pouting.


    Does his mother not want him anymore? Is that why she didn¡¯t call him sweetly at all?

 Chapter 178 - Little balls fears

    <h4>Chapter 178 - Little ball''s fears</h4>


    Ever since he was young, he was already aware that his parents have been killed when he was still a baby. He heard it once when he identally heard a couple of maids gossiping while he was ying.


    After that, he innocently ran back to his father and asked him about it. Later, he didn¡¯t see those maids in his mansion anymore.


    Even though he was still a child, he wasn¡¯t stupid. Lu Chen honestly told him that he was originally his nephew before he officially became his adopted son. He was mildly depressed about it for a short while, but his father would always shower him with love every time he was home that he gradually forgot about it.


    And then as he grew up, in the cartoons and the animal life tv that he watched, he would always see a mother and father figure beside their children. A desire slowly rose from within him and he became envious of the 2D figures he was watching.


    His curiosity grew and using his knowledge about technology, it was quite easy for him to learn how his parents died. They got caught in a random shooting and was killed in the process. So that¡¯s why they weren¡¯t able to return home and pick him up from his father...no, it should be his Uncle, isn¡¯t it?


    A subconscious fear was nted in his mind and sometimes, he would often worry whether his father would suddenly get in an ident and leave him just like his biological parents did. But the more he spent time with his father, he realized how strong his father truly was.


    He has a lot of people working for him and he knows how to use guns. He would sometimes bring him for a spar or take him for a survival test twice a year. Lu Chen¡¯s father figure became something that Lu Qiang greatly admired. He was omnipotent that no one couldpete with.


    And so, his fear was thrown at the back of his head as the possibility of his father getting killed became an impossible possibility in his mind.


    And then, his mother came into his life. After that fateful encounter at the yground and the coincidence that she turned out to be working under his father¡¯spany, Lu Qiang grew mischievous.


    This woman was the only woman he saw that could stand beside his father. Then maybe, she was going to be his mother?


    His desire for a mother figure bloomed and he shamelessly called that woman his mother. At first, Xiu Mei was quite embarrassed but since Lu Qiang saw his father not saying anything about it, he just continued his evil deeds and made her his mother.


    And then one day, his father brought her mother home and told him that she was now his mother. Lu Chen even showed him the adoption papers that proved it afterward. Lu Qiang kept it carefully under his secret drawer and would sometimes take it out to see.


    Everything was going well. Lu Qiang felt the warmth he has never felt before from Xiu Mei. Before, he thought that having his father would be enough. But now that he had a taste of having a mother, he never wanted to let go of it anymore.


    Ah... truly a person from the Lu family. Never letting go of the prey once he sets his sight on it. Xiu Mei never knew the trap she had gotten into.


    He became a 24/7 filial son to his mother. He would always stick to her whenever she returns home and he would always listen to her. And then he would go to his room to sleep while his mother would tuck him to bed and tell him bedtime stories that he found quite interesting when he finally had a mother.


    He was so caught up with his happiness until his mother told him that she would need to go on a business trip and she will return after a few days. He was stunned and his fear that he thought already went away returned. And then he remembered again how his parents never returned after leaving him here with his father.


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t know what really happened but he recalled his mother lying on the hospital bed before she became his father¡¯s wife. She looked so pale and she was badly hurt on her head. When Lu Qiang first saw her like that, he cried and never left her side.


    His parents¡¯ death and her image looking pale lying on that hospital bed ovepped on his mind. He was suddenly afraid... afraid that his mother won¡¯t return just like how his parents did. That if she goes somewhere far without him, she¡¯ll suddenly disappear. And then he¡¯ll be without a mother again.


    He didn¡¯t know how those thoughts festered in his mind. The first night that his mother called him while she was in a different city, he couldn¡¯t help himself and revealed his selfish mind. His mother had to go somewhere because it was about work. And his mother works for his father. Which means that his father was the one who made her leave.


    He reflected after that and thought that he was requesting too much. He wanted to apologize to his mother the next day but his mother never brought it up again as if she forgot about it. He silently sulked but still became the filial son he always was.


    He thought that he was probably thinking too much and everything would be just fine. Like how much of a coincidence it would have to be if something happens to his mother? Plus he knew that his father¡¯s men would always protect her. And also the fact that his mother came from the family of soldiers, she would be very well protected everywhere she goes.


    And then one day, he suddenly realized that he was very wrong. That if it was really meant to happen, it would happen.


    His father left a few days after his mother left. Told him it was also a business trip. Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t overly concerned about it at all and nonchntly sent him off. And the day his mother was due to return came.


    With the help of the chef and his nanny, he cooked some of her favorite foods. He eagerly waited for his mother toe home, be showered by her kisses, and surely, she would also bring home some presents for him as well. He waited in the living room, watching the clock and listening in on the door for any sounds.


    But no matter how much he waited, his mother never came. He didn¡¯t even notice it was already veryte.


    He called her phone, but his mother didn¡¯t answer at all. His fear bubbled up and he continuously contacted her but still no response. He was filled with fear as he thought of something.


    His mother never missed to call him even in the morning and before sleeping. But she... didn¡¯t call him at all today orst night. He was too excited and giddy that she wasing home that he didn¡¯t even notice that.


    This time, Lu Qiang called his father. It took a couple more tries before his father answered. If something happened to his mother, then his father would surely know about it. He briefly said that he¡¯ll contact him again soon before hanging up. He didn¡¯t even answer his questions.


    Lu Qiang lost sleep that night.


    And then his great grandparents visited him very early the next day. By early he meant that the sun was still not up when they came into their house. It was his great grandparents from the Xiu family who visited him and stayed with him for a short while. And then after lunch, they brought him away to a hospital that was filled with soldiers.


    He was momentarily fascinated by those cool valiant soldiers, but when he realized it was a military hospital, he finally found something was wrong.


    Why were they suddenly here?


    He remembered his first uncle is a soldier so he thought that maybe they were going to visit his uncle. And then he finally saw his father and his grandparents outside the room.


    His grandmother was even crying while hugging his grandfather. His second uncle looked very angry while talking with someone on his phone. And his father... his father was standing outside of the door as he looked through the small ss window.


    He pulled away from his great grandmother Xiu¡¯s grip and ran towards the figure of his mother. With puzzled eyes, he raised his head and tugged on his pants to get his attention.


    Lu Chen looked down and saw his son. He seemed to have frozen for a second before taking a deep breath. And then his father picked him up to his arms and he finally saw what he was looking at behind the ss window.


    No, it wasn¡¯t what. It was who.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s heart almost stopped beating. He saw the bandaged figure lying on the bed with a couple of doctors in military uniforms surrounding that person.


    Wasn¡¯t that... his mother?

 Chapter 179 - Two Months - Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 179 - Two Months - Part 1</h4>


    Lu Qiang¡¯s fears came true. He shuddered as he saw his mother¡¯s figure sleeping on that bed again, but this time, he could clearly see she was injured. He couldn¡¯t stop his tears from falling as he pulled on his father¡¯s clothes.


    "I-Is Mom gonna die?" He asked in a shaky voice. His emotions at the moment could be clearly felt by anyone nearby that could hear him.


    "No, your mother¡¯s going to be fine." Lu Chen could onlyfort his son and hugged him into his arms. He stroked his back as heforted him while he was crying.


    Since that day, Lu Qiang never left her mother¡¯s side. He was like a child with his lollipop forcibly taken away, and once he got it back, he never let go of it again.


    Lu Qiang made his resolve. He would grow up well just like what his mother always wished for. And then when he gets stronger, he¡¯ll be the one to protect her next along with his father.


    For the past two months, while Xiu Mei was asleep, he worked hard on his studies. Even though he wanted to physically go to school just like what his parents wanted, Lu Qiang was still afraid that the moment he gets separated from her, then something would happen to his mother again.


    And now, his mother has woken up. But... she did not call for him at all.


    Lu Qiang bit his lower lip and lowered his head, getting depressed all on his own.


    A few minutester, Lu Chen entered the room and found his son¡¯s gloomy mood. He didn¡¯t need to ask him at all because he can easily read what was running in his son¡¯s mind.


    He sat down beside him and nced at his workbook that Lu Qiang didn¡¯t touch at all.


    "Was Mommy angry at me? Because I was being a bad kid before she... slept? Is that why she¡¯s not calling me anymore?" Lu Qiang couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Lu Chen shook his head and corrected him.


    "No, it¡¯s not like that. Your Mom loves you very much and you know that as well, right?"


    Lu Qiang¡¯s mood turned gloomier instead.


    "But mommy didn¡¯t call me at all back there." He whined.


    Lu Chen took a heavy sigh, trying to think of the best way to break the news to his son that his mother... was having some small problems.


    He stroked his head and pulled him closer to him.


    "Look, uhm, about that. You know how your mother just woke up after sleeping for a long time, right?"


    Lu Qiang nodded.


    "So Dad took Mommy to get checked. Tests and with the doctors, all of that. And mommy currently has this small problem, you see."


    Lu Qiang blinked in confusion as he earnestly continued to listen to his father.


    "Is Mom¡¯s life in danger?"


    Lu Chen shook his head. "No!...no, she¡¯ll be safe because we won¡¯t let your mother out of our sights anymore." Lu Chen tried to find his way around his words.


    He didn¡¯t want to lie to him that his mother is not in danger when she really is. All of them are. He knew Lu Qiang¡¯s capability, and he always finds a way to find the information that he wanted to know even without his help. So lying to his son would just affect their rtionship in the long term if he persisted to lie to him.


    But as a parent, he couldn¡¯t exactly tell him that they are all still in danger. He still wanted his son to enjoy his innocence¡ªif he still does have it because he¡¯s kinda simr to him and his biological father when ites maturing too early¡ªand keeping him in the dark about that danger, for now, would make it easier for him to be just a normal kid.


    "Listen, I know that you¡¯re quite disappointed with Dad for the past few months because I promised you and your mother that I would protect you but I failed. That¡¯s why you¡¯re mother has been lying on that bed these days. And I want to make up for that mistake of mine." Lu Chen pulled the little kid into hisp and made him face to face with him.


    He felt the tight grip of a small hand on his clothes as he continued to exin to the little kid.


    "Lu Qiang." He uttered his name softly.


    "Yes, Dad?"


    "Your mother... w-won¡¯t be able to talk for a while." He stammered as he slowly mumbled the words out of his mouth.


    Lu Qiang sniffed. He grew more confused. "What do you mean, Dad?"


    Lu Chen continued stroking his hair as he continued his words.


    "Your mom won¡¯t be able to speak, temporarily. It¡¯s not forever, okay? But for the meantime, she¡¯ll bemunicating with all of us through writing or when we all learn the signnguage, understood?"


    Lu Qiang blinked as he tried to understand his father¡¯s words. His mother won¡¯t be able to talk?


    His mother¡¯s figure shed in his mind. She could see the twinkle in her eyes when their eyes met, and how she smiled while holding his hand.


    All his previous worries were now wiped away when he finally connected the dots.


    His mother was very happy to see him, but since she couldn¡¯t speak his name at all so she tried to send her message through actions. It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t want to call him, but she couldn¡¯t.


    She... did his mom lost her voice?


    He was still a bit unsure but he nodded obediently and listened to his father.


    If it was going to make his mother better, then he won¡¯t mind that problem at all. He would dly learn signnguage as fast as he could if he has to.


    "Please be understanding of mommy for the next days, okay?"


    "Mhm. I promise I¡¯ll be a good boy."


    "No whining and tantrums for the meantime?"


    "I promise."


    "Then will you listen to mommy and daddy obediently? For example, if mom tells you to go attend school, will you listen to her?"


    "...Okay. I will, if mother wants me to."


    "Good, then I¡¯ll leave you here for a moment. I¡¯ll meet with your grandparents and uncle outside."


    "Mhm."


    After making a deal with his father, Lu Qiang finally started doing his homework that was already due for tomorrow. In his mind, he was already nning how he would sneak some of his time to learning signnguage and other stuff that would help him entertain his mother. Of course, he is a filial son who just wants his mother to be happy.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen stood a few meters away from Xiu Mei¡¯s door while waiting for Xiu Mei¡¯s parents to arrive. He wasn¡¯t able to inform early because he was too stunned to see that Xiu Mei finally woke up and then finding out that Xiu Mei might probably have some selective mutism or something along those lines just like what Doctor Lee exined.


    Xiu Mo Ruo arrived after half an hour.


    "How is she?" Xiu Mo Ruo asked as he stopped in front of his sister¡¯s door and saw her sleeping through the small ss window.


    He didn???t make a move to enter at all lest he disturbs her rest. He was already briefly informed by Lu Chen on the phone about Xiu Mei¡¯s status and giving her some space and peace to let it all sink in would be the best course of action for him to do at the moment.


    "She acts fine." Lu Chen frankly replied.


    "So she tried to act fine in front of you huh."


    "Yeah. I just went along with her trying to distract her temporarily since she just woke up and she can¡¯t handle so much at the moment."


    "I agree with you on that. What about Doctor Lee?"


    "He¡¯s yet to give the final diagnosis so I¡¯m still waiting."


    Xiu Mo Ruo fell silent for a moment as he kept staring at his sleeping sister, separated by a door. He breathed heavily.


    "How bad is it?"


    Lu Chen paused before opening his mouth. "Doctor Lee says that her case doesn¡¯t seem to be so bad. There¡¯s still hope for her to recover but, because of her recent experience and all, we really won¡¯t know how much blow it really was for her."


    "...I know."


    "You arrived quickly. Weren¡¯t you busy?"


    "I am." Xiu Mo Ruo turned to his side and nced at Lu Chen.


    "This mystery guy has been trying to reshuffle some officials behind the scenes. It¡¯s getting a real pain the ass in trying to catch this guy when it¡¯s like he will always run away as soon as he dangles a bait for us to bite on."


    "What about Xiu Min?"


    "No clue. But I think Grandfather and Uncle are also overseeing it on the military side. Any movements down there?"


    "Yeah. It¡¯s not therge-scale stuff but he¡¯s doing something. I¡¯m still having some of my men check into the past records. We¡¯re still looking for a link that could possibly lead us to that mystery person or any of his close associates."

 Chapter 180 - Two Months - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 180 - Two Months - Part 2</h4>


    FLASHBACK MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO


    Lu Chen nced at the stabilized condition of Xiu Mei on the bed. Beside herid Lu Qiang who was sleeping, insisting to stay at his mother¡¯s side today. He covered him up with a nket so that he won¡¯t catch a cold.


    "Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll just be in the other room. I¡¯ll take over." Yu Shi Huang spoke behind him. He turned and saw his mother-inw drinking from a mug full of coffee.


    "Thank you, Mom. I¡¯ll be back shortly after the meeting."


    Yu Shi Huang¡¯s eyes squinted. "As long as you find who did this to my daughter, it doesn¡¯t matter."


    Lu Chen agreed with her words. Next door, Xiu Mo Ruo, Xiu Gu Ren, and the two grand elders are in the middle of a meeting. Lu Chen sat on the empty seat avable.


    "So the Ying¡¯s adopted daughter kidnapped my granddaughter, and while they¡¯re doing that, they killed the Mayor of City S." Grandfather Xiu stated as he looked down on the file he was holding.


    "How sure are we that they were done by the same person?" Grandmother Yu questioned.


    Xiu Mo Ruoid out a couple of reports rted to the death of the Mayor and Xiu Mei¡¯s kidnapping.


    "Xiu Mei¡¯s kidnapping was done by Ying Wan Wan. But we suspect that she¡¯s not working alone and that she¡¯s working with someone who probably has a really strong influence, enough that they could hide her tracks cleanly so we couldn¡¯t find her." Xiu Mo Ruo exined.


    "Before Xiu Mei was kidnapped, Xiu Su Yi sent us some message. That he was just a pawn. So that confirms that someone different is operating behind the scenes. And the note that he sent with the date and ce. The mentioned date and ce matched where the Mayor was killed, which was yesterday." Lu Chen borated.


    "It seems like he¡¯s nning something big." (Grandfather Yu)


    "Then we need to find that person fast." (Xiu Gu Ren)


    "Do we know any close associates of Ying Wan Wan? Someone she would be often seen with or some kind of ce that she goes to?" (Grandfather Xiu)


    "My secretary already looked into it but Ying Wan Wan was often holed at home. With the number of people entering and leaving the Ying estate, it would be a bit difficult to identify if there are people with who shees into contact with. My men are waiting for the intel from one of the people we nted inside their family then maybe we can narrow down the list of our possible suspects." (Lu Chen)


    "As for me, I¡¯ve looked into the death of the Mayor. It seems like he was eating with some of his close advisors when he was suddenly injected with somerge dose of potassium causing his cardiac arrest. The police are suspecting that this was done by this waiter." Xiu Mo Ruo pointed at the image screenshot taken from the security footage. "He was the one serving the guests at that time and what fueled their suspicion is that this guy resigned and disappeared after that day."


    "So we know who that guy is?" (Xiu Gu Ren)


    "Yep, but unfortunately, he¡¯s dead. One of my men reported to us that the guy died from pills overdose. He was rushed to the hospital but he¡¯s already too dead by then." (Xiu Mo Ruo)


    "Great, so we¡¯re blind again. We look so powerful gathered around here but we still can¡¯t figure out the person behind this." (Grandfather Yu.)


    "We still have clues though. We scoured on this man¡¯s phone records, bank ounts, emails, and online activities. Two weeks ago, he was caught on camera in one of our train stations retrieving some kind of ck bag in one of the train lockers. We highly suspect that it was the money that was used to pay for him. So we tried to backtrack who ced it inside the train lockers, but we couldn¡¯t find it. Probably someone purposely messed up the footage when they ced it back there. Since that clue is already cut off, we focused on how theymunicated with the man to give instructions and get that injection. We tracked that he¡¯s been consistentlymunicating with someone on some kind of underground website, and that¡¯s where he also got the potassium as well." (Xiu Mo Ruo)


    "So it came from the ck market. That¡¯s my field so I¡¯ll need some more information about that and I can have some of my men to track the source." Lu Chen


    "And what about how they took away Xiu Mei from both of your surveinces?" Grandmother Yu squinted her eyes at her both grandson and grandson-inw.


    Xiu Mo Ruo sighed as he exined what went wrong at that time. "Xiu Mei was knocked out while she was stuck inside the elevator. They did something to her key card so it wouldn¡¯t work when she tried to go up and so someone was already waiting on the upper floors to take her. The bodyguards I ced on her were suddenly attacked behind the scenes, all of them assigned in different ces. Which means they already knew all the bodyguards¡¯ movements in the first ce."


    "And what about you?"


    "Lee In was ambushed as well. They also destroyed thems of my men so the message got dyed. The person assigned on that floor was put down while the others only realized that something was wrong when Xiu Mei didn¡¯t arrive on her floor. Ying Wan Wan¡¯s men seemed to have left the building in a different way which means that either the hotel works with Wan Wan¡¯s people or they studied the blueprint of the hotel while plotting her kidnapping." (Lu Chen)


    Grandmother Yu couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply. "I¡¯m pretty sure that our men aren¡¯t weak at all so it must be that the other side was very well prepared and with well-trained men, this person¡¯s pretty strong."


    "Actually, my subordinate recognized group back when she was ambushed. The men who were involved in the kidnapping were the hidden mafia group from the West, the MSA. They may be a secret group but they¡¯re pretty easy to identify with their quite unique fighting style. We¡¯re not sure yet how Ying Wan Wan is connected with them but we¡¯re very sure that they were the ones who ambushed the bodyguard as well." (Lu Chen)


    "The MSA?" Grandmother Yu nced at her husband with an inquisitive look. Of course, she also recognizes the mafia group, MSA. "We¡¯vee across the MSA a few times back in the day. So is it possible that they¡¯re doing some kind of revenge for their fellowrades that were killed?"


    "I doubt that the MSA would have that kind of time. You know, wiping off every person that killed an MSA member." (Grandfather Yu)


    "And I second that. We don¡¯t have that muchmunication with the MSA but unless you killed someone of high position in their group, that¡¯s the only time you¡¯ll be on their hit list. Aside from the hit list, the other thing is that they¡¯re doing a favor for someone they owe." (Lu Chen)


    "Then we¡¯ll have to figure that out. In the meantime, Ying Wan Wan stayed for a few years abroad. Maybe that¡¯s where she made contact with the MSA so they can work with her. I¡¯ll look into it and see what I can find." (Xiu Mo Ruo)


    Their meeting continued like that for a little longer. The elders returned home after visiting Xiu Mei for a short moment while Xiu Mei¡¯s parents and brother returned as well after staying for a few more hours.


    Since Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates aren¡¯t permitted to enter the military hospital without authorization and clearance, he had a brief video meeting with his men for half an hour to start their investigation.


    Later, things escted. Xiu Mo Ruo was suddenly poisoned while he was at a meeting. It wasn¡¯t exactly too life-threatening but nheless, he was forced to rest at home to recover. And then when he returned to his post, his position is now getting threatened by a new person that was specially ced by one of the higher-ups and it seems that the new person was too busy getting everyone¡¯s favors too.


    A lot of officials are getting targeted too. With many people eyeing to rece the old ones with different people. Since these positions are not very much high profile to the public, the media have yet to notice the changes in some departments.


    There also seems to be some subtle changes in the underworld as well. Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates noticed that someone was killing and taking over some of the small organizations in the underground city. It would have been just some normal news on the normal days however, it seems like it was done by the person to whom Xiu Su Yi is working for. Why?


    Well, ording to the reports, Ying Wan Wan was spotted once in the underground city. And it seems like she wasn¡¯t alone while dropping by.

 Chapter 181 - Diagnosis

    <h4>Chapter 181 - Diagnosis</h4>


    For the past two months that Xiu Mei has been asleep, a lot of problematic issues suddenly appeared.


    Aside from her second brother¡¯s issue, there are still a lot more issues they are currently resolving.


    The finance manager of the charity foundation that Xiu Mei¡¯s mother was operating ran away with half of the money. And then on the Xiu¡¯s side, some random strangers suddenly came out andined that some of the Xiu officials who work in their local posts are said to be embezzling some of the budgets.


    There are a lot of changes inside the government as well. If they¡¯re not being mysteriously killed, some officials suddenly resigned or were struck with an illness that¡¯s causing them to be relieved of their posts. Some had to be promoted and some were reced by some new person in their respective departments.


    This strange changes alerted the Xiu¡¯s. It may look discreet when ites to the public but as a person who has been engaging with politics for their whole life, this turn of events was very unusual. It was like someone was trying to reshuffle and rece some essential personnel in different departments with a hidden agenda.


    On Lu Chen¡¯s side, it wasn¡¯t as messy as the others. As soon as he received the report that Ying Wan Wan was spotted in the underground city, he had his men investigate who she was with and what was her purpose ining to the underground city.


    For the past two months, aside from being busy with thepany, Lu Chen has his hands full on with handling these issues along with Xiu Mei¡¯s family. And now that Xiu Mei has woken, he was quite nervous about how Xiu Mei will react to this and starts overthinking again. It would be bad for her condition right now to worry about this kind of stressful issues.


    After sleeping for almost two hours, what Xiu Mei saw as soon as she woke up was her parents and grandparents. Prior to her waking up, Lu Chen had already given them the heads-up about Xiu Mei¡¯s situation.


    Her mother, Yu Shi Huang, pulled her into her embrace while crying. Her father was stroking her hair and back giving her somefort and calming feeling.


    Her grandparents Yu gave her tough love. Her grandmother was convincing her to take another training lesson so that Xiu Mei could defend herself better. Xiu Mei giggled at them but she knew that they were very worried as well.


    Even though she couldn¡¯t talk, Xiu Mei eagerly listened to their stories. Her mom and her grandparents both knew signnguage so she could easilymunicate with them through gestures. Lu Qiang would chime in from time to time.


    Lu Chen was almost like Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant who would dly serve her. He helped in adjusting her bed, and if she¡¯s ufortable he would adjust her pillow, then he would serve her some water in case she¡¯s thirsty.


    So basically, the rest of the people inside the room was suddenly given a big bowl of dog food as Lu Chen publicly disyed his affection. Nevertheless, they were all relieved to see that their rtionship are still good despite all the things that were happening.


    The next day, Doctor Lee dropped by in her room to give his final diagnosis about her sudden loss of voice. Lu Qiang was forced to leave the room despite his protests, leaving Lu Chen and Xiu Mei with Doctor Lee inside the room. Doctor Lee sat down on the chair beside Xiu Mei¡¯s bed.


    "So I looked at the results of your radiology exams and they¡¯re all within the normal range. With these, we can already exclude the possibility that your mutism is caused by something different and there was nothing wrong with your brain." Doctor Lee handed the paper results to Lu Chen and Xiu Mei.


    Both of them skimmed the contents of the paper as they continued to listen to Doctor Lee¡¯s words.


    Doctor Lee took a deep breath and looked straight at Xiu Mei.


    "So about you mutism, I can conclude that the reason you are unable to speak is that you are the one suppressing it." He carefully stated as he observed Xiu Mei¡¯s reaction.


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes moved to Xiu Mei while Xiu Mei froze the moment she heard Doctor Lee.


    She looked in disbelief at first but the more she thought deeply about it, the more she was convinced that what Doctor Lee was saying was really possible given her history.


    She reached out to touch her neck where her vocal cords are and fell silent. Her thoughts unbeknownst to Doctor Lee and Lu Chen who stayed silent for the whole time to let that information slowly sink into her mind.


    Somehow, she already had a hunch that what was happening to her was her own doing. After all, she¡¯s someone who¡¯s been diagnosed with PTSD because of her kidnapping experience and witnessing her best friend¡¯s death. She was even almost vited.


    And those memories seemed to have ovepped with her recent kidnapping.


    The fear that she nned to ovee, her spirit to let go of those painful memories and to heal the wound in her heart that never healed. It was like fate didn¡¯t want her to heal at all. Is that it?


    Is that why she had to experience it all over again?


    She almost brushed with death two times, how can someone as normal as she could mentally take it?


    Xiu Mei closed her eyes as she tried to stabilize her emotions that were threatening to go rampant again. Doctor Lee had her return on her medications for PTSD so she was still able to get a grasp of her feelings quickly.


    She felt Lu Chen hold her hand and lightly squeeze it, making her open her eyes. She met his assuring gaze. Even though he didn¡¯t open his mouth, her heart suddenly felt calm. It was as if his gaze was saying that everything would be fine and that she shouldn¡¯t worry about anything.


    Her lips slightly curled up as she squeezed back the hand that was covering hers. Then with a determined gaze, she withdrew and turned to look at Doctor Lee again.


    Doctor Lee understood her gaze and continued his words, "Do you remember how we did some experiment yesterday? When you said you couldn¡¯t speak at all when we¡¯re here with you but you could still speak when you¡¯re alone. That¡¯s a really positive result actually. It means that you can still speak and that you aren¡¯t really mute." He eximed.


    Hearing that, Xiu Mei felt more hopeful.


    (Author¡¯s note: A warning. I am not in any way a doctor nor an expert in this field. This is purely fictional so mutism and PTSD have nothing to do with each other at all.)


    "So your mutism is associated with your traumatic experience. For PTSD, you react so strongly every time you remember your traumatic memories. This time, it¡¯s a different case. Your mind is subconsciously suppressing your ability to speak as a self-defense mechanism of your traumatic experience. Since you tried to repress your strong PTSD reaction during the process, your body probably tried topensate it this way. Your inability to speak in the presence of other people is probably the fear that you felt at that time so this is your mind and body¡¯s way of protecting you."


    Xiu Mei thought, so was it because of her extreme desire to escape from the clutch of her kidnappers that she turned into this?


    Xiu Mei wrote a question on her tablet, ¡¯Will I return back to normal?¡¯


    "Of course. Selective Mutism cases like this are usually difficult for children but for a.d.u.l.ts, it¡¯ll be easier to cure. Basically, you just have to ovee this ¡¯fear¡¯, and let¡¯s hope that it fixes your problem. To do that, you and I are going to have our sessions thrice a week. Is that fine with you?"


    Xiu Mei agreed with his setup. After that, Doctor Lee and Lu Chen stepped out of the room and found a more private space to advise the guardian on what they can do to help the patient.


    "Mr.Lu, at this time around, Xiu Mei will definitely need a lot of your support. Not just physically but also as her mental support as we try to cure her. Most especially that she would be like this for a little while, there¡¯s a lot of activities that she wouldn¡¯t be able to normally do. I know Xiu Mei likes to work but with her situation at the moment, that would prove difficult for her since she won¡¯t be able to speak at all with her colleagues." Doctor Lee thoroughly exined.


    "Not being able to her normal activities will surely stress her out so you either have to stop that from happening or if she does get stressed out, you have to do something to alleviate that stress and make her emotions stable."

 Chapter 182 - Mother and Son

    <h4>Chapter 182 - Mother and Son</h4>


    Lu Chen listened in earnest to Doctor Lee¡¯s reminders. When he returned to Xiu Mei¡¯s room, Lu Qiang was already inside the room apanying his mother. It seems like they were ying some kind of game with their tablets and both mother and son duo seem to be enjoying it.


    At first, Lu Chen wanted to convince Xiu Mei to take a short break in working first. With her current situation, it would prove difficult for her to do her work normally but recalling Doctor Lee¡¯s reminders, Xiu Mei may not look like it right now but she would surely be more sensitive the moment she realizes that she won¡¯t be able to do her usual work at all.


    And if she bes sensitive, her emotions be more unstable and who knows whether she would suddenly get another PTSD attack if that happens.


    Lu Chen took a deep sigh in worry. Since Xiu Mei was the stubborn type, she would surely try to do something just to be able to do proper work again. She¡¯ll surely stress herself out until her body gives in. She¡¯s that kind of person.


    Thankfully, work seemed to be thest thing on her mind since she wasn¡¯t asking anything about her work at all, nor at the other stuff she had been doing before she left for City S.


    He wondered. How should he talk to her about her work arrangements?


    If she really wants to work, he would preferably have her work at home instead of working in the office.


    After thinking for a few seconds, he shrugged off his thoughts and entered the room. He¡¯ll just bring it up once Xiu Mei¡¯s already ready.


    "Are you hungry?" Lu Chen softly asked Xiu Mei whose face was lowered while looking at her tablet. Her fingers were moving swiftly over the screen.


    "Wife, are you hungry?" He repeated. This time, he bent down his body and leaned closer to her ear, breaking Xiu Mei¡¯s conversation.


    Startled, Xiu Mei flinched and raised her head too look at the person who whispered beside her ear. She blinked in confusion. Clearly, she didn¡¯t hear what he said at all. Lu Chen patiently repeated his question.


    "Are you hungry?"


    Xiu Mei nced at the time and saw it was already almost lunch. She also looked at Lu Qiang who was still ying on his tablet. She returned her gaze to her husband and nodded as an answer to his question.


    Lu Chen smiled. "Then I¡¯ll order heat up the porridge that Grandmother brought yesterday. I¡¯ll ask the nursester if it¡¯s already okay for you to eat solid food for dinner."


    He pressed a light kiss on her temple before pulling away. Then he ced his hand on his son¡¯s head to get his attention.


    "Stay with your mother." He reminded. Then he left to go to the kitchen room that was on the other side of the wall. Xiu Mei wanted tough at him.


    ¡¯What was that?¡¯ is what Xiu Mei thought. He¡¯s overreacting ah. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s going somewhere far at all. It¡¯s just literally a few steps away from her room.


    Xiu Mei stayed for a full week in the military hospital to nourish herself properly. Since her body got weaker because she could only intake liquid vitamins while she was asleep for 2 months, it took her a while to gain her energy back especially after lying down for that long. A good example was when she couldn¡¯t even stand up straight without leaning over any object back when she just newly woke up.


    Xiu Mei stopped in her tracks as soon as she entered her room. She remembered how she left her things before she left for City S and it was slightly different than what she remembered.


    Beside her baby blue pillows and duvet on the bed, the ck fluffy pillow really stood out like a sore thumb there.


    And then on her open-ss wardrobe that was ced outside of her walk-in, she noticed that it wasn¡¯t just her clothes that were hanging there at all. A very familiar set of suits hung quietly taking half of her space.


    She marveled at the strange and unfamiliar sight. She suddenly felt as if something was tickling her heart.


    "Mom, aren¡¯t you going to go in?" Lu Qiang who was carrying in his workbooks asked when he saw his mother still standing by the door of her room.


    Xiu Mei almost jumped in surprise at his voice. She was staring in a trance at the newly added stuff in her room that she hadn¡¯t even taken a single step after opening the door.


    She nced at her son whose frows furrowed in confusion while gazing curiously at her.


    She swallowed her saliva and hastily strode towards the bed. She looked at Lu Qiang again who shrugged and walked over towards the nearest table and ced her workbooks there. And then he picked up 2 workbooks and approached the bed.


    He calmly climbed on the bed andid down on the bed and started doing his workbooks. Xiu Mei peeked over his shoulder while writing down some words on her tablet from time to time.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen was busy receiving Lu Shao¡¯s report in preparation for his return to thepany the day after tomorrow.


    Because of the couple¡¯s absences in thepany, Lu Shao and Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant had to take over their duties temporarily. A lot of the directors and board people didn¡¯t look favorably at Lu Chen¡¯s actions so theyined about it in their meeting. Some people are having some bad thoughts about Lu Chen¡¯s absence and started trying to gain favors with some higher-ups.


    Unfortunately for them, the one they¡¯re against is Lu Chen, leader of the first and most dangerous assassin organization and the chief of the underworld, hence their attempts were futile. Some were punished heavily and some were suspended in their positions.


    "As of the moment, no one is trying to attempt anything at all." Lu Shao uttered.


    "Good. Then what about the other thing that I wanted you to monitor about?" Lu Chen replied, his eyes still focused on the doc.u.ments in front of him.


    Lu Shao ced another folder in front of Lu Chen containing the report he asked about. He opened his mouth to give a brief summary of what he wanted to know.


    "Just like you suspected, Yu Ming Xi didn¡¯t ignore what Ying Wan Wan did about the data leak. I received a reportst week that three of the Ying family-owned restaurants are receiving big bacsh in rtion to their issue of restaurant food quality control. All of those restaurants are located in different cities, with one in a different country as well. We¡¯ve already confirmed that someone tipped off the Asian Quality and Inspection Bureau so they made their moves."


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes became cold as he revealed a mocking smile on his face. He sneered at the misfortune that dropped upon the Ying family because of Ying Wan Wan¡¯s actions.


    "It seems like she has a lot of reasons right now to hide from the public. With Yu Ming Xi hot on her feet, she definitely won¡¯t dare to move carelessly just like what she did back then. Do we still not know how she knew about the data leak issue?"


    "Unfortunately, not yet. ording to our intel, Ying Wan Wan doesn¡¯t let any strangers go in her parents¡¯ and her room¡¯s floor. However, he did discover that there could possibly be a different entrance at that side of the house because he saw Ying Wan Wan leaving the house without using the front door and back door."


    "Then tell him to keep monitoring the family¡¯s movements and report back again if he discovers something."


    "Copy that."


    After their dinner that night, Xiu Mei apanied Lu Qiang back to his room. Both stood in front of his opened wardrobe. Lu Chen watched the two of them in amus.e.m.e.nt while Xiu Mei pulled out several clothes, cing it in front of Lu Qiang before hanging it back on the wardrobe.


    "Mom, wouldn¡¯t it be fine to just wear my usual clothes for school?" Lu Qiang asked as he watched his mother go through every piece of his clothes. Seeing that small mountain of clothes on his bed, he suddenly dreaded if his mother tells him to go and fit all of them for her to see.


    He nced at the clothes again and gulped nervously. This was more than double of the clothes he had to try on back when they were shopping for clothes.


    Xiu Mei paused to write on her tablet. She held it up and raised her eyebrows to her son.


    ¡¯You missed your first day of school. This is to create a good impression on your ssmates tomorrow when you introduce yourself.¡¯ is what she wrote.


    Lu Qiang scratched his cheek after reading it.

 Chapter 183 - Sweet Nothings

    <h4>Chapter 183 - Sweet Nothings</h4>


    Xiu Mei had a long heart-to-heart conversation¡ªwherein Lu Qiang mostly did the talking¡ªwith her son regarding his studies. Her initial n was to enroll him in school and then she and Lu Chen would drop him off and pick him up every day. But with her sudden ident, Lu Qiang was suddenly against being separating from his mother.


    Xiu Mei had to coax him for quite a while before the kid finally gave in to her request. Even though she wasn¡¯t his biological mother, the time she spent together with him was already enough for her to understand what was going on in Lu Qiang¡¯s mind.


    She felt guilty. First, because she couldn¡¯t keep her promise to him that she will return fine after that business trip. Second, she made him feel anxious and scared because Lu Qiang must have surely been afraid that she was gonna die just like his biological parents.


    For such a long and deep talk, it proved quite difficult for her to not being able to speak at all. If she could only speak, she can convey her thoughts and feelings that she was truly sorry for not keeping her promise and that she would never leave him all alone no matter what happens.


    So back to the topic of his decision to finally attending primary school just like any normal student, Xiu Mei was very excited and anxious for Lu Qiang. Since her son already missed a month of school, she was quite concerned about whether Lu Qiang will still be able to make friends. In her experience, everyone would¡¯ve already had their own groups to hang out with for the rest of the school year.


    No offense to Lu Qiang, but just like his father, Xiu Mei¡¯s trust ratings is only around 4 out of 10 stars. Why?


    Well, Lu Qiang has never really been around with kids that are the same age as him ever since he was born. And then there¡¯s the time when she first saw him back at the yground. She didn¡¯t see that spark or interest in him to make friends. Just like Lu Chen, he was the type to enjoy ying with technology or focusing on his academic studies. Truly, a member of the Lu family.


    She may be a workaholic, almost at the same level as them but, she still has friends. Up to this day, aside from his subordinates, she has never seen Lu Chen hang out with his friends at all.


    A thought hit her. How did he even survive primary school up to college without friends at all?


    And even if there¡¯s any, was he the type to just hang out with them through his phone or what?


    So, she¡¯s straying off again. Back to the topic of Lu Qiang¡¯s capability in making friends.


    Xiu Mei muttered a short prayer in her heart, wishing for Lu Qiang¡¯s sess tomorrow in making friends. Gosh, please let him have friends. He needs to be introduced as to how a primary school student acts, you know?


    So to do that, the first thing on her list is to help Lu Qiang make a good first impression on his future ssmates. Without that, then, he¡¯s probably doomed, isn¡¯t it? Oh well.


    Anyways, so to create that good first impression, a good and impactful appearance would be rmended. Or so that¡¯s what Bei Jia Ying said when she talked about dressing up her nephew on their newly created group chat.


    After scouring through almost of Lu Qiang¡¯s wardrobe, Xiu Mei picked twenty-five different sets that she would like her son to try on.


    Lu Qiang who was at his mother¡¯s mercy, facing the twenty sets of clothes, "..."


    He¡¯s going to try on almost a month¡¯s worth of clothes ah....


    Is this what it truly means to have a mother...? Or does his mother want to torture him for being stubborn thest time?


    Lu Qiang surrendered to his inevitable fate and started unbuttoning his clothes. His mother also helped him in wearing the clothes while styling it whatever way she wanted.


    And so, Xiu Mei and Lu Qiang continued like that until the next hour until both of them finally chose the outfit. Xiu Mei held out her tablet to Lu Chen after folding the clothes with almost no creases.


    ¡¯When is his uniform going to be finished?¡¯ is what she had entered on the tablet. Lu Qiang¡¯s school isn¡¯t exactly the aristocrat type of school but it isn¡¯t just an average school either. Xiu Mei found this school perfect for Lu Qiang since his possible circle of friends won¡¯t only be made up of kids from a wealthy background but also those who came from a humble home and they live with hard work and skills.


    "They would be delivered within the next two days, is what they said previously." Lu Chen replied. Lu Chen walked over and hugged her from behind. He got drunk on her familiar scent, which waspletely different back when she was still in the hospital that was full of disinfectant.


    The two of them basked in this familiar warmth that they missed for the past two months. Thankfully, Lu Qiang was showering in the bathroom so he didn¡¯t get to witness his parents¡¯ tant disy of dog food.


    Just like Lu Chen, Xiu Mei leaned her body closer to him. She was asleep for the whole months,pletely unaware of her surroundings, yet she yearned for his touch very much. All this time, he was being careful around her even when he was holding her hand or when he was embracing her as if she was some fragile ss that would easily break when touched.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t show it on his face but she knew that he was nervous and anxious just like the others. That¡¯s why he was being careful with his words and movements, totally unlike his usual self that would grab every opportunity to hit on her, or shamelessly taking liberty on her.


    Xiu Mei covered his arm that sn.a.k.e.d around her waist, stroking it lightly.


    She could sense that he was being clingy despite his actions. He never left her side most of the time, at most, probably less than half an hour. And then he would either sit beside her or on the sofa to cater to her needs and requests as if he was the nurse and nanny. Heck, he was even more diligent than those twobined. Is that what they call a filial husband?


    But Xiu Mei had a hunch that he was being like that because he and Lu Qiang was acting so simrly no one would really doubt they¡¯re rted. She could even guess his reasons.


    She sighed in worry because she didn¡¯t want Lu Chen to be this way. Because he was always so confident and proud in a good way, he must be thinking that he failed as her husband because he couldn¡¯t protect her at all.


    Though she was just really guessing everything at the moment. It¡¯s been a while since they¡¯ve be husband and wife but Xiu Mei¡¯s logical way of thinking of things is still her best option when trying to analyze her husband sh boss for four years¡¯ thoughts. After all, she can¡¯t just shake off the habit she developed to keep up with Lu Chen¡¯s work pace for the past four years. It¡¯s almost like ingrained on her bones to try to understand his every movement and decision.


    "Wife." He murmured on her ears, his breath tickling her neck. She felt warm all over after hearing that. She never knew how sweet and addicting it was to hear that from his mouth.


    "Wife, I love you." Out of the blue, he whispered sweet nothings so intimately on her ear. Xiu Mei was caught off guard but the curl on her lips and a slight blush on her cheeks didn¡¯t miss Lu Chen¡¯s burning gaze.


    For the past week, aside from missing her so much, these are the words that Lu Chen wanted to really say to her. All his feelings, he poured it through those three words that he was unsure if it was really enough to convey his true feelings.


    "Xiu Mei, my wife, I love you so much." He repeated, dropping a featherlike kiss on her neck. Xiu Mei took a sharp breath with a sudden attack of overwhelming feelings, her feelings. Somehow, she suddenly had the urge to cry.


    She turned around and faced him, directly losing herself in his pair of pool dark eyes. She opened her mouth, suddenly forgetting her current situation, and as expected, she didn¡¯t even make a single sound at all.


    She was stunned for a second, but Lu Chen didn¡¯t want her to feel down so he did the thing that he had been wanting to do for quite some time now.


    He distracted her. Without a second thought, he lowered his head and imed her soft, tender lips.

 Chapter 184 - Desires

    <h4>Chapter 184 - Desires</h4>


    As soon as Lu Chen¡¯s face magnified in her eyes, Xiu Mei subconsciously closed her eyes. His hand that rested on her waist crawled up to her back, while the other one was on the back of her head.


    She was quickly engulfed with his familiar and intimate warmth. He tugged on her lips very lightly before entering her mouth. Xiu Mei felt her knees weaken, and so she desperately hung on Lu Chen¡¯s shoulders for support. Her arms wound around his neck, making their bodies even closer.


    She could feel her heart beating crazily inside her chest. She was beingpletely surrounded by Lu Chen that her heart and mind couldn¡¯t help but be filled with only him.


    His tongue lingered on her mouth like never before. His yearning, desire, and love drowned her in their intimate kiss.


    Their kiss didn¡¯tst long just like their previous ones. Lu Chen pulled away and pecked her on her lips. And then he rested his forehead on hers.


    She stared back at him. This time, more of his emotions shed before her. She could see the desire and pain trapped in his eyes while watching herself being reflected on it. She sensed his hidden fear through his shaky breathing.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s heart broke seeing him like this. He looked at her as if he was his treasure but the moment they got closer, he was bing more afraid that she will suddenly be whisked away.


    "Wife, I¡¯m sorry." He murmured with his eyes closed. Their lips almost an inch away from each other.


    "I¡¯m sorry. I¡ª"


    "Mom? Dad?" Another voice came from behind them immediately breaking the somber atmosphere between the two of them. The two a.d.u.l.ts froze on the spot with the sudden appearance of the Lu Qiang.


    Xiu Mei, startled and surprised by the voice, pushed away Lu Chen in reflex, creating a distance between the two of them. She turned to her right and saw the little kid in his pajamas, holding a towel over his head staring curiously at the two of them as if he was asking what the two of them were doing.


    "..."


    Did he... see it?


    Xiu Mei swallowed nervously. God, how could she forget that they were still in Lu Qiang¡¯s room the whole time?


    And to think they acted so shamelessly while in someone¡¯s room, gosh, how could they be so shameless and rogue like this? Ah!!!


    While Xiu Mei was too busy getting embarrassed and her brain was crashing after realizing what they have just done in Lu Qiang¡¯s, a little kid¡¯s, room, Lu Chen was quick to return to his senses and walked right up to Lu Qiang.


    "Nothing. Your mom and I were just talking. Little buddy, let¡¯s get you to bed shall we?" He nonchntly replied and smoothly changed the topic.


    "Okay." The little bun didn¡¯t ask anymore while his father carried him to the bed. Xiu Mei finally woke up from her inner turmoil and sat on the edge of the little kid¡¯s bed. She rubbed his almost dry hair with the towel and tucked him in under the nket.


    Xiu Mei opened the drawer beside his bed out of habit. She picked up the storybook inside it and flipped it open. She opened her mouth to start reading it for him but no matter how many words she tried to read and speak, not a single sound came out.


    She froze.


    Right, she forgot that she couldn¡¯t speak anymore.


    Xiu Mei looked at the storybook with a dazed expression for a few seconds before looking away and closing the book. She raised her head and saw that the other two was acted as if they weren¡¯t looking at her, but she knew better.


    Sighing in defeat, she handed the book to her husband so that he could read it aloud in her ce.


    Lu Qiang saw his mother¡¯s disappointed expression on her face. He slipped an arm out of the covers and tugged on his mother¡¯s hand making her look at him. She shed a tender smile on her face and she stroked his head soothingly.


    Later, he finally fell asleep under his father¡¯s storytelling.


    The couple dropped a kiss on the little kid¡¯s forehead before they left his room. After that, both of them returned to their room¡ªrather, to Xiu Mei¡¯s room.


    "You go first." Lu Chen said.


    Xiu Mei nodded while blushing. Though this wasn¡¯t their first time sleeping together alone in this room, she still wasn¡¯t used to it.


    After she finished taking her night shower, she grabbed a book from her shelf and casually read it while sitting on the bed and leaning on the headboard. It was something she would often do to pass the time since she didn¡¯t feel like sleeping early at all right now.


    This was what Lu Chen saw as soon as he finished his shower. That picture should have looked heartwarming for anyone who would see this but Lu Chen held his breath as soon as he saw Xiu Mei¡¯s appearance.


    Xiu Mei was too engrossed with her reading that she didn¡¯t even notice that her nightgown robe slipped off from her shoulders. Her spaghetti-strap long nightgown and white supple skin revealed itself in front of Lu Chen¡¯s eyes. His hawk-like vision he developed while training to be an assassin saw her appearance crystal clear even if the distance between the two of them are still quite big.


    Underneath the light, her pale skin looked even more enchanting under his eyes.


    Lu Chen felt a fire start within her body as he kept staring at his wife. He suddenly recalled their intimate kiss an hour ago and it fueled the fire even more. He felt even hotter until that certain part of his body finally showed a reaction.


    He eventually returned to his senses and gulped nervously. What was he thinking?


    How could he react like a beast like that when his wife just got out of the hospital?


    Lu Chen suppressed his l.u.s.t and desire with all his might. He turned towards the bathroom so he could take a shower again when Xiu Mei finally noticed his presence with such impable timing.


    His foot that was about to take a step forward towards the bathroom paused when their eyes met. Xiu Mei finally closed the book andid it on the bedside table, and then she grabbed her tablet again to write something.


    ¡¯Are you not going to sleep yet?¡¯ She asked. She observed his reaction.


    Lu Chen sighed in defeat to his fate and walked over to her. Goddammit, why does god torture him like this? Can only look but cannot eat. Haaaah...


    He slid beside her and after seeing his movements, Xiu Mei ced the table beside her bed again andid down just like him. She turned the bedsidemp lights off and closed her eyes, unaware of her husband¡¯s thoughts.


    A few minutester, she still couldn¡¯t sleep despite trying to count sheep in her mind. She shifted in her sleep, in Lu Chen¡¯s direction, and opened her eyes expecting to see his sleeping figure.


    But Xiu Mei almost jumped in surprise when their gazes met. She suddenly felt as if she was caught doing something covertly by the teacher. She blinked and curiously thought why he was still awake.


    "Couldn¡¯t sleep?" Lu Chen softly asked. He reached out and stroked the side of her head.


    Xiu Mei nodded.


    Lu Chen contemted for a moment and finally offered his arms. "Come here."


    He scooted closer to her and dr.a.p.ed his arm around her waist and the other slipped under her head.


    Xiu Mei felt her cheeks get warm but she didn¡¯t refuse his offer. She scooted closer to his arms until her face was almost buried on her chest. Lu Chen gently stroked her back and his nose was quickly filled with her scent. He held his breath when he felt his body started getting another reaction and desperately prayed that Xiu Mei wouldn¡¯t notice something wrong. But he forgot how keen his wife¡¯s instincts are.


    Xiu Mei felt that something was wrong with Lu Chen when she felt that Lu Chen¡¯s body slightly turn stiff. Because her head was almostying on his chest, she noticed that his breathing turned deeper and heavier as well.


    So she couldn¡¯t help but raise her head to meet his gaze with an inquisitive look as if she was asking what was wrong. She slightly gasped when their eyes met, and in his eyes, she could inly see his emotions despite the darkness.


    His expression looked like he was in pain or something, but before she could even ask, Lu Chen¡¯s control snapped the moment their gazes met.


    His arm that was stroking her back moved behind her head and pulled it towards him. With their lips pressed together, he shifted on his back pulling Xiu Mei¡¯s body over his so that he was underneath her.

 Chapter 185 - Spellbound

    <h4>Chapter 185 - Spellbound</h4>


    (Author¡¯s note: Um, if you¡¯re ufortable with explicit scenes please feel free to skip this chapter. Thank you.)


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened as she gasped in surprise with Lu Chen¡¯s sudden intimate action. Lu Chen took this chance to pry open her mouth, easily slipping his tongue inside hers. He didn¡¯t waste any second and licked every space of her mouth and sucked her tongue with his.


    Xiu Mei, who was totally unprepared by this kiss, melted like a marshmallow in his arms. She felt like her oxygen was suddenly knocked out of her lungs with the intensity of the kiss. She felt herself turn to jelly while she responded to his kiss.


    Receiving her response, Lu Chen deepened the kiss. The smacking of saliva resounded inside the quiet room, with some groansing from time to time from the man on the bed. His hands started to roam around her body. He slid his hand upwards on the smooth satin robe she was wearing until he reached her shoulders where he slid his hand in between her skin and robe. Slowly, he slid her robe off exposing the soft and tempting skin underneath.


    He changed their positions, pushing Xiu Mei¡¯s body underneath his. This gave him easier ess to remove her nightgown, after sliding off Xiu Mei¡¯s robe, he tugged the spaghetti strap nightgown downwards. His other hand going downwards until he reached her thighs.


    As if he was drunk, Lu Chen attacked the area between her neck and shoulder. He bit and sucked leaving a mark on her body. Xiu Mei was going crazy with Lu Chen¡¯s stimtion. She didn¡¯t even notice that she was already making some whimpering sounds. Both a.d.u.l.ts were too caught up and bewitched with each other that they didn¡¯t notice that fact.


    Lu Chen¡¯s hand slowly pushed up the end of her nightgown. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t feel cold because they were both underneath the nket but she has never felt Lu Chen¡¯s hands on her skin so clearly like this before. Every ce he touched felt as if he was burning with heat, and that warmth was like a drug making her high and crazy.


    Strangely, her PTSD didn¡¯t attack her just like the previous ones. She clearly felt something different. She thought that she had gotten worse, but she didn¡¯t know that her determination to get away from the men and Wan Wan¡¯s n to vite her affected her mind subconsciously.


    Because she had faced her fears at that moment, despite the fact that her mind shut down her ability to speak, it also lightened the weight inside her heart. Her body didn¡¯t react so strongly against Lu Chen¡¯s stimtions, rather, it got used to him and epted his actions.


    She was engulfed in his burning warmth and got bewitched by it. And then his hand crawled up, brushing the area between her legs. It was like she was suddenly electrocuted, and Xiu Mei finally let out a very clear m.o.a.n. Added with the fact that she could feel something hard poking her, Xiu Mei was really going crazy right now.


    While she was still drunk in his stimtions, Lu Chen snapped back in the reality the moment he heard Xiu Mei¡¯s m.o.a.n. He surely was turned on but her voice pulled him back from his craziness. Because this was the first time he heard her again after more than two months.


    He paused nting strawberries on her corbone and neck. With wide eyes, he pulled away and supported his body with his two arms beside her head locking her in between. Her arms that were wrapped around her neck was like a stopper that prevented him to increase their distance from each other even more.


    He stared stunned at his wife, who was showing such a bewitching andnguid expression. Her face filled with blush and watery eyes that scream temptation, her mouth slightly parted as she lightly panted, and the blooming reddish hickies that were his artwork looked particrly enticing before him.


    "Wife," He uttered, his voice sounding hoarse and deep with a hint of l.u.s.t mixed in it.


    Xiu Mei still hadn??t returned to her senses, but she looked up and stared straight at the man above her. He was wearing button-down pajamas, which was now clearly unbuttoned before her. She was mesmerized by the view in front of her, as she fell even more under his temptation.


    Lu Chen lowered his head stopping a few centimeters away from her face, his lips hovering above hers. She could feel his breath on her face as he spoke.


    "Your voice... I heard it." He stated hoarsely.


    But she didn¡¯t hear him. Xiu Mei¡¯s hand subconsciously yed with his hair and caressed his neck, earning a groan from Lu Chen. Lu Chen¡¯s fist tightened from the tension and he subconsciously pressed his lower body to hers.


    "Wife..." He m.o.a.ned out. Lu Chen did his best to keep hisst strand of control. He could clearly sense that Xiu Mei¡¯s body was not rejecting him, but he still didn¡¯t n on taking her. Not right now.


    Even though he was the one who started it all and tempted her, Lu Chen didn¡¯t want her first time to be under this kind of circ.u.mstance. Most especially when she¡¯s still very new about this kind of stuff just like him.


    She still has a lot on her te and he was thinking that maybe, she was somehow stressed that her body wasn¡¯t rejecting his advances at all thinking that this was a way to relieve all her pent-up stress until now. He wasn¡¯t sure if it really was like that but still, he wasn¡¯t nning to take her tonight.


    He brushed his lips over hers and licked her before separating himself from her again. He grimaced as he felt himself in pain because of the tightness in his lower body. It didn¡¯t help that Xiu Mei pulled on his neck closer and bit his shoulder, making the other part of his body even harder.


    He subconsciously bit her earlobe earning another m.o.a.n from her. Lu Chen growled under his breath and flipped their positions again. She clung onto his body so that she wouldn¡¯t fall off. Xiu Mei was slightly shaken and taken aback when she realized she was on top of him again.


    She paused, realizing that it was a different position from their first one. This time, she was straddling him in a sitting position almost making their faces on the same eye level.


    Her upright position caused her disheveled nightgown to slip down even more revealing her bra underneath.


    Lu Chen was enchanted by the sight and his body unconsciously reacted by grinding himself to her. Xiu Mei shuddered and buried herself on his neck while her arms tightened around his shoulders. She m.o.a.ned when she felt something hard brush on herself down there. It was apletely different feeling from before. Her hand on his shoulder tightened.


    "Wife," He whispered in her eat, his warm breath tickling her neck.


    "Wife, I¡¯m sorry." He added. She looked at him with a confused look. He didn¡¯t answer but he pecked her on her lips before he caught her hand into his.


    He lightly squeezed before pulling it carefully downwards.


    "Wife, can you help me?" Lu Chen asked, his voice almost begging. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t understand what he was asking about at first but she froze when she felt something warm¡ªmore like burning hot on her palm.


    Her hand stiffened and she subconsciously wanted to pull it away but Lu Chen¡¯s hand lightly covered hers, preventing her from doing that. He leaned closer to her ear again and whispered.


    "Sorry," He repeated. "Just for a second, okay?"


    It was like all her senses were heightened in different levels. She took a sharp breath as she felt Lu Chen guide her hand to slip underneath his clothes. His searing hot skin and... thing was almost scalding under her touch, yet it lit an undescribable fire within her. The rough skin where her hand was wrapped around was hard and hot, as she subconsciously lightly squeezed it as a response.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen m.o.a.ned in satisfaction and l.u.s.t as soon as Xiu Mei¡¯s hand touched his... hardened thing. Even though he should¡¯ve felt morefortable, instead, he turned even crazier and his control was barely hanging by a thread. Her hand resting on the most intimate part of his body was almost like a drug that he had it took a lot of energy and control to stop himself from taking her here and there.


    Lu Chen¡¯s hand tightened over hers, while his other hand supported her back as they kept their straddling position.


    "Wife, really sorry for this one." He apologized again because he was doing this without even asking for her permission. And with that, he started moving her hand just like how he always dreamed and desired to do this with her before. He pressed his lips over hers again, pulling her into another long round of deep kiss.


    The quiet room was soon filled with man¡¯s grunts and almost silent m.o.a.ns from the woman.

 Chapter 186 - I heard you m.o.a.n

    <h4>Chapter 186 - I heard you m.o.a.n</h4>


    ...Gosh, how could she feel so tired?


    She was just sitting for the entire time yet she felt like her energy was drained out of her body. Her body was strangely tired and her hand was clearly out ofmission as well.


    An hourter after ying with her husband, Xiu Mei almost cried as she thought that her hand was almost broken by Lu Chen. The culprit in question came out of the bathroom with a hot towel in his hand and walked over to her. He rubbed and cleaned her hand carefully while Xiu Mei felt her cheeks burning in shame as she watched his actions.


    Contrary to her disheveled appearance, Lu Chen looked neat and satisfied as if they didn¡¯t do something...something. He was so calm andposed that she almost doubted that thest hour was just a dream of hers. What a perverse dream, heh.


    She couldn¡¯t believe it. Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t look at Lu Chen directly in the eye at all because every time she looks at him, all she could was his l.u.s.ting expression and satisfaction, along with the m.o.a.ning sounds he made while he helped her hand to y with his little Lu Chen.


    Even right now, there is still the lingering burning temperature from when she was still massaging it in between her hands. The outline, the roughness...oh gawd.


    Xiu Mei wanted to dig a hole and bury herself in there.


    Gawd, the only time she watched this kind of H stuff was when she watched some movies that would sometimes have that kind of scenes. She wasn¡¯t exactly the perverted type to enjoy watching explicit stuff at all even though she was an a.d.u.l.t.


    Plus, she didn¡¯t have any boyfriend at all nor flings. So aside from the learned knowledge scattered in the inte and movies, she basically has no experience in this kind of... stuff.


    And now, thanks to this husband of hers that couldn¡¯t control himself, she suddenly had enlightenment when ites to these intimacies. Xiu Mei suddenly dreaded her future if she and Lu Chen continue to go down this path.


    Then wouldn¡¯t she be the wolf¡¯s meal and be eaten by this wolf namely Lu Chen?


    Xiu Mei clicked her tongue. Men are really rogue beasts ah.


    "Are you still okay?" Lu Chen asked in worry. Xiu Mei would¡¯ve believed him but she didn¡¯t miss the hint of amus.e.m.e.nt on his face.


    Gosh! He was clearly trying to tease her!!! Is he itching to be beaten up?!


    Xiu Mei rolled her eyes and ignored him. Lu Chen didn¡¯t push her anymore but heughed at her adorable reaction. After helping his wife clean her hand, he lightly massaged her palm trying to ease her hand muscles that were pushed to its limits an hour ago.


    He was apologetic to her because he didn¡¯t even ask her if it was alright for her to help him, at the same time, he really couldn¡¯t help himself but tease her. He paused his movements and pulled Xiu Mei into her arms the moment he saw Xiu Mei look away from him.


    She was startled by him and she stiffened in his embrace. He didn¡¯t even see how Xiu Mei¡¯s face flush in embarrassment with their close contact again, recalling the shameless things they did a while ago.


    Gawd, was he going to go crazy again?


    But Lu Chen didn¡¯t make any move any further other than hugging her. She eventually rxed in his arms as she hugged him by the neck.


    "Wife," He uttered. "I heard you."


    Xiu Mei, "...." what?


    She was confused at his words. She slightly pulled away to face him directly, raising one of her brows. She tilted her hand to convey her question without using words.


    Lu Chen found her confused look too cute. He lifted his hand and caressed her cheeks, a smile making its way on his face.


    "I heard you," He murmured. He looked straight into her eyes as he tried to exin it further.


    "Before, you..." He paused momentarily to think, wondering whether Xiu Mei will suddenly hit him for saying this because she would surely be embarrassed. He was suddenly torn because he really wanted to let her know that she made a sound for him a while ago.


    Dang it, forget it. Just let his wife hit him if she wants to.


    "...I heard you m.o.a.n a while ago."


    And just like what he expected, Xiu Mei flushed red as she felt her cheeks burn at his statement. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from hitting him on his chest.


    How can he say this to her face?! Heck, he was the one who tempted him in the first ce! Didn¡¯t she m.o.a.n because he¡ª!!! Fudge, and she really should stop remembering why she m.o.a.ned in the first ce. She¡¯ll be just digging her pit even further. Ugh!


    Xiu Mei red at her husband. Lu Chen apologetically smiled as he tried to defend himself.


    "Wife, that was not the point I was trying to tell you."


    She squinted her eyes at him as she continued to listen to his exnation.


    Lu Chen quickly exined himself and continued, "What I was trying to say was, I heard you."


    He cupped bother her cheeks and repeated, "I heard your voice."


    "Wife, you made a sound."


    Xiu Mei blinked. Of course, she made a sound. It¡¯s not like she can¡¯t stop herself from m.o.a.ning after being turned on lik¡ªOh.


    And it hit her.


    She finally realized what Lu Chen was trying to tell her in the first ce. She gasped with wide eyes, looking at him. And then she touched her neck as she looked at Lu Chen in disbelief.


    "I don¡¯t know how it happened but you did it. It was just for a split second but I heard you, my wife." Lu Chen pulled her into a hug again.


    "We¡¯ll get through this." He added.


    Xiu Mei almost cried when he said those. Back then even if she was sometimes left alone inside the room for a few minutes, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t dare to try to speak at all. Deep within her, she felt some kind of fear that what if she suddenly couldn¡¯t speak again even if she was alone?


    Even though she could make a sound right now, she was afraid that there wille a day when she¡¯ll stop speaking altogether, alone or not.


    She hugged Lu Chen tighter as she buried her head in his chest.


    Thank god. Thank you.


    She still has hope. It was still fine for her to cling onto that ray of hope that she could speak again.


    After hugging like that for a short while, Xiu Mei soon fell asleep while they were in that kind of position. Lu Chen chuckled but he still carefullyid her down on the bed beside her, pulling up the nket to cover both of them.


    "Goodnight, my wife." He murmured while staring at the sleeping figure of his wife.


    His cute wife. His tolerant wife. His forgiving wife.


    Before, he watched her sleeping figure like this for more than two months. He had already memorized every outline of her face, her normal breathing pattern, how many times her eyshes would flutter in her sleep, her mouth that would part sometimes in her sleep, and other sleeping habits that she had shown him while they were in the hospital. He watched over her very closely and carefully, in case something happens to her.


    At the same time, he was also regretting and repenting. That¡¯s why he apologized to her back when they were in Lu Qiang¡¯s room. Because of his carelessness, she was forced to go through all the pain again and she became like this.


    And no matter how much she tried to cover up her true feelings, he could still see it. Her anguish and suffering underneath the smiles she would show to others.


    He is a CEO and a chiefmander of the top assassin organization in the underworld, so he wasn¡¯t the type that would lose himself in so many emotions. He would always look forward and see what he can do to adapt to the current situation or work around it.


    And so that¡¯s what he did.


    He stayed beside her. He always apanied her. He would always talk with her about some good news or stuff just so she wouldn¡¯t be bored or sad. He allowed his son¡¯s request to stick with her mother the whole time because he knew that Lu Qiang could surely cheer up his wife.


    He tried to do everything that could make her happy. Because that¡¯s the only he really wished for the moment she became his wife.


    Because he wanted her to smile without worry and be protected. That was his vow to her. And that¡¯s what he will always do.


    "I love you." He whispered, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. After taking onest look at her peaceful expression, he slept soundly with his beloved in his arms.

 Chapter 187 - King and Lucia

    <h4>Chapter 187 - King and Lucia</h4>


    Xiu Mei woke up in excitement the next day,pletely throwing at the back of her mind the shameless acts that she did with Lu Chen the night before. All she could think about now was Lu Qiang¡¯s first day in school.


    Lu Chen woke up the moment Xiu Mei got up from the bed. He didn¡¯t even get to greet her ¡¯good morning¡¯ before Xiu Mei left the room without even looking at him. He stared at a loss to the closed door where his wife disappeared into, leaving him all alone in bed.


    He silently sulked. Looks like he is truly the second one in his wife¡¯s heart ah. He got up and prepared to go to the bathroom when his phone rang to life.


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei helped out their hired cooks in preparing the breakfast, and Lu Qiang¡¯s school lunch. She thought that this must be how anxious mothers could be every time their children attend their first day of school.


    She couldn¡¯t help but worry if he¡¯ll be able to make friends, get along with his ssmates, or what if he will be bullied at school. Those thoughts whirled around her head including the most ridiculous possibilities. No, she wasn¡¯t underestimating Lu Qiang at all.


    It was just pure worry that mothers go through as they worry and get anxious about their child¡¯s well-being in school. Most especially for Xiu Mei, a first-time mother, who knew very well that Lu Qiangcks experience in interaction with kids his age or other children.


    The father and son duo arrived at the dining room as soon as they finished cooking breakfast. Xiu Mei took a quick shower before joining them in the dining room.


    ¡¯Did you get enough sleep?¡¯


    ¡¯Did you check if you have everything inside your bag?¡¯


    ¡¯Are you sure you didn¡¯t forget anything?¡¯


    ¡¯Double-check if you have your ID with you, okay?¡¯


    Xiu Mei diligently wrote her questions and reminders on her tablet while holding it up to Lu Qiang to see. He s.u.mbed to his mother¡¯s concerns and answered each of them earnestly while ncing at his father from time to time as if asking for his father¡¯s help.


    Lu Chen listened to his wife¡¯s never-ending worry about their son and slightly sulked. Still, he saved his son from his wife¡¯s clutches and assured her that everything will be alright.


    After their eventful breakfast, Xiu Mei followed Lu Qiang to his room so he could change to his clothes. With his uniform still yet to arrive, she wanted him to look best and neat at all times.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen ordered some of the maids and the butler to clean up the garden and build some personal space outside for someone to live in.


    After getting changed, Xiu Mei and Lu Chen drove off with Lu Qiang to personally drop him off to school. Even though they wanted toy-low about Lu Qiang¡¯s identity, they still wanted him to experience this big event in his life. If someone really does find out their rtionship with Lu Qiang, then that¡¯s when both of them will reveal their marriage to protect Lu Qiang.


    "We leave our son to your care, Mr.Thompson." Lu Chen uttered to the school director after they were brought into his office. Since her mother has a particrly good rtionship with the owner of the school, even if he didn¡¯t know why Xiu Mei suddenly had a son or when she¡¯d gotten married to the famous Mr. Lu, he kept his mouth shut and seriously listened to his words.


    Though it might have sounded like a warning in his ears when Mr.Lu reminded him that. He didn¡¯t refute and promised that they¡¯ll be taking good care of Lu Qiang during his stay in school. He promised that nothing would be leaked to the media or public and the employees in their school are all very loyal and professional when ites to this kind of thing.


    Because of their high-profile identities, even if Xiu Mei wanted to peek at her son¡¯s ssroom, she could only choose to go straight home with Lu Chen and wait for sses to end before she could ask her son about his day in school.


    As soon as they returned home, Xiu Mei paused in her tracks as soon as she saw therge truck exiting their house gates. She turned to look at Lu Chen, and raising one of her brows, she threw him an inquisitive look as if to ask what was happening. Why was there a truck in their home?


    Lu Chen casually answered his wife, "Oh, I had my men bring Lucia and King live in our home as an additional of protection just in case someone tries to break in."


    "...."


    Xiu Mei nked out for a moment before it finally clicked in her head. Fudge, what?


    She stared at Lu Chen in horror as it dawned to her who Lu Cia and King were... or rather, what they are.


    ¡¯You¡¯re joking, right?¡¯ She wrote.


    Lu Chen parked the car in their garage and read what she wrote. He nced at her expression as if she was going to walk to her death the moment she stepped inside the house. He clearly remembers how scared she was when she first met the tigress and Lu Qiang¡¯s pet lion when he brought her back then.


    He suddenly felt guilty, because even knowing that, he still brought the two to his home without even giving a heads-up to his scared wife.


    He looked at her guiltily and with an apologetic tone, "Sorry, I should¡¯ve asked you first. I was too careless."


    He reflected on his actions and apologized thinking that he might have angered her or that his wife was disappointed in him for making a decision without consulting her first.


    Xiu Mei was startled when Lu Chen suddenly apologized to her. Actually, she wasn¡¯t angry at him at all, or rather, it didn¡¯t even hit her mind to get angry at him first.


    The first thing that came to her mind when Lu Chen said that Lucia and King will be living with them from now on was, this must be a joke. It would have been really ridiculous for a tigress and a lion, both of which are trained wild animals, live in their... small home. It???s really small if shepares it to their natural habitat which was a big forest in the mountains.


    But then, Lu Chen was not the type to kid around. And so her next train of thought was, where the hell are they going to put those two animals in? It¡¯s not like they can leave them roaming around their home without supervision at all.


    What if they suddenly attack the scared employees?


    And her train of thoughts shifted to, ¡¯oh my gawd, what do they eat? Red meat? Raw meat?¡¯


    Basically, her initial thoughts were panic and worry as to how those two animals are going to live with them from now on. It didn¡¯t even hit her mind to me and scold Lu Chen for not even giving her a heads-up about it.


    Thinking about it right now, she did feel a bit angry because he didn¡¯t even tell her about this n at all. But seeing him apologize so quickly and looking like he was actually reflecting on it, she didn¡¯t even have the heart to get angry at all. Besides, he did say he was actually doing this for protection right?


    Though the break-in stuff, she was doubting that it was the truth at all. Ignoring the fact that they live in a pretty secure vige, the security surrounding their house was almost as strict just like in the Xiu Mansion. Ever since learning that Lu Chen heads an assassin organization, she would even sometimes wonder if the people who were surrounding their property was actually assassins.


    Oh, she¡¯s straying off again.


    ¡¯I¡¯m not mad.¡¯ is what she wrote to show to her husband.


    "Really?" Lu Chen asked.


    Xiu Mei nodded as an affirmation before Lu Chen¡¯s tight expression rxed. And then he reached out and held her hand tofort her, "Don¡¯t worry, they are both well-trained and they don¡¯t casually attack people at all. Besides, they won¡¯t be allowed inside our house if you¡¯re quite ufortable. We can just leave them outside in the garden to roam instead."


    Xiu Mei nodded in response to his suggestion. She was still honestly scared at the thought of living with them, and if Lu Chen was fine with the two animals staying outside for a moment then she¡¯ll take it. She¡¯ll try to get used to them first then maybe, the tigress and the lion can then be allowed to roam inside the house next time.


    And so, the two of them climbed off the car to meet King and Lucia, who was waiting outside the garden where they will be staying from now on.

 Chapter 188 - Back To Work

    <h4>Chapter 188 - Back To Work</h4>


    The two pets roared loudly as soon as they smelled the familiar scent of their master. Xiu Mei and Lu Chen were still a few meters away from where their house is when she heard them roar to life. She hid behind Lu Chen on reflex as her nerves jumped on high alert after hearing that scary sound.


    Lu Chen introduced her to the two animals again since they¡¯ve only met her once before and for them to get more familiar with her scent. So that if Xiu Mei goes to the garden next time, the two animals won¡¯t blindly get suspicious of her presence.


    Xiu Mei who thought that she won¡¯t probably be walking out in the garden soon, "..."


    With the addition of two animals in their family, it wasn¡¯t only Xiu Mei who was afraid of the sudden appearance of the lion and the tigress. She was watching some drama on the television when she noticed some of the employees tremble in fear every time they hear the animals¡¯ roar outside. She even observed that a lot of them don¡¯t even dare to get close anywhere near the garden anymore.


    Xiu Mei felt like patting their backs infort understanding their feelings. She really didn¡¯t dare to go out so carelessly very soon ah...


    Spending the morning lying aroundzily and just watching and reading stuff, Xiu Mei easily got bored. Her childhood friend and girl friends were too busy working to reply to her messages right now.


    To begin with, she wasn¡¯t such an idle person. At the university, she spends half of her day at work, and then when she graduated, she immediately started working in the Lu Corporation. Plus she rarely used her vacation days, Xiu Mei¡¯s body was clearly tempered for work. If she¡¯s not working, she¡¯ll either rest topensate for herck of sleep or go for a walk outside.


    Though if she wouldpare her workaholic habits to the boss, then the President automatically wins. But Xiu Mei did notice that Lu Chen seemed to be spending a lot of his time with her instead of in front of hisputer. Back in the hospital, as soon as he sees her writing something on the tablet, he¡¯ll automatically stand up and walk over to her to read her request or anything that she wanted to say.


    Xiu Mei tilted her head as she contemted, staring upstairs. Was he being so attentive to her because she couldn¡¯t call his name anymore if she wants to?


    She remembered the gravity of her situation again despite the positive diagnosis that Doctor Lee told her. The main reason that she was stuck here at home is that she couldn¡¯t speak ah. Every time she asked about something from her assistant, instead of calling her to report, she would now send her an email report instead.


    No, it¡¯s not just that.


    Xiu Mei was trying to pass it off so passively as if it was nothing at all. But she knew that this was only the start of her nightmare.


    After thinking for a moment, Xiu Mei turned off the television and stumped upstairs where Lu Chen was. Her initial n was to talk to him about her work set up in the uing days.


    She was just about to open the door when she heard his voice on the opposite side. It was then she finally remembered that he was in the middle of a conference call right at this moment with the board of directors.


    She sighed and lowered her hand that was touching the doorknob. Forget it, she¡¯ll just talk to himter once he¡¯s not busy anymore. She would feel even more guilty if she disturbs him while he was in the middle of his work when she was the main reason why he was working hard like this.


    Xiu Mei sulked silently, walking back into her room. She opened herptop and startedmunicating with her assistant about the rat investigation she had been on previously and the other relevant work.


    Xiu Mei shortly got absorbed into reading her other emails. She skimmed through the investigation report about Albert Chen and she couldn¡¯t help but frown at the results. If others were to read it, they would have thought that the results were positive and Albert Chen should have nothing suspicious about him at all.


    But because she was being incredibly suspicious about everyone for the past few months, she found an oddity in the report.


    The Investigation Team did a background check on Albert Chen¡¯s performances in the past while he was in the States. The earliest information they had on him was during his high school years wherein he became the president of the student council in his senior year. And then the rest of the data showed how he progressed smoothly throughout the years from high school to college and then in the industry.


    Since he is intelligent and creative, along with his friendly personality, no one doubted his capabilities as he became one of the best among his colleagues.


    She flipped back to the start again and read the reason why they didn¡¯t have any information about Albert Chen when he was still younger, and it seems that Albert only had records from when he entered high school.


    Xiu Mei considered a lot of things: maybe his name wasn¡¯t originally Albert Chen, or he was some kind of defector or something, and many considerable factors.


    Her forehead creased as she fell into contemtion. After staring at his file for a full minute, she moved on to the next file. For now, let¡¯s put him under observation.


    On Xiu Mei¡¯s next list of agenda was checking on the project with the Zen Group that she has been working on before she was caught in an ident. With Lu Chen¡¯s participation on thest day, it seems that everything was going well and theunch of their product will continue as scheduled in the next two months.


    She was too engrossed with reading her emails that she didn¡¯t even notice that it was already past lunchtime, nor did she hear the knocking on the door of the maids, nor the presence of her husband who was now leaning on the doorframe.


    Lu Chen frowned at the sight of his wife immediately working when she just got home from the hospital yesterday. He wanted to scold her, but he stopped himself from doing so when he remembered Doctor Lee¡¯s reminders to avoid making her feel in a bad mood.


    He sighed in distress as he finally realized that influencing his subordinates with his workaholic habits now backfired on him. Especially if that subordinate is hispany secretary turned wife.


    If it weren¡¯t for his butler who informed him that Xiu Mei skipped her lunch, he wouldn¡¯t even know that she was already locking herself up inside the room to work either.


    "Wife." He called her but she didn¡¯t even spare a gaze to him. She was too focused on theptop in front of her as if all the other sounds and stuff around her fell deaf on her ears.


    He walked over to her side with light footsteps, stopping only behind her. He lowered his head just close enough to whisper in her ears.


    "Wife." He whispered, his breath tickling her ear.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s shoulders jumped in surprise at the voice. Covering her victimized ear, her eyes trembled when she looked at Lu Chen. He only thought that she was just simply surprised when he suddenly appeared behind her but he was wrong.


    The moment Xiu Mei heard his voice, the things they didst night suddenly shed before her eyes. His deep and hoarse voice that called her ¡¯Wife¡¯, ¡¯Baby¡¯, ¡¯Darling¡¯, and how he continued encouraging her to go faster and to try holding him tighter and this and that...


    Fudge. She... waspletely doomed.


    Her cheeks flushed red and her heart thumped crazily against her chest as she met Lu Chen¡¯s gaze. Blinking for a few more times, sheposed herself and wiped off the memories fromst night in her head.


    She grabbed the tablet beside herptop and wrote, ¡¯Why?¡¯


    Her thoughts still too unfocused to notice that it was already past lunch.


    "The butler said you skipped lunch." Lu Chen sternly said.


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion. What? Wasn¡¯t it just past 11 am....


    She nced at the screen behind her and gasped in horror.


    ......fudge. It was already past 1 pm?! Were her eyes ying some kind of tricks on her?


    Xiu Mei bit her lips and slowly turned her head to look at Lu Chen again. This time, she lowered her head like a kid that was suddenly caught skipping ss.


    She didn¡¯t write anything on her tablet anymore and stood up from her seat, pulled on Lu Chen¡¯s arms dragging her with him as they made their way to the dining area.

 Chapter 189 - Their movements

    <h4>Chapter 189 - Their movements</h4>


    Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s face darkened as soon as he saw the proposal projects presented by the departments for the uing diplomatic visits next year. He barely suppressed himself from throwing the papers into the shredder while roaring at thezy staff who did the papers.


    "Redo everything." He merely said, mming the papers on the table. His secretary nodded his head silently, taking the papers with him when he left his office.


    Xiu Mo Ruo rubbed his aching temples as he looked at the piling amount of reports and trantions he had to go through which extends to diplomat visits, international rtions, and policies.


    Looking at the amount of work he had to go through, and recalling how tight his schedule was for today and the next months, he silently scolded himself for putting himself under this kind of torture.


    He really didn¡¯t imagine himself following in his father¡¯s footsteps as a politician back when he was still young. His parents never pressured them to follow their parents¡¯ career when they grew up, but Xiu Min and Xiu Mo Ruo had this subconscious admiration for their parents and so the two went to separate colleges, one went to the National Military University while he enrolled in Tsinghua University under the courses of Political Science and Law and International Rtions.


    Only their youngest sibling and the little princess of their family went on a separate path of business, which made them slightly worried.


    But Xiu Mei proved to them that she could live independently even if she¡¯s not under their protective umbre. Eventually, their hanging hearts rxed as they continued to silently watch over her develop and stand by herself.


    "Get me a cup of coffee." He uttered, pressing themunication line on connected to his secretary outside of the office.


    Xiu Mo Ruo continued working on his papers when his phone vibrated to life. It was his personal phone that he uses tomunicate with his family and friends at all times.


    He opened his phone and nced at the contents of the message. His expression darkened as he continued to read the message. It was about their current investigation in the position shuffling across different national departments.


    His father used his connections to investigate all the changes that happened for the past two years. And right now, he received the report that there seemed to be some suspicious change in power in some parts of the government for the past two years.


    They couldn¡¯t fully confirm it yet, but he recognized three of the names on the list that are quite notorious in their circle for using vices and women in their past time. It may have sounded quitemon especially if it¡¯s an official since a lot of people have this some kind of idea that a lot of politicians aren¡¯t truly quite clean and some of them are using that power to their advantage.


    This was somehow true, as per Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s opinion. But it¡¯s not reallymon for people with this kind of history to be assigned into high positions like these ones on the list. Couple with the fact that their true image has been publicized before.


    Their appointment for these positions should have made the news, yet the father and son who both work in the government didn¡¯t even get a wind of this news at all. Even their friends who are working in the same career weren¡¯t aware of it too.


    The Deputy Speaker. Minister of Finance. Vice-President of Supreme People¡¯s Court.


    Dammit. All those weren¡¯t some mere positions at all.


    They are all high-profile positions that even his father should have been aware of. But he didn¡¯t. This means that they were discreetly appointed and was secretly hidden from the public¡¯s sight.


    Xiu Mo Ruo typed something on his phone for his instructions to the investigation. They still need to dig more. Else, it might already be toote if they don¡¯t get a clearer picture of the whole government status right now. Who knows they might just wake up and the entire positions have been reced without their knowledge.


    Meanwhile, Yu Shi Jin was instructed by his father to monitor if there are any suspicious movements in the military. As the Colonel-General in the army, he kept eyes on people who he deemed quite suspicious and he kept his guard up on other people as well.


    Army Men are loyal, but once they betray, their betrayal isn¡¯t something to be taken lightly at all. A person who can kill for the mission and for their country, why can¡¯t he kill without any reason once he turns his back to his country?


    He has his sons and nephew to aid him in keeping an eye on various movements inside the military. Most especially at this critical time when the Xiu family kept being targeted by a lot of peopletely.


    He had to protect the country¡¯s safety, at the same time, his family¡¯s safety as well.


    "What¡¯s the status?" With a cold expression, he asked his two most trusted subordinates about the current status inside the military departments all over the country. His nephew and his friend have been assigned to check out about the status of the spies they nted in various countries.


    "As per your instructions, we found no suspicious movements in rtion to the army. However, we did find some people who have been getting in touch with the Public Security Bureau for the past few months. All of which do not have high positions within the military."


    "What about their backgrounds?"


    "All of them don¡¯t have any distinguishable backgrounds at all. It¡¯s clean and in just like any other soldier."


    "Good. Keep an eye on them. Find out who they are contacting within the Public Security Bureau and what are the contents of their conversation."


    "Copy that, Sir."


    "You¡¯re dismissed."


    Yu Shi Jin thought deeply about something for quite some time. And then he picked up his securely lined phone and immediately called a good friend of his that was working within the Public Security Bureau.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei, who is still in the dark about these events, is in the middle of her negotiation with the President who is also her husband, that she wanted to continue going to work despite her difficulties.


    "You can work using yourptop." Lu Chen refuted to her proposal.


    ¡¯I want to GO to work.¡¯ is what Xiu Mei pressed.


    "You just got out of the hospital."


    ¡¯But the doctor said I¡¯m already fine.¡¯ Just incapable of speaking that¡¯s all, is the sentence she left off unsaid¡ªor unwritten, if that even makes sense.


    "Wife," Lu Chen used a coaxing tone while he reached out to hold her hand. He lightly squeezed it and continued, "I¡¯m not forbidding you to work at all. I just want you to take some time off, for now, a month or two, before you resume working."


    This time, Xiu Mei paused to ponder his words. Seeing her waver, Lu Chen continued convincing her.


    "Look, Lu Qiang just started his school, alright? It¡¯ll probably take some time for him to get used to going to school and being away from you for more than half a day after he stuck to your side for the past few months. Why don¡¯t you apany him for quite a while, hm?"


    ¡¯...¡¯


    He... does have a point.


    With his statement, Xiu Mei only remembered just now her previous dilemma about this with Lu Qiang. She was too busy trying to live normally like usual that she almost forgot to spend some time thinking about Lu Qiang¡¯s request to her back when they were separated when she went to City S.


    Seeing Xiu Mei falling silent and not moving her hands anymore to write anything, Lu Chen knew that she was seriously contemting right now.


    Lu Chen felt slightly guilty for using his son when he reasoned with his wife right now, but he really didn¡¯t want her to quickly get back to work at all. In fact, if she could just take aplete break from work for a while without working on herptop and all, he would be satisfied.


    She had gone through a lot that she could ever take and he just wants to her have some time to truly take a break. Not a break because she was stuck in the hospital for sleeping for months, just truly a good break where she was rxed and being idle without worrying about work at all.


    Finally, Xiu Mei picked up her tablet and wrote her response.


    ¡¯Okay, I¡¯ll think about it.¡¯ is what she decided for now.


    For now, she¡¯s going to spend time with Lu Qiang for the next few weeks while thinking about her decision if she can somehow bnce her work while spending ample time with her son. She wanted to think about it properly first because this decision will not only affect her life but also her son and husband as well.

 Chapter 190 - PDA

    <h4>Chapter 190 - PDA</h4>


    Xiu Mei silently sat on the sofa in the study while watching her husband¡¯s back who was fully focused on his conference meeting with their international partners. She could only gaze at his figure whilst she waited for time to pass by.


    Lu Chen stopped her from working too much for the first week since she just got discharged from the hospital, so she listened to him obediently to ease his worries. But aside from working, Xiu Mei really couldn¡¯t think of anything to do at all. It almost felt like she didn¡¯t know what her life was when she wasn¡¯t working at all.


    She sighed. While waiting for Lu Chen to finish his call, she lied down on the sofa and yed with her tablet instead. She grabbed her wireless earbuds and read some novels online while passing the time. In the end, she got too engrossed with what she was reading that she didn¡¯t even notice that Lu Chen had been watching her for quite some time now.


    Lu Chen watched his wife smile and silently giggle for almost every minute as she stared at her tablet. He finished his work early today since he knew that Xiu Mei would get bored if he left her alone to y so he decided to apany her for the rest of the day before they pick up Lu Qiang from school.


    Seeing her look so carefree and without worry, his distressed heart was slightly soothed. But his worry never disappeared. He observed her for a few more minutes before he finally walked over to where she was.


    Xiu Mei was already reading the climax of the story when she felt her surroundings dimmed a little bit. She subconsciously raised her head to see what was obstructing the light and finally saw Lu Chen¡¯s towering figure above her.


    ¡¯You¡¯re done?¡¯ She mouthed without a sound. Lu Chen read her lips and nodded as a response.


    "Sorry, I made you wait didn¡¯t I?" He crouched beside her figure and stroked her head. Xiu Mei noticed that Lu Chen seems to really like doing thistely.


    She shook her head. Lu Chen smiled and held her hand bringing it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles and with a twinkle in his eyes, he offered a proposal.


    "Then let¡¯s go on a date?"


    A date?


    Xiu Mei blinked. She thought for a short moment before smiling and nodded to his suggestion. Since she didn¡¯t have anything to do at home, she¡¯d rather y outside with Lu Chen instead of wasting time lying down like this.


    Besides, they could pick up Lu Qiang after they finish their date too! Look, they still have around 2 hours to y if they go now.


    The husband and wife changed into appropriate attire for their date. Last time, the two of them went on a humble yet fun date of ying in an arcade and eating street foods. This time, they went to the cinema to watch a movie.


    "Which one do you want to watch?" Lu Chen asked while looking at the lined up movie posters on the walls. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t hesitate and chose the action thriller movie. It¡¯s the type of movie she really likes watching and she thought that Lu Chen would probably be entertained too. Since she wasn¡¯t sure whether he would really enjoy watching a romance or horror movie.


    Lu Chen nodded and queued to buy their tickets and snacks. While waiting for him, Xiu Mei sat silently on the side, watching Lu Chen¡¯s figure from afar. She could see a lot of girls noticing him and squealing but Lu Chen continued ignoring their reactions. Some brave girls tried to approach him but ended up failing after meeting Lu Chen¡¯s cold stare.


    She was too focused on her husband¡¯s figure that she didn¡¯t notice her poprity. Xiu Mei¡¯s beauty wasn¡¯t the goddess type, but she¡¯s pretty enough just like those actresses in the dramas.


    Lu Chen, who was about to return to his wife¡¯s side, frowned as soon as he saw some guys crowding a few meters away from his wife. They were hiding behind the pirs and standing quite far away from her so that¡¯s why she probably didn¡¯t even notice it but Lu Chen didn¡¯t like the gazes that those men were throwing at her.


    He saw someone got pushed forward to Xiu Mei¡¯s direction and so Lu Chen briskly walked to reach Xiu Mei¡¯s side faster. The guy stopped in his tracks when he realized someone already beat him to it, but he immediately backed away as soon as he saw the re from Lu Chen.


    She, who was totally unaware of what unfolded, smiled at her husband and extended her hands to grab the popcorn bucket that he was holding.


    "Let¡¯s go, wife." Lu Chen was straightforward. He held her hand while helping her stand up and wrapped his around her waist before they started walking away. He even caressed her hair lightly boldly showing his affection in public. The guys who saw this eventually stepped back thinking that he was the boyfriend and so they immediately run away after recalling the re he threw at them.


    Xiu Mei who was surprised by his actions, "...?"


    She stared at him in confusion but Lu Chen acted as if he did nothing and ushered her inside the cinema. They eventually found their seats which was a two-seater special sofa. Lu Chen bought the ticket with these special seats since the cashier said that it was the perfect seat for couples.


    Xiu Mei satfortably on the leather seat while Lu Chen sat beside her.


    "Wife, wear this." Lu Chen said, handing over the jacket he was wearing a while ago. Since it was colder than he had expected inside the cinema, he was worried that Xiu Mei would get sick because of the temperature.


    Xiu Mei wanted to decline since she thought Lu Chen would feel cold with just his shirt on but Lu Chen insisted. Even if she would like to protest, she couldn¡¯t without her voice and she didn¡¯t want to disturb other people.


    Xiu Mei felt warmer as soon as she wore the jacket. Compared to her small figure, Lu Chen¡¯s jacket look oversized on her. His jacket could even pass as arge dress on her when zipped up.


    Lu Chen busied himself by cing some tissues around the cold cup so Xiu Mei¡¯s hands won¡¯t get wet and cold. After cing that on her side, he scooted closer to his wife while holding the popcorn so she could easily reach out to eat one.


    The movie was already starting so Xiu Mei¡¯s focus was now on the big screen in front of her. Despite wearing the jacket, maybe because her body hasn¡¯t fully recovered, she still felt cold inside the cinema. She subconsciously scooted closer to the heat beside her, looping her arm around Lu Chen¡¯s. She even leaned her head on his shoulder for afortable position.


    Lu Chen smiled at her actions. He helped her get morefortable by looping his arm around her waist instead, and then he pulled her closer to his embrace. They stuck close to each other as if they were at home until they finished the movie.


    Even when they left the cinema to drive back to Lu Qiang¡¯s primary school, their intimate gestures didn¡¯t lessen at all. Lu Chen wrapped his arm around her shoulder, while his other hand was tucking some of her hair behind her ear. Xiu Mei was even wiping off the traces of popcorn on his mouth.


    The two of them didn¡¯t shy away from disying their affection in public, plus with their face valuebined, almost everyone in the cinema lobby was looking at them. They didn¡¯t even notice that someone already recognized them and took their picture before uploading it on Weibo. Theizens who were suddenly rubbed with dog food of this couple reacted excitedly under the image. It was only when Xiu Mei received messages from her friends that she knew about the taken picture. She grew red when she saw the picture, seeing how close and intimate she and Lu Chen looked in it.


    Her heart did a flip when she saw Lu Chen¡¯s loving and tender gaze at her through the picture.


    "What are you looking at?" Lu Chen curiously asked, ncing at his wife¡¯s flushing cheeks. With their vehicle stopping in front of the red light, he looked over her shoulder to see what she was looking at on her phone. And there, he saw the said image.


    He nced at Xiu Mei¡¯s reaction again and chuckled. He was clearly amused by her expression and so he didn¡¯t stop himself from stealing a kiss in her mouth. Since they are on the road, Lu Chen only pecked her on the lips for a quick second.


    Xiu Mei who was surprised by Lu Chen¡¯s shameless action could only hit him on his shoulder while ring at him adorably.


    What was he doing in public ah?! What if the people in the other car sees them?


    She scolded him in her mind, but her flushing cheeks says otherwise.

 Chapter 191 - Resolution

    <h4>Chapter 191 - Resolution</h4>


    Lu Chen who shamelessly stole a kiss from his wife wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid of his wife¡¯s anger. After acting rogue to his wife and willingly receiving her hit, he properly returned to his seat and continue driving. He looked nothing like the hooligan he was seconds ago.


    Xiu Mei embarrassingly looked around outside the car whether someone had seen them.


    "Don¡¯t worry, wife. Our car has a very dark tint." Lu Chen casually spoke but there was a hint of a smile on his face.


    Xiu Mei felt relieved when she heard this but as soon as she saw the expression he was making, she puffed his cheek and pouted angrily at him.


    This guy is making fun of her, isn¡¯t it?!


    She red at him before finally deciding to ignore him. She nced at the image on her phone and felt even more embarrassed. She immediately distracted herself by moving to a different page.


    While she stayed frustrated at her husband, Lu Chen bravely grabbed her hand while driving. He didn¡¯t let go of it even when Xiu Mei tried pulling it away from his grasp. He brought it up to his face and kissed the back of her hand.


    "Angry?" He asked.


    Xiu Mei stared at him meaningfully before rolling her eyes at him. He was driving so she didn¡¯t write anything as a response to his question but she finally stopped pulling out her hand from him. Both of them stayed like that until they¡¯ve finally reached Lu Qiang¡¯s primary school.


    Lu Chen stopped her from climbing down the car and went out alone to pick up Lu Qiang instead. Xiu Mei saw the other children exiting the school from where their car was parked. Her mood lightened up when she saw the smile on those children¡¯s faces clearly showing how much fun they had at school. She wished that her son had fun in school as well.


    After a few minutes, Xiu Mei finally saw the figure of their father and son. Lu Chen was carrying Lu Qiang¡¯s bag while Lu Qiang rushed towards her direction. Xiu Mei¡¯s lips curled up and she opened her car door to wee Lu Qiang in her arms.


    Finally seeing her mother after being apart from her the whole day, Lu Qiang quickly ran towards her mother¡¯s embrace, jumping onto her arms inside the car.


    "Mom!!" He eximed, burying himself in his mother¡¯s embrace. He raised his head to look at Xiu Mei. Judging by his expression, Xiu Mei instantly knew that the little guy here had so much fun in school. She stroked his head and kissed him on the cheeks.


    "How was school?" Lu Chen¡¯s voice resounded at the side as he climbed to the driver¡¯s seat. He ced Lu Qiang¡¯s backpack at the back seat before looking in his son¡¯s direction.


    The two a.d.u.l.ts waited for his answer.


    "The lessons aren¡¯t pretty hard but I met a lot of people!" He happily told them. Lu Qiang started recounting his whole day to his parents while Xiu Mei and Lu Chen listened attentively to him.


    They didn¡¯t even notice that their smiles got wider and wider as they continued to listen to the little guy¡¯s stories like when he ate with his ssmates and when he yed with them during their Physical Education ss. Lu Qiang performed very well in all his sses proving that he was indeed an intelligent and genius child but what the a.d.u.l.ts felt happy about was that despite being home-schooled ever since he was born, Lu Qiang¡¯s ability to mingle and interact with other people was nowhere near like his adoptive father¡¯s. He may be cold sometimes, but he couldn¡¯t hide his true age at all. No matter how much he tried to act mature in front of the a.d.u.l.ts, the childish side that was hidden deep within him would always be there.


    The mother and son duo moved to the backseat so Lu Chen could start driving home now. Xiu Mei wrote on her tablet from time to time reacting to Lu Qiang¡¯s stories while Lu Chen would also chime in a question even while he was driving. Lu Qiang was very talkative and active throughout their whole journey on their way home.


    When they got home, Xiu Mei tried to do her normal routine just like before. She started prepping for their dinner without needing help from the other helpers, so Lu Chen and Lu Qiang aided her in the kitchen.


    She was still tying her apron properly when she felt a tug on her clothes. She lowered her eyes and realized it was Lu Qiang. She was just about to get her tablet to ask him what he wanted to say when the little guy started doing different gestures in front of her.


    She was confused at first seeing Lu Qiang¡¯s clumsy movements, but when she continued observing his movements, Xiu Mei finally realized what he was trying to do¡ªrather, say.


    She subconsciously replied in signnguage in surprise. ¡¯Did you learn signnguage at school too?¡¯


    She looked at his son in admiration. Xiu Mei was genuinely surprised when Lu Qiang suddenly did signnguage in front of her because she knew that the father and son duo didn¡¯t learn it at all. Though she would sometimes catch Lu Chen watching signnguage videos when he thought she wasn¡¯t paying attention to him.


    "Sorry, Mom. I still haven¡¯tpletely learned it." Lu Qiang gloomily said when he couldn¡¯t understand what his mother¡¯s gestures were. He was actually trying to say the sentence ¡¯I want to help you, Mom.¡¯ in signnguage and so he asked his teacher back in school how to do it during their signnguage ss.


    He originally wanted to hear her praise him but he was too clumsy to do the gestures properly so his mother must have not understood what he was trying to say. He was still sulking on his own when he felt a heavy but warm hand stroking his head. Before he could even raise his eyes, he felt his mother¡¯s familiar kiss on his forehead.


    ¡¯Mommy¡¯s proud of you.¡¯ Xiu Mei mouthed, hoping that Lu Qiang would understand it. But the kid just tilted his head in confusion while furrowing his brows clearly showing his reaction. It was then when Lu Chen finally spoke behind Lu Qiang.


    "You¡¯re mother said she¡¯s very proud of you." Lu Chen interpreted Xiu Mei¡¯s mouthed words. Lu Qiang raised his head to look at his father and then he turned to his mother who was staring lovingly at him. Xiu Mei nodded at him as if confirming that what Lu Chen said was right.


    ...Mommy¡¯s proud of him?


    Lu Qiang¡¯s gloomy mood disappeared. His eyes lit up and a smile appeared on his face as he repeated in his mind what his father said.


    Mommy was really proud of him?


    "Really?" He asked.


    Xiu Mei nodded. The kid¡¯s smile widened as he quickly ced a kiss on his mother¡¯s cheek.


    "Thank you, Mommy!!" He eximed. "I promise that I¡¯ll learn it properly soon!!" He said like a pledge. Xiu Mei smiled at his statement and rubbed his head as if to support his goal.


    "And I, as well." Lu Chen didn¡¯t let himself be forgotten and squeezed himself in between the two beloved people in his life. He pressed a kiss on Xiu Mei¡¯s hair as he promised to her like Lu Qiang.


    "We won¡¯t make you wait." He added. Just like his son, he was very motivated to learn about signnguage as well. Recalling how Xiu Mei easilymunicated with his inws back through signnguage back in the hospital, he suddenly felt out of ce when he couldn¡¯t understand their conversation at all.


    He felt ufortable and jealous because of this so he resolutely promised to learn it as soon as possible. Just so Xiu Mei wouldn¡¯t feel hard writing long sentences continuously on her tablet when they talk about something.


    Xiu Mei smiled helplessly at the father and son duo who was almost like pledging their lives to her. She felt proud and touched at the same time because she understood that they were putting an effort to learn the signnguage for her sake.


    Still, she couldn¡¯t help but feel down a little bit because she felt like she was a burden to the two of them. Because of her difficulty in speaking, the two of them are trying to amodate her needs by learning the signnguage that they would have never thought of to learn before. She sighed silently and got rid of her depressing thoughts.


    Her will and resolution to get better became stronger. Of course, she couldn¡¯t just let the two of them do all the work. Right now, her part is to work even harder to get better and gain her capability to speak again. So that her family would stop worrying too much from now on.

 Chapter 192 - Shrewdness

    <h4>Chapter 192 - Shrewdness</h4>


    "Secretary Lu, the investigation team still can¡¯t find who really leaked the data breach to the media." Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant uttered breaking the silence on their floor. With the President and Xiu Mei¡¯s physical absence, the two of them have been buried with papers and work on this gloomy floor.


    Lu Shao who has been studying up a contract raised his head and turned to Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant.


    "Then tell the investigation team to pass over all the information they have to me in a secured channel. I¡¯ll personally do the investigation."


    "Are you sure?" Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant nced at the pile of folders on his desk and the other files they ced on Xiu Mei¡¯s desk. "Won¡¯t you die from overworking? Besides, you have a scheduled business trip next week." She even pulled up his schedule to see.


    Lu Shao nced at his fully packed schedule and was reminded again how busy he was for the past few months.


    "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll figure it out." He simply replied before withdrawing his eyes back to the screen.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant raised her brow and looked at the male secretary in wonder.


    Why are the President¡¯s secretaries so awesome ah... Ms. Xiu and Secretary Lu are so reliable and dependable. Are the three of them still humans? How could they work without break at all...


    Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant stared at her own pile of work and sighed in defeat. Nope, the three of them must be gods ah. Look at her, a simple human that can¡¯t evenpare to the dedication of that one god over there.


    She started typing a reply to the investigation team and updated them about Lu Shao¡¯s response. After receiving a good response, she started working on her other tasks.


    While the two people at the office are still figuring out the truth about the incident, the family of three is spending a great time together in the living room.


    Xiu Mei eagerly listened to her son¡¯s interaction with his ssmates. And how excited he was when they yed that afternoon during their physical education ss. But most of all, he didn¡¯t forget to criticize their school¡¯s technology during Computer ss.


    ¡¯Listen, darling. You shouldn¡¯t hack your school¡¯s tech okay? It¡¯s fine if you do it with our stuff at home but it¡¯s illegal to hack okay?¡¯ Xiu Mei wrote, warning Lu Qiang to stop his bad habits.


    Before, she let him pass when he hacked the hotel¡¯s wifi back then. But right now, he was growing up and his bad habits like this should be stopped. Wouldn¡¯t it be bad if one day she receives the news that her son was thrown to jail because he was caught hacking a government¡¯s website?


    That would really be terrible. So all she could do right now is steel herself and scold him or warn him every time he does something wrong or bad.


    "I¡¯ll listen to mommy." Lu Qiang seriously replied. Lu Chen silently listened on the side, watching them interact. He was reading the report sent to him by Lu Qiang¡¯s bodyguard, detailing to him about his activities in school. It was consistent with what Lu Qiang told them a while ago but it seems like the kid was still intelligent to leave off some details just so he could paint himself clean in front of his mother.


    Lu Chen¡¯s lip curled up learning about Lu Qiang¡¯s shrewdness sprouting at such a young age. He kept his mouth shut about this from his wife and just let the little kid be. As long as Lu Qiang does not cross the line, then he could tolerate it. He¡¯s still very confident with his son¡¯s capability especially with how he expertly handled his ssmates very well.


    He suddenly had the thought that Lu Qiang must have inherited his cousin¡¯s and cousin-inw¡¯s wit and cunningness. After all, one is a shrewdwyer and one is a reputable and talented reporter.


    Xiu Mei left for the kitchen to heat Lu Qiang¡¯s milk before sleeping leaving the two Lu members alone. The little kid fell silent and diligently worked on his homework, not bothering to talk with his father.


    It was Lu Chen who opened his mouth first.


    "You put up quite a good performance today, huh." Lu Chen nonchntly uttered, just loud enough for the two of them to hear. Lu Qiang¡¯s movements paused before raising his head to stare at his father.


    Gone is his yfulness on his face and was reced by a cunning smile. There was even a hint of coldness but he quickly covered it up.


    "I didn¡¯t want my mom to be disappointed. Her expectations are always to be met by this filial son, isn¡¯t it?" Lu Qiang replied in a low voice. He withdrew his gaze from his father¡¯s and resumed working on his homework.


    "Besides, it was quite easy acting like an innocent child to the teachers. And my ssmates are still at the age where you can easily fool them." He stated as if he was spewing out something normal at a kid his age.


    Lu Chen stared at this shrewd son of his that has been hiding this side of his from other people. Except for him and a few of his subordinates are well aware of Lu Qiang¡¯s other color. After all, he was a child that was home-schooled by him and trained in the art of fighting and mind strategies. Lessons he would surely need when he grows up. At the same time, his carefree and childish side is still true. Especially when in front of his mother and their other rtives.


    Lu Qiang was almost like the small version of him back when he was in college. Quite naive and innocent on the outside, but cunning on the inside. Both of which are his true personalities.


    He deeply sighed as he thought of his wife.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if it was quite a good thing that his wife has yet to discover this side of Lu Qiang ah... He wondered if she¡¯ll be shocked when she figures it out in the future.


    The two of them finished their conversation as soon as they heard Xiu Mei¡¯s approaching footsteps. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t notice anything wrong at all and just served the warm mug of milk to Lu Qiang to drink. After apanying him for half an hour more to finish his homework, they started prepping to tuck him to bed.


    Lu Chen cleaned up the mug bringing it to the kitchen while Xiu Mei and Lu Qiang went back to his room. After Lu Chen read him bed stories to sleep, the couple retired to their shared bedroom.


    As soon as she stepped inside their room, Xiu Mei had a memory sh of the shameless things they didst night when she saw the clean and neat bed. Her cheeks flushed red before she went straight to the bathroom to hide her sudden heightened emotions from Lu Chen.


    Strangely, even her palm felt hot as if she had touched something before.


    She shook her head and quickly got rid of her chaotic thoughts and started her nightly routine. And right after showering, she wrapped herself up in a white bathrobe, walking over to the counter where she would usually ce her change of clothes. But Xiu Mei paused in her tracks when she saw the empty counter. No pajamas. No underwear.


    ....Nada.


    She¡¯s fudged.


    She tried to backtrack her memories from before she entered the bathroom and it seems... she really didn¡¯t grab any of her clothes at all. She went straight to the bathroom to hide her flushing cheeks that shepletely forgot to grab her pajamas.


    She opened her mouth to call Lu Chen for help but no sound came out. And that¡¯s when Xiu Mei finally realized that she...was doomed.


    Oh, fudge.


    Lu Chen was still reading some reports on hisptop while waiting for his wife to finish. He was typing something when he heard the door of the bathroom creak open. He subconsciously looked in the direction of the bathroom and immediately saw a woman in a white bathrobe.


    His movements paused as he felt something throb within him.


    What was his wife up to now?


    In front of him was his wife d in a bathrobe, briskly walking towards the cab. Her appearancepletely magnified in his eyes¡ªthe short bathrobe that only falls until her mid-thigh, her supple and slender white neck with some of her corbone and shoulder exposed, and her newly showered scent that he was very familiar with wafted inside the room, akin to a potion rendering him unable to move his eyes away from her.


    The tinge of flushness in her cheekpletely revealing her emotions, but instead of being amused, Lu Chen felt like he was being bewitched by her instead.


    After all, in front of him is the very woman he loves dearly, and seeing her tempting appearance like this was like a rabbit delivering itself into the wolf¡¯s mouth to eat.

 Chapter 193 - Mr. Pei

    <h4>Chapter 193 - Mr. Pei</h4>


    Lu Chen gulped nervously as soon as he saw his wife¡¯s tempting appearance. He hesitantly closed his eyes and lowered his head to stop himself from having any more uncontroble thoughts.


    He cursed silently to himself. How could be such a beast ah?


    Why does he always have this urge to suddenly jump on his wife every time? Was he this much of a beast even before? God!


    Hearing the sound of the bathroom door opening again, Lu Chen finally opened his eyes and saw no figure of Xiu Mei at all. He finally released the breath that he had been holding. That was close.


    But as soon as he took another deep breath, he smelled his wife¡¯s freshly bathed scent filling the room. He remembered trying to smell her shampoo to see if it was that same scent he could smell from her but he found out that it wasn¡¯t as pleasant as it was on Xiu Mei¡¯s body.


    Her scent felt like it was hugging him. Tempting him. Bewitching him. And the fire hidden beneath continued to burn. He subconsciously started tapping the back of his tablet continuously as if he was impatient about something.


    Xui Mei knocked on the door of the bathroom to tell Lu Chen that she was finished and it was now his turn. She didn¡¯t dare to look at Lu Chen¡¯s direction at all when she said that. Lu Chen¡¯s breath hitched when that familiar scent intensified with her exit from the bathroom.


    "Mhm." He simply replied as he tried to act as normal as possible. Picking up his change of clothes and strode at a normal pace to the bathroom. The moment he locked himself inside, he smelled that scent again but this time, it was mixed with the scent of soap and floral smell.


    He took a deep breath and tried to rpose himself, organize his thoughts, and suppress the desire that was threatening to explode from within him. He quickly slipped off from his clothes, and without batting an eye, turned on the cold shower and calmed himself down with the ice-cold water.


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know that she had just escaped from getting eaten and bing the dessert of the wolf showering inside the bathroom. She immediately threw herself under the sheets after drying her hair and closed her eyes, trying to get some early sleep.


    In her mind, she believed that it would be safer for her to sleep early than to stay awake for Lu Chen to feast on. Look at what happened yesterday when she didn¡¯t sleep early...Xiu Mei¡¯s cheeks reddened at the memory.


    Eventually, sleep visited her early just as she wanted and the moment the husband finished his shower, he saw his wife sleeping soundly on her side of the bed. He chuckled at the sight and shook his head lightly. He turned off the lights and slipped under the nket, scooting closer to where his wife is.


    And then he carefully held her by the shoulder to turn her body towards him, making her slip head slip over his arms. Xiu Mei was always deep inside her dreand that she didn¡¯t even budge awake at the movements. Lu Chen casually wrapped his other arm over hers to hug her and buried her head on his chest. After he was satisfied with their position, he finally whispered to her "Goodnight" before he followed her to the dreand.


    A few hourster...


    It was still dawn when the couple sleeping sweetly on the bed was awoken by their both phones ringing so loudly in the dark. Xiu Mei¡¯s upational habit to be awake at the sound of her phone was ingrained into her hence, albeit drowsy and still not on her senses, she subconsciously reached out to her phone as soon as she heard it ring. On the other hand, Lu Chen woke up immediately from the first second of the ring.


    He thought that it was his phone just ringing, but he quickly realized that Xiu Mei¡¯s phone was also buzzing on the bedside table. Seeing his wife waking up and slowly reach out for her phone on the bedside table, he turned behind him to reach out for his.


    He grumpily looked at the screen and saw Lu Shao¡¯s name shing.


    "Hello?" He said as soon as he epted the call.


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei begrudgingly answered the annoying phone call. With her hazy gaze, she swiped to the right epting the call without even looking at the caller¡¯s name. She opened her mouth to say ¡¯hello¡¯ but no sound came out, but before that couldpletely register in her mind, the other party spoke first.


    "Oh my god, Xiu Mei! Did you see the news?" Xiu Mei instantly recognized Bei Jia Ying¡¯s voice. "Yu Zhenzhen¡¯s husband was found dead!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s already nk thoughts nked out even more. It took her for a full minute before it finally registered in her mind what Bei Jia Ying said.


    "!!!!"


    She almost jumped in shock as she rose from the bed when she finally absorbed her words.


    Yu Zhenzhen¡¯s husband was found dead... Pei Ji Huang was dead?!


    She quickly noticed that Lu Chen was also awake and turned in his direction. He was also on his phone and even if the room was dark, she could see his expression darkening by the second. With her eyes widened and mouth agape, the couple¡¯s gaze met, and with a tacit understanding, they knew that they were on the same page at this moment.


    It wasn¡¯t only the Lu¡¯s who were startled by the news. The entire businessmunity and country were also shaken by the news that the Prime Minister¡¯s son-inw was found dead. The cause of his death has yet to be announced but the entire nation was filled with anxiety when they learned about the news. It was the son-inw of the most powerful person in their country, and he turned up dead?


    The citizens¡¯ curiosity and anxiety were all expressed in Weibo. Pei Ji Huang¡¯s name dominated the top five searches.


    The public has been yet to be informed of the cause of death, but Lu Chen was informed by one of his men monitoring Yu Ming Xi that Pei Ji Huang¡¯s death was suspected as murder or homicide. The autopsy is yet to be finished so the police have not started drawing their hypothesis and in which angle they¡¯re going to start with.


    At the same time, the Xiu family who is witnessing all of this in realtime through their connections was also startled. Xiu Mo Ruo and Xiu Gu Ren¡¯s first thoughts were, is his death rted to the secret shuffling of powers within the government?


    After all, Pei Ji Huang¡¯spany was recently involved with the government¡¯s projects, funding, and handling some of the vital projects that the government considers very important. On the side of the military, some of the soldiers were immediately mobilized by themander-in-chief to improve the security around his pregnant daughter, Yu Zhenzhen, and his security detail as well.


    Xiu Mei abruptly hung up Bei Jia Ying¡¯s call while turning on the bedsidemp.


    ¡¯What happened?¡¯ She mouthed to Lu Chen who just finished his call on his side.


    "The police have yet to finalize if it was a murder or homicide. But it was confirmed that Pei Ji Huang¡¯s really dead. His body was found by hispany¡¯s security guard in the underground garage of his office." Lu Chen summarized the brief report that Lu Shao told him.


    Xiu Mei wanted to open her mouth again when Lu Chen¡¯s phone rang to life for the second time. Both a.d.u.l.ts darted towards his phone with Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s name shing on the screen.


    Xiu Mei was baffled. Why was her second brother suddenly calling Lu Chen at this time of the night?


    Lu Chen answered the phone.


    "Hello?"


    "I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ve already been informed about what happened to Pei Ji Huang." Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s voice sounded on the other line.


    "I am." Lu Chen paused briefly for a second. "Is his death connected to what¡¯s happening in the government?"


    "That¡¯s what we¡¯re currently looking at. As far as we¡¯re informed, aside from handling important government projects and being the Prime Minister¡¯s son-inw, he wasn¡¯t in any way connected to anyone inside the government. I¡¯m actually suspecting if this was a conflict of interest in the business."


    "I¡¯ll look it up on my side if that¡¯s a possibility. Any movements after his death?"


    "Still nothing. It¡¯s just been an hour so I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll pick it up that fast if there are changes. I¡¯m looking up at his projects right now to see if there¡¯s some link between him and someone from our suspected list. I leave it to you connecting the dots on the business side since that¡¯s your area."


    "I know."


    As soon as their conversation ended, it was only then that Lu Chen finally noticed Xiu Mei¡¯s nk stare. Her eyes narrowed at him before she started mouthing words to him again.


    ¡¯What was that?¡¯ are her mouthed words.

 Chapter 194 - Uneasy

    <h4>Chapter 194 - Uneasy</h4>


    It was absolute chaos. Nope, not the country. Xiu Mei¡¯s mind, that is.


    And nope, it wasn¡¯t because Pei Ji Huang is dead.


    ...Okay, maybe a tiny weeny bit probably. But definitely not that much.


    What truly brought her mind into chaos was this handsome looking, loving, cold, and workaholic husband and boss of hers in front of her. The one who is holding his phone tightly in his hand and his expression turning stiff the longer she stared at him. Oh, yes. The one namely Lu Chen that is.


    It almost felt like her eyes were magnified in the dark because she wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion or not but is Lu Chen¡¯s lip twitching lightly right now?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes grew colder. First, because Lu Chen kept his mouth shut when she asked him a question. Second, his expression and small actions clearly show her that this wonderful husband of hers is on the verge of not bing one very soon.


    Which one, you ask? The wonderful or the husband?


    Xiu Mei shrugged. Who knows. Maybe both?


    He¡¯s not only wonderful. He¡¯s a really great secret keeper too. Because it seems like he and her second brother had already made an alliance of keeping every secret from her. On normal days, she would have been alright with it.


    But right now... it seems like her palm is getting quite itchy again. She wondered if her husband is itchy about being hit as well?


    Lu Chen, who waspletely unaware of her wife¡¯s... unparalleled thoughts at the moment, felt guilt-ridden when he chose to keep his mouth shut when Xiu Mei asked what they were talking about. He felt that it wasn¡¯t the right time to let her know about it at all. And now, the seed of doubt was nted at the worst time possible.


    "I can¡¯t exin it to you right now." He said upfront. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes twitched at his resolve, at the same time, she felt slightly better when she realized that Lu Chen chose not to lie to her but instead, he was direct with his words that he wouldn¡¯t tell her about it at all.


    She bit her lip as the two of them fell into a staring contest. Ultimately, she gave up pushing him and sighed in defeat. It would have been better if she could talk at the moment. Arguing with Lu Chen like this is simply useless.


    How can she even bombard him with her opinions and thoughts if she¡¯s unable to make a sound? And Xiu Mei meant that in a literal way.


    And then she remembered Lu Chen telling herst night that she made a sound...a m.o.a.n.


    Her brows furrowed in dissatisfaction. So what now? Does she have to get it on with Lu Chen just so she could regain her ability to speak?


    Xiu Mei was filled with frustration. She didn¡¯t even notice that all her shifting moods can be seen on her face as clear as a day. Lucky for her, the man beside her was very tolerant of her changing moods. Understanding that she was quite sensitive at this time, he kept silent all throughout and waited for her to sort out her thoughts.


    He couldn¡¯t stop himself from extending his hand to stroke her back, a simple action to soothe her unstable emotions. Xiu Mei felt the warm hand behind her back and all her thoughts went into aplete pause.


    She raised her head and met the man¡¯s pampering gaze,pletely different from the stubborn expression he put on for her a while ago. Now, he was looking at her as if she was some kind of baby that he had to pacify and appease by this gesture.


    She sighed. Lu Chen... he¡¯s bing more and more familiar with her habits ah? Even his method of coaxing was bing better and better. He was really picking up and having a better understanding of her personalitytely.


    And so, Xiu Mei waved the white g first. Grabbing her tablet on the bedside table, she pressed a series of letters on her screen before holding it in front of Lu Chen.


    ¡¯Fine. I won¡¯t push you anymore today. But! You have to promise me. That you???ll tell it to me maybe in the future, and that you have to keep yourself safe.¡¯ are the words being reflected on Lu Chen¡¯s eyes.


    His mouth parted slightly as he read thest sentence before he shifted his eyes to his wife¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t look angry or annoyed at him anymore. This time, her expression was serious and sincere.


    ...to keep yourself safe...Lu Chen felt warm as he read those words again. Regardless, he still felt guilty because he was actually jumping into the danger. Keeping himself safe is quite a shaky promise that he didn¡¯t know if he should promise.


    When he didn¡¯t react to her written words, Xiu Mei pushed the tablet closer to Lu Chen in an attempt to get a response from him. Of course, she won¡¯t let him not say anything this time. She¡¯s not exactly benevolent when ites to these kinds of things.


    This time, Lu Chen wrapped her soft hand with his. Looking straight into her eyes, his eyes quivered ever so slightly which quickly disappeared for a split second.


    "I promise."


    A smile crawled up on Xiu Mei¡¯s face as she expressed her satisfaction with his answer.


    ¡¯Good.¡¯ She mouthed.


    She took back her hand that he was holding before climbing off the bed to walk over to herptop. Lu Chen was suddenly confused with her movements.


    He nced at the window and knew that it was nowhere near morning yet. He stood up and followed behind her. He saw her open the word doc.u.ment and started typing some familiar words that he had seen quite a few times in the past.


    It was a letter of condolence.


    He finally recalled that Xiu Mei was always the one who types this kind of letter for him before. She was very prompt in sending this to him because she would always be done an hour after they receive the news of the passing of a partner or someone they¡¯ve worked with before.


    So this time, she must have subconsciously thought that she should be the one to write it this time as well.


    "Wife," He halted her movements by putting his hand over hers that was typing the words. Xiu Mei slightly raised her head and looked behind her.


    "I¡¯ll do this." And then he turned her chair around so he could make her look at him properly. "You¡¯re on a break, so I should be the one doing this. Or Lu Shao or your assistant." He exined.


    Xiu Mei blinked. A secondter, she nodded hesitantly while listening to Lu Chen¡¯s exnation. Seeing her so agreeable, he pulled her up and nudged her towards the bed.


    "Wife, it¡¯s still pretty early. So you should just continue sleeping, okay?"


    Xiu Mei slowly nodded her head in response. After lying down on the bed, Lu Chen pulled the nket over her shoulders before dropping a kiss on her temple.


    "Sweet dreams, my wife." He murmured in her ear before he pulled away and walked over to herptop where she was working a while ago. After looking back to her sleeping figure, Lu Chen smiled before facing theptop screen and started moving his hands.


    He was so focused on wanting his wife to rest and sleep that he didn¡¯t even notice the subtle change in Xiu Mei¡¯s mood.


    Under the nkets, Xiu Mei¡¯s hands fisted tightly as she tried her best to suppress her emotions.


    No, she wasn¡¯t angry at Lu Chen for convincing her to sleep instead of working.


    She was angry at herself.


    Lu Chen¡¯s words were like a p to reality for Xiu Mei. She knew that it wasn¡¯t his intention, but when he stopped her from working on the letter of condolence, which was originally her task, and then he exined that he could do it or Lu Shao instead of her, she felt a sting in her heart.


    It was as if she was now so useless. She knew that both father and son just want her to rest but for a person who had been working for many years, it was already like a habit.


    Something that was very normal for her to do. But right now, she had to temporarily give up the majority of her tasks to her colleagues. A lot of stuff that she could normally perform, she had to hand it over to her assistant.


    Just because she was on break¡ªNo, the real reason she was on break was because of her sudden loss of voice right now. She¡¯s unable to perform her duties properly as Lu Chen¡¯spany secretary. And now, even the basic task of writing a letter is given to somebody else.


    Xiu Mei fell silent.


    Had she really be that useless?

 Chapter 195 - A dream?

    <h4>Chapter 195 - A dream?</h4>


    The next day, Xiu Mei woke up and saw Lu Chen¡¯s figure beside her. She could faintly see the traces ofck of sleep under his eyes and thought that he must have slept reallyte after their conversation hours ago.


    She slowly rose from the bed trying not to wake Lu Chen up from his slumber. And then she sat at the edge of the bed, her head looking at the foldedptop on the table at the corner of the room. She was reminded of her depressing thoughts a few hours ago and fell into a trance for a few seconds. But she didn¡¯t let herself dwell on it too long.


    She shook her head and returned to her senses. She finished her morning routine before waking up her husband on the bed. Even though she very much wants him to sleep a little longer, she still knows his personality better.


    He¡¯ll surely be grumpy if he oversleeps andes inte to work especially after not going to the office for a long while.


    ...And then he¡¯ll definitely be in a bad mood the whole day. So basically, Xiu Mei is also sparing her colleagues from the wrath of the emperor.


    She opened her mouth but paused when she remembered that she couldn¡¯t speak. She grew silent for a few seconds before reaching out and tapped him on his shoulder.


    A secondter, Lu Chen finally opened his eyes and their eyes met. Xiu Mei subconsciously shed a smile at him, while gently stroking his shoulder.


    ¡¯Good morning.¡¯ She mouthed, greeting him. Lu Chen didn¡¯t respond and stared at her in a daze. She chuckled lightly at his adorable morning expression and weed his stare. It was then when Lu Chen tugged her hand on his shoulder, pulling her closer to him.


    She was caught off guard. Then the next thing she knew, her back was lying on the soft bed again and he pressed her underneath his body. She couldn¡¯t even react.


    He bowed his head andpped her lips in between his. Sucking. Licking. Tasting.


    And then he pried her mouth open, ravaging her insides. His hand that was intertwined with hers squeezed her lightly.


    Xiu Mei felt lost to the sudden turn of events, but she could only surrender to the onught of Lu Chen¡¯s attacks. At first, she tried to push him away on instinct when she was suddenly pressed to the bed, but her movements paused when she slowly got intoxicated by his kisses.


    She faintly remembered her conversation with Mrs.Kim about how men are more amorous in the morning. Before she could think about it any longer, Lu Chen caught her tongue in between his teeth and trapped it around his.


    Her body trembled and became more sensitive to his touches. Her nails dug lightly on his back when Lu Chen deepened the kiss even more.


    She quivered when she felt his hand slip underneath her clothes, making direct contact with her skin. She thought his hand was scalding hot, almost burning her skin and making her insane. She could clearly feel something hard being pressed on her body.


    Her toes curled up when he stopped on the softness in her chest. He lightly squeezed it, before slipping underneath her bra to squeeze it again directly for the second time. Xiu Mei¡¯s guard crumbled in front of him, as she couldn¡¯t stop herself from m.o.a.ning lightly at his actions.


    His kiss traveled down to her neck, while he sucked and left marks along the way. She suddenly felt cold and when she subconsciously looked down at herself, she finally realized that her pajamas were already unbuttoned. Lu Chen lifted her back slightly, unsping her bra loose. And without hesitation, he pushed her bra upwards revealing her heaving chests bare for him to see.


    She saw Lu Chen¡¯s eyes darkened and let out a deep growl under his breath. Her chest heaving up and down from her ragged breathing was like a catalyst making him even crazier.


    "Wife," He uttered with his deep and hoarse voice.


    He lowered his head and caught her other chest in his mouth while the other one is being taken care of by his hand.


    A spark ran down all throughout her body and it was as if some fireworks exploded in her mind as she felt that unfamiliar sensation with his actions. Her back arched unconsciously while Lu Chen sucked her chest as if he was milking it. He even left his traces on her chest, before moving to the other one to take care of it.


    Xiu Mei turned mad as her head twisted left to right on the pillow. She held onto the sheets tightly as she grew more confused and lost. She didn¡¯t know where to put her hands or what she needs to do. All she could think of right now were Lu Chen¡¯s saliva and heat being transferred to her. She subconsciously bit her lips.


    "Baby..." He murmured, before raising his head once again and targeting her mouth for the nth time. He wasn¡¯t finished ravaging her mouth when he opened his mouth again.


    "Let me make you feel better." Was his words. The words didn¡¯t fall into Xiu Mei¡¯s ears at all.


    His warm breath and burning touch were enough to turn her insane while lying on that bed. Before she could even take a second to catch her breath, Lu Chen¡¯s hand started to go downwards.


    Because she was only wearing her pajama shorts, she easily sensed his hands touching her thighs. And from there, he started to go upwards, under her shorts and then he lightly pulled on her underwear on her waist.


    Her reaction was to subconsciously close her legs, but Lu Chen beat her to it. He slipped his knee in between hers, giving his hand enough ess to her lower body. Finally, his hand stopped in between her legs.


    "Mhmmm, my baby¡¯s excited." He slightly chuckled as soon as he felt that the cloth was slightly moist. He started rubbing her hidden ce while sucking the skin on her neck again.


    As soon as she felt the heat through the cloth of her most sensitive ce, Xiu Mei gasped and shuddered. This was way too unfamiliar for her and so, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from m.o.a.ning. And then she bit on Lu Chen¡¯s shoulder Her broken m.o.a.n registered in Lu Chen¡¯s ears. His hand that was already rubbing the slightly damp cloth stopped.


    She was still under his spell when all his movements halted. The other hand that was squeezing her chest stiffened while he suddenly pulled away from her skin staring down at her from above.


    His expression that was full of desire and craziness vanished and was reced by a look of surprise and disbelief as he stared at her face. Xiu Mei looks at him in confusion, though her expression was aplete opposite of her thoughts.


    Because of Lu Chen¡¯s performance, she became aroused and her expression was one tinged with l.u.s.t and desire. Seeing this, Lu Chen¡¯sst strand of reason was barely hanging by a thread. He closed his eyes as he tried to suppress his desire for this woman under him.


    He took a deep breath and rose from the bed. He cursed himself inwardly as he finally returned to his senses.


    Shit. He almost took her. Lu Chen massaged his aching temples as he finally realized that he wasn¡¯t dreaming at all.


    When he first opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was his wife¡¯s gentle smile as she woke him up from his sleep. He thought that it was just a dream, and just like any other dreams, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from ravaging her.


    And so, he did.


    He pressed her underneath him and tasted her soft and tempting lips that were way tastier than any other foods in the world. It was way better than the food that his wife was cooking for him either.


    Thinking that it was all just a dream, he did all the perverted things that he wanted to do with her. His true thoughts and desire hidden from his wife.


    If only Xiu Mei knew how much he wanted her. How much he wanted to ravage her all night long until she couldn¡¯t get up. How much he wanted her to only just think of him. To lock her up. To hide her away from the people who wanted to hurt her. To everyone.


    Lu Chen wanted to just keep her to himself. But he won¡¯t.


    Because she will be scared and she won¡¯t want to be caged. And so, he could only suppress his obsessive thoughts. The only time he could show this side of himself was in his dreams.


    Xiu Mei would always appear in his dreams every night, and in his dreams, she looked like herself. Lovable. Adorable. And tempting.


    Since he knew it was just a dream, he thought that maybe, he could do all the things he wanted to do to her right here. And so, unbeknownst to anyone, Lu Chen had already ravaged his wife in his dreams many times.

 Chapter 196 - Normal Man

    <h4>Chapter 196 - Normal Man</h4>


    The half-asleep human beast stared in a daze at the woman below him after feeling some small pain on his shoulder from being bitten by the woman below him. He blinked before he finally returned to his senses and realized what was going on.


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief for a split second before he got off his wife¡¯s body and sat at the edge of the bed. He sat there in silence for a full five seconds looking at Xiu Mei flushed red and heaving on the bed before he moved away his eyes on her tempting figure.


    He gulped nervously as he silently cursed in his mind.


    Dammit! How could he confuse reality from a dream?


    Shit! Just yesterday night, he held himself back from attacking her, and now that it¡¯s morning, he was already on the verge of taking her!!


    He mentally pped himself for being a beast even in his dream. If it weren¡¯t for him being such a beast to Xiu Mei in his dreams, then this wouldn¡¯t have happened.


    Lu Chen mentally questioned his long lost self-control that he was so proud of before every time a woman tries to climb on his bed. Look at how the situation turned into. Now, he was the one trying to climb on his wife¡¯s bed to seduce her.


    His fully woken up senses didn¡¯t stop his little brother from softening at all. Rather, it turned hard, even more, when he nced at Xiu Mei¡¯s disheveled figure on the bed. Her top was almostpletely torn by him including her underwear. Her pajama shorts were also pushed up by him revealing Xiu Mei¡¯s milky white legs that look especially enchanting to his eyes.


    He felt his head slightly ache as he realized the current situation.


    Lu Chen finally realized that men in love are truly like sweet torture ah. What abstinence? What self-control? All those are gone in front of the woman he loves in front of her.


    He was simply a normal man thoroughly in love with Xiu Mei that even in his dreams, he was ravaging her like a beast in heat. In short? A normal man in heat. No shit.


    Lu Chen bent down and pulled a nket over Xiu Mei¡¯s exposed body. And then he walked over to the nearby cab and grabbed his shirt that Xiu Mei could change into. He coughed lightly to clear his throat before opening his mouth.


    "Here." He handed his shirt to her while avoiding looking at her figure.


    Xiu Mei who waspletely fl.u.s.tered with the current situation didn¡¯t decline Lu Chen¡¯s offer of clothes and quickly hid her arm underneath the nket. Even with the nket covering her, it still felt like she was still bare and n.a.k.e.d in front of Lu Chen.


    She bit her lip nervously as she med Lu Chen. Wasn¡¯t it his fault that she looks like this right now...


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t say anything anymore and locked himself up in the bathroom. The sound of the shower sounded right after he got in and so Xiu Mei, who was still lying on the bed, couldn¡¯t stop herself fromughing after she heard that.


    Looks like he¡¯s getting his retribution ah. A cold shower in the morning. Seems terrible. Heh.


    While her husband is stuck in the bathroom as of the moment, Xiu Mei propped herself up on the bed making the nket covering her body slide down revealing her almost n.a.k.e.d upper body.


    She looked down and saw that some buttons of her pajamas were missing. She felt her face turn hot once again.


    ....Looks like her husband applied too much force when he was undressing her. Xiu Mei silently noted this in her mind for future reference. Following that line of thought, she couldn¡¯t help but get nervous once the two of them really reach that stage. She wondered whether she had to start exercising again very soon to improve her stamina.


    Xiu Mei snapped out of her thoughts and started smoothening her clothes. She pulled down her bra and sped it properly. She removed her top and changed into the shirt that Lu Chen handed to her and pulled down her shorts properly.


    She stood in front of the mirror and was satisfied with her decent look. The shirt was a bit oversized on her body but it looked fine. She grabbed her phone and was preparing to leave the room to prepare Lu Qiang¡¯s lunch when Lu Chen just finished his shower. He doesn¡¯t have many routines in the morning when he goes to work and so he quickly exited the bathroom after his shower.


    He stopped in his tracks when he saw Xiu Mei¡¯s appearance again. She was wearing the shirt that he gave to her before he showered. He just randomly pulled out a shirt since he was still a bit confused at that time but seeing that oversized shirt on his wife¡¯s body, Lu Chen felt like his blood that turned cold was turning hot again.


    Now that he thinks about it, didn¡¯t it say on the inte that women who wear their lover¡¯s clothes look very tempting in the eyes of their lovers?


    Lu Chen bit his lips as he realized his blunder. He shouldn¡¯t have given her that... Now he¡¯s the one in pain again.


    Seeing that his wife was about to leave the room in that appearance, he quickly stopped her and held her wrist. Xiu Mei turned her head and looked at him in confusion.


    He cleared his throat again in nervousness. "Wife, are you going out in those clothes?"


    ¡¯...?¡¯ Xiu Mei raised her brow in confusion. She lowered her head again to look at her appearance and didn¡¯t find something wrong with it.


    Lu Chen took a deep breath and didn¡¯t answer her. Instead, he dragged her back to the walk-in closet and gave her a new set of clothes from her drawer.


    "Change into this." He simply said. Xiu Mei, still confused at his request reluctantly epted the clothes he was handing over to her. Nevertheless, since he told her to change then there must be really something wrong with her appearance that she couldn¡¯t see?


    After seeing her changed into a new set of clothes, Lu Chen was finally satisfied. If it was just him who would see her in that getup, it would¡¯ve been fine. But she was almost going to wear it today in front of all their employees. Thinking about that, his mood soured and he sighed in relief that he stopped her from going out in that appearance in time.


    After that brief incident in the morning, the two went on with their normal routine. Xiu Mei left first to go downstairs while Lu Chen changed into his suit for work. The big Lu and small Lu arrived at the dining table at the same time. Xiu Mei gave Lu Qiang a few reminders for school before the family of three left the house.


    "See youter, Mom, Dad." Lu Qiang kissed his mother on the cheek before climbing off the car and disappeared into the crowd of children entering the school. After that, the driver started driving to the office to drop off Lu Chen.


    "Remember to call me ifter, okay?" Lu Chen reminded his wife who was going to be alone at home for the first time. Xiu Mei nodded at his words.


    He reached and brushed her hair between his fingers. As soon as they stopped inside the underground garage, Lu Chen picked up his briefcase and was just about to get off when she saw Xiu Mei peeking from the window in a trance.


    He immediately understood her thoughts and proposed a solution.


    "Wife."


    Xiu Mei snapped out from her reverie and looked at Lu Chen. He shed a gentle smile at her while stroking her head.


    "Can you send me some homemade lunchter today?"


    Xiu Mei blinked.


    "You know my habit of forgetting lunch when I¡¯m busy. So, to make sure that I won¡¯t forget it, wouldn¡¯t it be better if you personally deliver me some lunch?"


    "..."


    Lu Chen leaned closer to her face with a smile. "So... let¡¯s eat lunch togetherter. What do you think, wife?"


    A smile finally appeared on Xiu Mei¡¯s face before she nodded. After promising him that she would deliver his lunch to himter, Lu Chen got off the car and went straight to the office to handle some urgent affairs.


    "Do a final proofread for this then send it to Mr.Pei¡¯spany." Lu Chen stated to the two people in front of him. Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant stepped forward and epted the folder containing the letter of condolence before she nodded to the president in response.


    Pei Ji Huang¡¯s death didn¡¯t have so much impact on theirpany since their coboration project with hispany already ended a year ago. So Lu Chen only needed to be concerned over his death if this is rted to the forces that he and the Xiu family are currently investigating on.

 Chapter 197 - Lu Chens suspicions

    <h4>Chapter 197 - Lu Chen''s suspicions</h4>


    Lu Chen quickly dived into his work as soon as he returned to the office. Apart from his scheduled meeting with their important clients in the afternoon, his schedule is mostlypromised of signing paperwork, reading the finalized reports, keeping track of the status of their projects, and other tasks.


    Aside from those, he¡¯d receive calls from his subordinates from time to time about the updates regarding their investigation.


    "I¡¯ve already received Mr. Pei Ji Huang¡¯s autopsy results." Lu Shao announced to him as soon as he entered his office.


    "Give it to me." Lu Chen replied without looking up from reading the papers. After reading the results, he hummed in reply and returned the tablet to his personal secretary.


    "Find out Yu Ming Xi¡¯s transaction for thest five months. Don¡¯t check his personal ounts, investigate the ones that he uses for his secret transactions." Lu Chen instructed.


    "Understood."


    As soon as Lu Shao left the room, Lu Chen finally raised his head and spun his chair to look at the view of the city behind him. His lips pressed into a thin line as he thought about the autopsy results of Pei Ji Huang.


    A blunt force trauma in the head. Internal bleeding on his stomach.


    So someone really murdered Pei Ji Huang.


    Lu Chen¡¯s suspicionsy on Yu Ming Xi. Contrary to the rumors about Pei Ji Huang, he was actually quite an honest man. Despite all the powers being offered in front of him as the Prime Minister¡¯s son-inw, Pei Ji Huang didn¡¯t get attracted to the bribes and all.


    He stood on his ground as an honest CEO that was why Lu Chen was more than happy to coborate with him before.


    Though, he couldn¡¯t deny that Pei Ji Huang was also quite stupid. He was the type to easily trust others that¡¯s why before he married Yu ZhenZhen, he was easily fooled by some of his friends into losing his money.


    Lu Chen genuinely thought that Pei Ji Huang¡¯s death is a big loss to hispany. Because it was mainly his honesty and capability as a CEO that he was able to bring hispany to new heights. And he was even almost going to have a breakthrough because hispany is handling several important projects by the government.


    Truly, it is a big loss.


    With Pei Ji Huang¡¯s poprity andpany, Lu Chen couldn¡¯t help but suspect Yu Ming Xi¡¯s involvement in his death. Aside from his favorite style of being too showy and grand with his crimes, Lu Chen suspects that Pei Ji Huang somehow must have found out that Yu Ming Xi was involved in something illegal hence he was killed.


    It¡¯s still a possibility though he didn¡¯t have that much expectation for it to be true. Yu Ming Xi is quite a careful person, or else all his involvement in his grand activities would have been long known to the public if he weren¡¯t that careful.


    And so Lu Chen tried to look at it from a different angle.


    If Yu Ming Xi didn¡¯t kill Pei Ji Huang, then that person must¡¯ve had a personal grudge to Pei Ji Huang. With Pei Ji Huang¡¯s current rtionship with the Prime Minister, no sane person would dare to kill him at the moment just for a petty grudge or revenge.


    Surely, if it was a work of an outsider then that person should be intelligent enough to n to kill him. Lu Chen already had his men confirm that Pei Ji Huang¡¯s name wasn¡¯t on any ¡¯order to kill¡¯ list throughout the underground city. They didn¡¯t even find his name on the international list either so Lu Chen already crossed out the possibility of Pei Ji Huang being assassinated.


    If he wasn¡¯t assassinated, then this one must be a well nned out murder. A crime for passion doesn¡¯t currently fit the picture at all.


    Lu Chen took a deep breath as he quickly got rid of his current thoughts. At least for now, the possibility of his death being nned out can be partially confirmed. All the police needs are to find evidence that his death wasn¡¯t on a whim.


    He resumed working on his papers and didn¡¯t notice that it was almost lunchtime.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei held the well-prepared homemade lunchbox as she climbed out of the car. With her current situation, it would be better if she doesn¡¯t meet a lot of people for now so she decided to ride the elevator from the underground garage.


    She swiped her card to ess the top floor and the lift immediately moved and started going up.


    "Oh my god, Ms.Xiu!!!" Her assistant screamed as soon as the elevator doors opened and she saw her figure inside. Her assistant stood up from her seat and almost jumped on her as soon as she got off the lift.


    She could only smile as a response and willingly epted the hug from her crying assistant.


    "I think I¡¯m going to die from overworking if you don¡¯t return Ms.Xiu!!!" Her assistant immediately startedining as soon as she saw her boss. With the amount of work that she had to cover with Ms. Xiu¡¯s absence, her rtionship with her boyfriend was almost on the edge plus she only realized just now that being able to sleep eight hours a night could even be considered a luxury for working-ss people like her.


    Xiu Mei chuckled without a sound listening to herints. She lightly patted her on the back before breaking their hug. She almostughed when she saw the tears in her assistant¡¯s eyes.


    Aiya, now she somehow feels guilty for making her work so hard ah.


    ¡¯How are you holding up?¡¯ She wrote on her tablet.


    Her assistant sniffed as she read Xiu Mei¡¯s message. She was already informed beforehand about her boss¡¯ current situation so she didn¡¯t ask her about it anymore.


    "Ms.Xiu... will you take me in if my boyfriend and I break up? Waaaahh!!" And once more, she cried in her shoulders again pulling her into a hug.


    Xiu Mei awkwardly patted her in the back as she listened to herints about her rtionship for thest five minutes. Her assistant didn¡¯t even care that they were still in front of the elevator, or that Lu Shao could clearly hear everything and that her voice may be loud enough to be heard from Lu Chen¡¯s office.


    After listening to herints and cries for the whole fifteen minutes, Lu Shao finally stood up and saved Xiu Mei from the clutches of her overworked assistant.


    "No matter how much you want forrade Xiu to take you in, you¡¯ll definitely have to ask for the President¡¯s permission first before anything." Lu Shao casually uttered to the two females. Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant flinched as she remembered that her boss and her final boss(the president) are actually together. And from what she picked up for the past few months, the two of them are currently living together.


    She squealed in excitement. Isn¡¯t that so sweet?! Who would have known that their cold and scary final boss would even live with a woman? The final boss talent in pushing away girls who tried to climb his bed is simplymendable you know! Almost all of them ended up having their own space in front of the newspaper the next day with their pictures all being thrown out of his room.


    And now, who would have expected that thedy boss of Lu Corporation would be thepany¡¯s secretary, Ms. Xiu Mei? Kyaaah!!


    While her mind was flying away into another dimension again, Xiu Mei finally escaped from her assistant¡¯s clutches.


    ¡¯I¡¯ll go first.¡¯ Xiu Mei wrote to Lu Shao as she pointed to Lu Chen¡¯s office. Lu Shao nodded.


    Xiu Mei knocked twice before entering her husband¡¯s office. And there, the first thing that weed her was the stockpile of folders scattered all throughout the table while Lu Chen was lying down on the couch, his eyes closed while his other hand was holding a folder.


    She smiled at the sight of Lu Chen¡¯s rxed position as she thought of how tired he must have been that he took a nap in the middle of the day. It wasn¡¯t his usual habit at all.


    Xiu Mei entered the office with light footsteps and stopped before him. She carefully ced the lunchbox on the table and knelt on the floor near Lu Chen¡¯s face.


    She didn¡¯t have any intention of waking him up at all. He must have been so tired to s.u.mb to sleep at this time of the day.


    She slightly leaned closer as she took a good look at his face. With her close proximity, she could clearly see the dark bags underneath his eyes.


    Xiu Mei pursed her lips as she looked at him in distress.


    She subconsciously reached out to stroke his hair when Lu Chen¡¯s eyes suddenly opened while she was a few inches away from his face.

 Chapter 198 - Back to the office

    <h4>Chapter 198 - Back to the office</h4>


    Xiu Mei distanced herself in reflex as if she was going to escape after getting caught snooping around secretly. But before she could move an inch, Lu Chen¡¯s hand went to the back of her head to stop her movements.


    And so, Xiu Mei was left with no choice but to keep staring at her husband with flushed cheeks. An amused smile appeared at Lu Chen¡¯s drained appearance.


    "You came." Lu Chen blurted out in ecstasy as soon as he saw her wife¡¯s figure in front of him when he woke up from his short nap. He was actually already awake the moment she entered his office, he was on high alert at first but as soon as he smelled that familiar scent in the air, he immediately realized that it was his wife who dropped by.


    Xiu Mei nodded and smiled. Then she pointed at the lunch box behind herself. Seeing this, Lu Chen felt even more ted at his wife¡¯s thoughtfulness. So he couldn¡¯t help himself but slightly rise from the couch and press a kiss on Xiu Mei¡¯s lips.


    He originally wanted to just peck her lips but as soon as he touched her soft lips, he couldn¡¯t help but linger more. He trapped her lower lip in between his before prying open her wife¡¯s slightly parted mouth. He lingered for a few more seconds on her lips until he felt his wife slightly pushing him away by his shoulder.


    Albeit reluctant, Lu Chen released his wife¡¯s lips and suppressed the desire that was threatening to explode again.


    Xiu Mei revealed a pout expression and scowled at him. Lu Chen just found her reaction adorable and chuckled in amus.e.m.e.nt before pinching her cheeks.


    "Sorry, wife. You just looked tastier than the lunch so¡ªOof!" Before Lu Chen could even finish his sentence, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t hesitate to p his mouth shut by lightly hitting his chin.


    She red at the rogue man who was so thick-skinned at this very moment. After bestowing her punishment, she lightly pushed the man¡¯s legs sprawled on the couch, and sat at the little space he made for her. And then, she dismantled the homemade lunchbox with her prepared dishes inside.


    The shameless husband on the other hand couldn¡¯t stand his wife sitting ufortably so he quickly sat up properly beside her, watching her movements. Xiu Meiid out the soup and dishes she prepared in front of Lu Chen and half of the contents of the lunch box were for her to eat.


    The two of them had a serene lunch unlike the usual because, in normal times, Xiu Mei was the one who was doing the talking for the two of them. Lu Chen would drop some egg and pork into her bowl from time to time and he would even make a move of feeding her to tease her.


    The couple was harmoniously enjoying their lunch when they were disturbed by Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant felt like kneeling in repent in front of the President¡¯s cold gaze but she steeled her heart and quickly exined herself.


    "Sorry to interrupt you, Mr.Lu but the Managing Director from the European Branch is currently on the line."


    "What do they need?" Lu Chen clicked his tongue in annoyance for getting interrupted but he quickly changed into his work mode. He fixed his slightly loose tie while listening to Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant.


    "He said it was about the thing that you asked for him before."


    "Then pass him to my line."


    "Understood."


    Xiu Mei and her assistant didn¡¯t understand the context of the conversation but they didn¡¯t delve into it any further. Her assistant quickly left the room to connect the line to the president¡¯s phone while Lu Chen told Xiu Mei to eat on her own first while he takes the call.


    Xiu Mei nodded at his words and watched him pick up the phone and spoke in hushed voices as if he didn¡¯t want it to be heard by her at all.


    But she didn¡¯t let that bother her. Lu Chen¡¯s history of keeping things from her was... quite a long list so she was already got used to this by this point.


    She took a big bite of the meat and chewed on it carefully.


    Seriously, this marriage continuously changed her perspective on a lot of things. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t even know that she could actually stay with someone who constantly hid things from her. If it were her previous self, she would surely scorn her so for tolerating this for this long.


    Still, seeing him being so busy and her colleaguesining about their work, she couldn¡¯t help but feel nostalgic. Even if she hasn¡¯t been working for more than two months, for her, it felt just like a few days ago when she was still sitting on her work station and working on her projects.


    It would be a lie if she said she didn¡¯t mind the overtime hours. But by working...she felt more like herself you know? Because that¡¯s what she truly was for the past four, almost five years here in Lu Corporation.


    Her mood slightly soured as she continued her train of thought. But then she remembered that she was taking a break not only because of her current situation right now but also to figure out whether she would need to leave all of this aside to focus on spending time with Lu Qiang in the near future. Both of which are important to her.


    "What are you thinking about?" Xiu Mei felt someone breathe beside her ear. Her breath hitched as she almost jumped in surprise with the sudden voice beside her.


    But before she could avoid the voice, an arm sn.a.k.e.d around her waist preventing her from doing that. She turned her head and realized that it was Lu Chen who was trying to make fun of her again.


    Her brows furrowed when she saw the amused grin on his face. Lu Chen ignored her res and sat beside her again while picking up his own bowl of food.


    "Wife, open your mouth." And then he lifted his chopsticks holding some meat and rice.


    She didn¡¯t move a single muscle and just kept ring at him. After scowling at him for a few more seconds, in the end, she gave in and opened her mouth.


    Frustrated, she scolded herself for giving in to her husband¡¯s antics. This guy really never missed a chance to tease and flirt with her. Rogue!


    After finishing their lunch, Lu Chen was still scheduled to meet with a couple of departments so Xiu Mei didn¡¯t stay very long at the office. After bidding goodbye to Lu Shao and her assistant, she stepped inside the elevator again to go down to the underground garage.


    However, she didn¡¯t expect to meet an acquaintance while she was on her way leaving the office.


    "Ms.Xiu! It¡¯s been a while." Albert Chen blurted out as soon as he saw her figure inside the lift. Thankfully, he was alone and so no one heard him when he publicized her arrival in thepany.


    Xiu Mei just shed a courteous smile at the man before Albert entered the lift and pressed the ground floor button. Xiu Mei moved to the side maintaining a respectful distance between him and her. Her mind floated back to the report that she received about Albert Chen as well.


    "I heard you were on a long vacation. How was it? Did you travel somewhere far? Africa? London?" Albert babbled as soon as the elevator doors closed. And so, Xiu Mei was quickly bombarded by questions from this colleague of hers.


    She was just about to open her mouth but she paused as soon as she remembered her current situation. Her forehead creased in frustration as she realized that she wouldn¡¯t be able to make him scram or make him shut up at all.


    Xiu Mei was still thinking deeply about how to respond to him without letting him notice her current problem when Albert Chen looked at her again with an inquisitive look.


    "Ms.Xiu? Are you okay?" Albert Chen asked.


    Xiu Mei just shook her head and didn¡¯t open her mouth. She stayed her eyes in front without looking at the man beside her hoping that he will get the message that she wasn¡¯t interested in speaking with him right now at all.


    "Do you want me to bring you to the clinic first?" Albert worriedly asked.


    ...Yep, she remembered that he wasn¡¯t exactly the type to figure that out at all.


    Either that or he¡¯s ying stupid and pretending that he didn¡¯t understand what she was trying to express at all.


    Thankfully, the elevator dinged open once again signaling their arrival to the ground floor. But Albert didn¡¯t make a move of exiting the lift at all.


    "Ms.Xiu, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll bring you to the clinic." Albert uttered as he gestured her to exit the elevator. He even held the doors to stop it from closing.


    Xiu Mei shook her head and gestured for him to go on his way but Albert was clearly very insistent and he didn¡¯t let her go at all.

 Chapter 199 - Calm and Alone

    <h4>Chapter 199 - Calm and Alone</h4>


    The two of them are now caught in a stalemate. Albert Chen insisting to bring her to the clinic while Xiu Mei who is at a loss how she could decline without alerting him about her current situation.


    Aside from her colleagues on the top floor, no one else knows about her current situation. Besides, Albert Chen¡¯s background is still not quite clear for Xiu Mei so she wasn¡¯t entirelyfortable in letting him know that she couldn¡¯t speak.


    She continued ignoring him, but in the end, she came up with a decision. Giving him a dead stare, Albert fell silent as he puzzledly looked at her. And while he was still in confusion, Xiu Mei heartlessly kicked his shin making Albert jolt in pain. While he wasn¡¯t looking, she didn¡¯t hesitate to push him out of the elevator making the man stumble slightly on the floor.


    Without any further ado, she pressed the close button of the lift so that he won¡¯t be able toe in anymore.


    It only took Xiu Mei less than five seconds to arrive at the underground garage and as soon as the elevator doors opened, she sighed in relief after being able to escape from the clutches of that man.


    Gosh, that was truly nervewracking ah! She was almost caught by him. Dang it, she could only pray that hopefully, Albert didn¡¯t notice anything wrong at all.


    ...well, probably aside from the fact that she literally pushed him away after kicking his shins. She held her hands together and prayed. Praying to all gods and goddesses out there to please listen to her prayers.


    After that eventful visit to the office, Xiu Mei went straight home. In the morning, she didn¡¯t feel the absence of the two men at all because she immediately busied herself with preparing Lu Chen¡¯s lunch in the kitchen and after packing them up, she immediately left again to go to the office.


    But now that she was left to spend her time all alone while waiting for them, Xiu Mei felt different. Leaving aside their helpers who are busying themselves with their daily chores, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but sit on a bench just outside the garden door entrance.


    She sat, basking under the blinding and hot sun but instead of feeling heavy, she weirdly felt calmer. She leaned back rxedly while staring in a daze at the small garden, her thoughtspletely nk and empty as if she didn¡¯t need to worry about anything.


    She felt weird because when she was with Lu Chen and Lu Qiang, she feltfortable and safe. And when she was with other people just like a while ago, she felt nervous and slightly anxious. But now that she was left alone, she felt an indescribable calm wash over her entire being.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about anything at all. She was just purely enjoying and appreciating the view in front of her at the moment. The tranquil atmosphere didn¡¯tst very long.


    Xiu Mei was startled when she heard the sound of a light growl behind her. She froze on her seat.


    She didn¡¯t even need to think what it was¡ªwho it was. She was already quite sure that it was either the tigress or the lion who made that sound.


    Fudge! How could she even forget that the two pets are staying here in the garden ah?!


    She held her breath as she listened carefully to the sound and movements behind her.


    Instead of suddenly running away from there, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t move a single muscle at all. She was afraid that she would startle and agitate the two animals if she suddenly runs away in panic. Even though Lu Chen already told her many times before that they were both well trained, she still couldn¡¯t help but remember the fact that these two animals are two of the strongest animals in the jungle.


    The heavy footsteps on the grass made a soft sound behind her and it only stopped when it was already close to her.


    Xiu Mei could clearly feel the warm breath radiating beside her. She peeked at the animal side-eyeing it and saw that it was Lucia. And as soon as she turned to take a peek at the animal, coincidentally, the tigress was also staring at her figure.


    She huped in surprise.


    The animal and human stared at each other like that for who knows how long. Xiu Mei slightly trembled as she fell into a slight panic.


    Lucia won¡¯t suddenly jump on her, won¡¯t she?


    Contrary to her expectations, Lucia didn¡¯t jump nor re at her at all. Xiu Mei was too tensed to notice that the tigress was just simply staring at her without any malicious intent behind it. Lucia lightly kicked the grass before walking slightly past the human woman and jumped on the empty space beside the bench Xiu Mei was sitting on.


    She curled up to fit at the avable space and licked her paws. And then after ncing at Xiu Mei for a second, the tigress buried herself in her front paws almost sprawled out just beside Xiu Mei.


    She was sitting so close to her that Lucia¡¯s fur is already brushing on Xiu Mei¡¯s thighs. Xiu Mei stayed still for a little longer before her hanging heart was put down and epting the idea that Lucia probably didn¡¯t have any intent to hurt or attack her.


    And so, after staring at the napping animal beside her for a few more minutes, Xiu Mei withdrew her gaze and stared at the view of the garden again. She slowly emptied her thoughts and threw away her worries at the back of her head. Even ignoring the presence of the animal beside her.


    She returned to her state of calm from a short while ago. She was in a daze for so long that she only snapped out of her trance when she felt her palm getting slightly wet.


    She lowered her head and looked at the furry animal licking her palm continuously. She only felt scared for a few seconds before she lifted her hand and brushed her hand carefully on the tigress¡¯ head.


    Xiu Mei wondered what was wrong. Hmm, maybe because she was feeling hungry again?


    "Are you hungry?" She whispered to the animal. The tigress softly growled under her breath in response to her question.


    Xiu Mei froze for a second. Not because of the animal¡¯s growl but because of her voice. Her eyes quivered as soon as she heard her voice. She didn¡¯t know she would even be this happy to hear her own voice at all. She smiled, and so her mood lightened up and she didn¡¯t feel scared anymore at the animal before her.


    "Does that growl mean you¡¯re hungry?" Xiu Mei tried tomunicate with Lucia. Lucia softly roared again and so Xiu Mei was still confused with her response.


    So... was she hungry or not hungry?


    It seems like Lucia could understand that this female human didn¡¯t understand her at all. And so, she could only do what she wanted to say right now.


    Lucia jumped off the bench and bit on the hem of Xiu Mei¡¯s clothes. Albeit baffled, Xiu Mei let herself be dragged by the tigress to wherever she wanted her to bring. Her footsteps halted when she saw King¡¯s figure at a distance. The tigress roared again when she saw her stop and so Xiu Mei could only continue her steps surrendering to the stronger one at the moment.


    The tigress only stopped when they arrived under the shade of the tree. Lucia immediately curled up and sat down on the grass while King, the lion, noticed their presence and followed after them.


    As soon as Xiu Mei sat down beside the tigress, she finally noticed the approaching lion and stiffened when he stopped beside her. He ignored her reaction andfortably sat under the shade just like Lucia.


    Xiu Mei finally realized that... she was somehow trapped in between the two animals beside her. She wondered. Her imagination ran wild as hundreds of thoughts floated in her head.


    Is this some kind of n they concocted to eat her up? To make her lower her guard and trap her so they could feast on her??


    ...Okay, maybe she was thinking way too much. Her imagination was running too wildly.


    She sat stiffly under the shade for quite a while, and the two animals sensed her fear very well. But instead of moving away, as if they were in tacit understanding, King and Lucia snuggled closer to her. Because both animals are warm-blooded, the two of them together made her slightly hot.


    But this warmth also calmed her nerves slightly, especially with their actions towards her. She may be scared of them but she wasn¡¯t stupid. She remembers that Lucia and King are an intelligent pair of animals. And the two of them snuggled to her probably in an attempt tofort her.


    She couldn¡¯t help but smile at their actions.


    "Thank you." She murmured. The two animals just yawned beside her as if they didn¡¯t hear her at all. She stared at them for a little longer before she shifted her eyes towards the blue sky while her other hand is stroking Lucia¡¯s fur.


    The sense of calm returned.


    Somehow... she didn¡¯t feel alone anymore.

 Chapter 200 - Almost died

    <h4>Chapter 200 - Almost died</h4>


    Xiu Mei and the two animals stayed like that for almost two hours. She didn¡¯t even notice that she fell asleep halfway through and only woke up when she heard the butler calling for her. King softly roared beside her, as he nudged her with his paw as if he could understand that the butler was calling for her.


    After returning to her senses and her drowsiness slowly disappearing, she stood up and nced at the two animals resting under the tree shade. She smiled before returning inside nodding towards the butler to acknowledge his presence.


    "Young Madame, we already prepared for your afternoon tea and snacks. Do you want us to serve them here in the garden?" The butler stated. Xiu Mei blinked in confusion.


    Did she ask them that she¡¯ll have some afternoon snack?


    ¡¯I don¡¯t remember asking for tea though.¡¯ She wrote as a response.


    "It was the Master who ordered us to prepare for your afternoon snack."


    Master? Lu Chen did?


    She took a look at her phone that she didn¡¯t even know was on silent. She found that Lu Chen did message her almost an hour ago.


    Hubby President: Wife, I told the butler to prepare some snacks there for you. What do you want?


    Hubby President: Wife?


    Hubby President: Are you asleep?


    Hubby President: Well, I just told them to prepare sugar cookies with chamomile tea for your afternoon snack. Will that be fine?


    Hubby President: Contact me when you¡¯re awake. I¡¯ll go home as soon as possible.


    Hubby President: I miss you. I love you.


    Xiu Mei read the consecutive messages with different time stamps on her phone. She couldn¡¯t help but smile especially at thest message. She even felt her heart made a flip as soon as she read those.


    Well, she wouldn¡¯t deny his goodwill at all. She started writing on her tablet again and wrote to the butler to serve the snacks here in the garden. She¡¯ll have some snacks with Lucia and King right here.


    She remembered that the two animals have specified meal times so she couldn¡¯t ask the butler to prepare food for Lucia and King. The butler nodded and returned inside to instruct the helpers.


    Meanwhile, Xiu Mei moved to sit at the nearby garden table and chairs a few steps away from her. After sitting down under the shade of the umbre, she pulled out her phone and read Lu Chen¡¯s messages again before started sending her replies.


    Secretary Wife: Sorry, I was napping.


    Secretary Wife: Thank you for the snacks. I¡¯ll eat them while enjoying the breeze here in the garden.


    Secretary Wife: Do you have anything you want for dinner?


    Secretary Wife: Oh! I, too.


    Xiu Mei read herst reply and she felt her cheeks flush red. This... was the most she could reply to his warm message. She¡¯s still a bit shy you know! She¡¯s not that quitefortable in saying it to him personally, and typing it down as a message was even more embarrassing for her.


    Her afternoon snack was quickly served after sending out her reply so she quickly hid her phone and started enjoying the soft breeze around the garden. She was halfway done eating her snacks when Lucia stood up and started sniffing around her table.


    Xiu Mei chuckled as she thought that the tigress must have been getting hungry. But she couldn¡¯t let her eat ah. Lu Chen ced them on strict meal times so she thought it would be bad if she feeds them secretly without asking him.


    She saw Lucia suddenly put her paws on the table, almost making the table turnover. Xiu Mei was startled and immediately ced her palms on the table in reflex to stop the table from turning over. Xiu Mei may have been able to stop the tragedy from happening but Lucia¡¯s movements didn¡¯t stop there.


    The tigress went straight for the small te of cookies in the middle of the table, extending her paws towards it. Xiu Meipletely forgot about her fear of this tigress and unconsciously stopped her paw from reaching the cookies.


    "No, you¡¯re not allowed to eat that!" She blurted out as she looked at the tigress. Seeing that she was stopped by the human, the tigress suddenly red at Xiu Mei and extended her other paw.


    The tigress didn¡¯t show any signs of giving up, and so Xiu Mei quickly snatched the cookies on the te and stuffed it inside her mouth. She almost choked and coughed at the number of cookies she had put inside her mouth.


    Fudge! She can¡¯t even chew ah!


    Her focus quickly shifted from the tigress to the overstuffed food inside her mouth. Xiu Mei covered her mouth to stop herself from identally spitting out the food and chewed it slowly with great difficulty.


    Lucia felt angry after seeing the food was stolen before her. But her loyalty and training were engraved in her mind and so she could only give up and roar a little loud at Xiu Mei before turning her back and returning to the shade.


    Xiu Mei who froze from terror when she heard her roar, "..."


    Fudge. She thought she was done for ah. She thought Lucia was gonna jump on her and eat her alive, literally.


    Since the tigress already withdrew, she returned her focus on chewing the food that was in her mouth. After chewing for almost more than five minutes, Xiu Mei let out a sigh of relief and quickly gulped down a cup of ck tea urgently to push the food down to her stomach.


    "Fudge, I thought I was going to die." Xiu Mei murmured as she ced her hand on her chest. She thought she was going to die either from choking or from Lucia¡¯s attack. She raised and squinted her eyes at the two animals under the shade and shifted to her empty te. She gulped and let out a deep breath.


    Her thought whirled around her head as she took another sip of ck tea.


    She imagined if someone suddenly intrudes the garden...hah, she wondered if there will be even some bones left.


    She pulled out her phone again. Lu Chen already told her that his schedule for the whole afternoon would be meeting with their clients so she already expected that he won¡¯t be able to quickly respond to her messages.


    Xiu Mei opened her group chat with her girlfriends. She skimmed their messages with them shortly talking about Yu Zhenzhen¡¯s husband¡¯s death. Reading it, she finally remembered this matter and Lu Chen¡¯s call with her second brotherst night. She paused for a few seconds before she started reading the news.


    After reading a couple of reports about Pei Ji Huang, the police have already announced that his death was suspected to be murder. They didn¡¯t publicize much information about the progress of their investigation probably because of Pei Ji Huang¡¯s background as the Prime Minister¡¯s son-inw.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t find out much from reading the news but still, knowing that Pei Ji Huang died and was murdered made her feel a bit scared. Who would dare to kill the Prime Minister¡¯s son-inw right?


    The talk of death reminded her of Wan Wan¡¯s words that night. Xiu Mei could clearly feel the seething anger from Wan Wan while she med her for Ying Yue¡¯s death. She was very sure that Wan Wan would have killed her if she had survived being vited by the men, and she would put her under different torture until she¡¯s already satisfied enough.


    Speaking of Wan Wan, how did she even show up at the hotel that morning?


    If she didn¡¯t show up in front of her that morning, she even wondered whether she¡¯ll be even kidnapped and all. Besides, wouldn¡¯t it be more suspicious for Wan Wan if she left traces of pieces of evidence that she showed up before her before she was kidnapped?


    Xiu Mei returned to all that happened that morning. Her movements paused when she recalled Wan Wan¡¯s expression back then.


    No, Wan Wan didn¡¯t identally found her in that hotel. She knew where she was in the first ce. And she deliberately showed up in front of her before she kidnapped her because she wanted to see her reaction. And her continued action of pushing her away must have triggered her anger even more.


    Xiu Mei recalled all the ces she bumped into Wan Wan in City S. All the times she saw Wan Wan was when she was alone. The second time, she came after Xiu Mei finished her brief meeting with her colleagues that night.


    And the first time...? Wasn¡¯t that around the cafe where shest ate with Albert before they split up? Since she didn¡¯t wander that far after eating because she was too full from eating and drinking tea.


    Hmm? Weird. Xiu Mei finally noticed that something was wrong. No, Wan Wan didn¡¯t know she was there. Someone must have told her where she was.


    And there¡¯s only one person that she was with at both times before Wan Wan appeared before her.


    Albert Chen.

 Chapter 201 - Lu Qiangs second school day

    <h4>Chapter 201 - Lu Qiang''s second school day</h4>


    Xiu Mei rested her hand on her palm as she realized this anomaly.


    Albert Chen? Is he and Wan Wan working together?


    Or was it just a coincidence? It¡¯s not like Albert would have known that she was still around the area the first time they ate and split up in the cafe back then... still, she couldn¡¯t shrug off this bothering feeling because he was the onlymon link that she could think of.


    Especially on the day where she was forced to stay at the hotel. How would Wan Wan even know that she would be there when she would always tell her that she was always busy.


    Xiu Mei hummed while she fell into contemtion.


    The afternoon passed smoothly and it was already the time for her to pick up Lu Qiang from primary school. Lu Chen was bombarded with work as soon as he returned to the office so Xiu Mei already expected that he will be dyed today. And so, Xiu Mei went to Lu Qiang¡¯s school with the driver to pick him up.


    On the other hand, the mentioned child is staring outside the window with a bored gaze. He tried to listen to his teacher for thest fifteen minutes but realizing that it was something he had already learned before, his interest quickly decreased and he opted to just watch the figures ying outside.


    He would nce at his smartwatch from time to time, eager to see his mother again.


    "Psst, Lu Qiang." A whisper sounded behind him. Lu Qiang nced to look at his ssmate sitting behind him. He raised one of his brows as a response.


    "Do you want to y at the arcade after ss?" Xing Lu Yan replied in a hushed voice, scared that the teacher in front would catch them not listening.


    Arcade after ss?


    Lu Qiang wanted to decline at first. Look, he was more excited to return to his mother¡¯s arms okay?


    But then, he recalled his ssmates¡¯ chat this morning about how they all went to the arcade and park to y after ss. Admittedly, Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t at all interested in the lessons being taught in their grade. Because his lessons during his homeschool were way more advanced than what was being taught in school but Lu Qiang couldn¡¯t deny the fact that he enjoyed meeting his ssmates and ying with them during Physical Education ss.


    And right now, hearing the word ¡¯arcade¡¯, he felt his ears perk up because he hadn¡¯t gone there before at all.


    Lu Qiang bit his lower lip, torn on how to decide. But his mother promised that she would pick him up after school though...


    "What about tomorrow?" Lu Qiang proposed. If he couldn¡¯t go today, then tomorrow should still be fine.


    His deskmate, Bai Yi Yi who was eavesdropping on their conversation butted in.


    "Tomorrow it¡¯s basketball day."


    "Basketball day?"


    Well, that sounds fine too. Then he could just go to the arcade with them next time.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll go tomorrow."


    "Cool! Then let¡¯s y basketball tomorrow." Xing Lu Yan eximed in a loud voice,pletely forgetting that they were in the middle of the ss.


    "XING. LU. YAN." The teacher slowly spoke his name after making a racket in the middle of his discussion. The three children quickly paused their chat and looked in front of the ssroom again.


    "Oops!" Xing Lu Yan quickly covered his loud mouth and gestured a peace sign to the teacher as if to apologize for his actions. "Hehehe, sorry teacher."


    The teacher eyed him for a few seconds before resuming his discussion. The other ssmates giggled in a hushed tone before listening to their teacher again.


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t turn his head to Xing Lu Yan but replied in a low voice, "I don¡¯t know how to y basketball though."


    If they wanted to y guns or online games, he could definitely y that but basketball isn¡¯t exactly one of the things that his father taught to him.


    "Don¡¯t worry we¡¯ll teach you! It¡¯s quite easy actually." Bai Yi Yimented as he pretended to read their textbook.


    Xing Lu Yan and Bai Yi Yi is one of the few ssmates that Lu Qiang got close with yesterday. Even though he started attending the sses quitete, his ssmates were particrly weing to new kids. Especially the girls.


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t expect the girls to suddenly start giving him snacks in the middle of their break and annoy him to y with them. If it weren¡¯t for her mother¡¯s reminders to don¡¯t fight with your ssmates and to always be gentle with girls, he would have surely already spouted intellectual words that could probably bring these little girls to tears. That is if they understand what he was saying.


    And so, Lu Qiang stuck close to the boys throughout the day yesterday and today to stop the girls from clinging onto him. Actually, the reason he got close to these two was that they helped him yesterday when Lu Qiang was suddenly cornered by some big guy during their break.


    Lu Qiang wasn¡¯t intimidated at all. Of course, he was someone who already handled guns at such a young age and he is being trained by his father¡¯s subordinates with martial arts. Still, his mother¡¯s reminders take priority. He was sure that his mother would be sad if she knows that he gets into a fight with someone on his first day in school and so Lu Qiang just stood there, listening to the big guy yelling some nonsense as if to scare him which is not working that well either.


    It was Xing Lu Yan and Bai Yi Yi who appeared and tricked those guys that they had called the teachers. The big guy and his followers immediately got scared and ran away after that. But then, he¡¯s Lu Qiang, the son of Lu Chen. So he didn¡¯t easily let them off after what they did. And he¡¯s doing it in a way that his mother won¡¯t know.


    After Lu Qiang asked them what were the names of the bullies there, he sat down with his tablet on one side and started hacking their phones and knowing their information. And then after searching for some video recording of their bullying of other children, he didn¡¯t hesitate to send it all to their parents and school administration for investigation.


    The two children were watching in awe beside him as Lu Qiang yed with his tablet. And that¡¯s when the two of them decided to shamelessly hug the thigh of this genius ssmate of theirs.


    The school bell rang as a sign that the sses were now dismissed. After saying goodbye to their teachers, the children started packing up their things.


    "Don¡¯t forget to bring your change tomorrow so we could y." Bai Yi Yi reminded him.


    "I know."


    "Then what should we do the day after tomorrow?!" Xing Lu Yan eximed. A few of their male ssmates heard their conversation and started raising their suggestions. Since it was just a children¡¯s conversation, they weren¡¯t as sensitive as high schoolers and a.d.u.l.ts who hates it when people try to butt in someone¡¯s conversation.


    And as easily as that, Lu Qiang stared at the after-ss schedule that his ssmates decided on for this week and next week. He blinked as he wondered whether his parents would allow him to hang out with them daily after-ss like this.


    Should he ask his mother?


    Lu Qiang stood at the entrance and diligently waited for his mother¡¯s vehicle toe. There were guards stationed at the entrance and they also have a parking lot where the school service and other vehicles could park to safely pick up their children.


    After waiting for a few minutes, he finally saw the familiar car entering the school premises and parking the car. The backdoor opened revealing his mother¡¯s figure.


    "Mom!" He jumped down from the steps and started running towards his mother. His mother quickly pulled him into a hug while peppering him with kisses.


    ¡¯Did you have a nice day in school today?¡¯ Xiu Mei wrote.


    Lu Qiang nodded. After taking a quick scan of her son¡¯s appearance, she quickly brought him back to the car. Lu Qiang started telling his day to his mother, as usual, skipping and beautifying the other parts where he thought that his mother might get sad or angry. It¡¯s not like his mother would know that it wasn¡¯t all true. Besides, based on his father¡¯s reaction yesterday, he was more than willing to help him cover-up to not make his mother sad.


    As soon as they arrived home, the little kid changed out of his uniform and started unpacking his homework. After checking his tablet for notes, Lu Qiang finally remembered his promise with his friends to y with them tomorrow. He brought his stuff to the living room where his mother was waiting for him there.


    "Mom,"


    "?"


    "Tomorrow, can I y with my ssmates after ss?"

 Chapter 202 - Unknown Thoughts

    <h4>Chapter 202 - Unknown Thoughts</h4>


    "Tomorrow, can I y with my ssmates after ss?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s movements halted as she turned to look at her son. She stared at him for a few moments before she returned to her senses, quickly grabbing the tablet. Glee apparent on her face as she excitedly typed her words.


    ¡¯Are you going to y at school?¡¯ Xiu Mei asked.


    Lu Qiang stopped for a second to think. "My ssmates and I will y basketball so I think we¡¯re going to y at school."


    He faintly remembers seeing a court when he was roaming around the school yesterday. He assumed that they will be ying there with his friends and ssmates.


    Xiu Mei pursed her lips as she thought about it. She thought whether she should ask for Lu Chen¡¯s thoughts first before allowing him but then, he did give her free reign on Lu Qiang¡¯s activities. Besides, spending time with his ssmates like ying basketball will be a good experience for her son. Since that was the reason why they enrolled him in a primary school in the first ce¡ªso Lu Qiang could mingle with kids the same as him and so he could grow up and experience a normal childhood.


    After thinking for a couple of seconds, she finally allowed him.


    ¡¯Okay.¡¯ She wrote. But before Lu Qiang could celebrate, she gave him a curfew to follow if he wanted to be allowed to y with his ssmates in the future.


    ¡¯But you can only y for two hours, and then you have to go home. Understood?¡¯


    Lu Qiang smiled and nodded. "I promise, Mom! I¡¯ll definitely go home after ying for 2 hours."


    After the two reached their agreement, Lu Qiang started working on his homework while Xiu Mei sat beside him watching him work on his assignments. The two of them harmoniously stayed like that for a short while before Xiu Mei left for the kitchen and started preparing their dinner.


    Lu Chen will being home anytime soon and surely, he had a very long day so she wanted him to just rx as soon as he got home. They heard the front door open. Xiu Mei nced behind her and saw Lu Chen¡¯s figure entering the door.


    "I¡¯m home." Lu Chen muttered while still removing his shoes. Xiu Mei approached his figure and so Lu Chen subconsciously opened his arms and pulled her for a hug as soon as she was within his reach.


    "I¡¯m home, my wife." Lu Chen whispered as he pressed a kiss on her head. Xiu Mei let herself be hugged as she pressed a kiss on Lu Chen¡¯s cheek as a response. They didn¡¯t stay like that for very long.


    Xiu Mei grabbed his stuff and wrinkled suit to the living room while Lu Chen loosened the tie around his neck. He walked over to where his son was sitting and looked over his shoulder to see his homework.


    "Dad." Lu Qiang greeted.


    "Mhm."


    Xiu Mei tugged Lu Chen¡¯s sleeve and showed him her tablet. ¡¯Our son will be ying basketball with his friends tomorrow.¡¯


    Lu Chen could already imagine Xiu Mei¡¯s proud tone while reading what she wrote. But his brows jumped in surprise. His son was going to his first hang out with his friends on his third day of school? Basketball? As far as he knows, Lu Qiang was never thought with other sports aside from martial arts.


    He nced at his son who was also staring at him as if he was waiting for his response, even though it wasn¡¯t really needed.


    Lu Chen chuckled as he stroked his son¡¯s hair.


    "Well, enjoy yourself with your friends tomorrow." He uttered in a gentle tone. Lu Qiang¡¯s eyes twinkled, nodded at his father¡¯s words.


    "Then I¡¯ll go up first to change." Lu Chen said picked up his other stuff and went upstairs.


    After eating their dinner, and after Lu Qiang finished his homework, Xiu Mei went with Lu Qiang to his room. While her son was taking his night shower, she packed up his clothes that he would need to bring tomorrow.


    Lu Chen entered the room while she was still folding her son¡¯s clothes.


    "Do you need my help?"


    Xiu Mei shook her head and carefully ced the folded clothes on the carpeted floor.


    ¡¯You should go take a rest first. You must be so tired today.¡¯ She wrote.


    Lu Chen sat beside his wife and pulled her into his arms. He grabbed the unfolded cloth and started folding it just like what his wife was doing.


    "I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just the usual stuff. Besides, we¡¯ll still have to tell bedtime stories to Lu Qiang tonight."


    ¡¯Okay.¡¯ Xiu Mei mouthed after staring at him for a few seconds. This time, she couldn¡¯t hide her emotions very well from Lu Chen¡¯s eyes. He saw a trace of distress on her eyes for a split second before it disappeared on Xiu Mei¡¯s face.


    He watched his wife¡¯s back silently as she carefully packed up Lu Qiang¡¯s clothes inside his bag so that it won¡¯t get wrinkled tomorrow. His thoughts unknown to anyone inside the room. After that, they tucked their son to bed while Lu Chen read him his bedtime stories before withdrawing to go back to their room.


    Xiu Mei did her usual routine and saw Lu Chen leaning on the headboard still working on hisptop aftering out of the shower. He looked so busy and focused on what he was doing so she didn¡¯t disturb him and sat silently beside him.


    She took a peek at what project he was doing and saw that he was reading the financial report for this year. She nced at his serious face for a moment and back at the graphs on the screen as if she was thinking about something. She bit her lower lip and distracted herself before she could continue with her depressing thoughts.


    She picked up her phone and started chatting with her girlfriends. It was the very first time that the two of them didn¡¯t talk with each other after staying like that for so long.


    Though, Xiu Mei still couldn¡¯t help but nce at his screen from time to time as she felt itchy in helping him with some of his work even though she wasn¡¯t allowed to. After what seemed like a long while, Lu Chen finally shut down hisptop and went to the shower. Xiu Mei nced at the bathroom door for a moment before withdrawing her gaze.


    Xiu Mei was just about to lie on the bed to sleep when Lu Chen called her as soon as he came out of the bathroom.


    "Wife."


    Xiu Mei rose from the bed and turned towards Lu Chen. He extended his arm towards her holding the towel in his hand. She nced at his dripping wet hair and understood his message. A helpless smile appeared on her face as she gave in to Lu Chen¡¯s childish request.


    She motioned for him to sit beside her while epting the towel from his hand. She started scrubbing his hair dry while Lu Chen¡¯s gaze stayed on her wife¡¯s gentle movements.


    He was staring so hard at Xiu Mei that she couldn¡¯t pretend and ignore it anymore. After he stared at her for like the whole ten minutes, she paused on her movements to return his gaze.


    She tried her best to express the message with her eye, ¡¯Is there something wrong?¡¯


    He seemed to have not understood his message as he only kept staring at her in silence. Xiu Mei started reaching out to her bedside table to take her tablet but his hand suddenly grabbed her wrists, pulling her to him.


    "Wife." He uttered, his voice sounding a bit down than usual.


    She tried to turn her head to nce at his face but Lu Chen kept her head on his shoulders by pressing his hand behind her head.


    "Wife, I¡¯m sorry."


    "???"


    Sorry? Sorry for what?


    Xiu Mei was at a loss. What was he apologizing for? Did he do something wrong back in the office?


    She thought about the possible things that Lu Chen would apologize for. A ridiculous thought appeared inside her mind.


    Perhaps, did he got involved with some kind of woman today or what? And then it went on the news but she was unaware of it?


    "Wife, I¡¯m sorry for being a terrible husband."


    ".....?"


    Xiu Mei gasped. So was it really a woman?! Did he really hook up with some woman today without her knowledge?! And now he was feeling guilty and repentant that¡¯s why he¡¯s being like this?!


    Ah... the more Lu Chen doesn¡¯t exin it to her, the more her imaginations run wild.


    Seriously, what was he talking about?


    Argh! It¡¯s so hard tomunicate with him like this ah!


    "I shouldn¡¯t have left you alone at all." He muttered under his breath, but Xiu Mei could hear it very well.


    "?"


    Ah? Now, what was he talking about?


    Wasn¡¯t it about a woman?

 Chapter 203 - Annoying

    <h4>Chapter 203 - Annoying</h4>


    "I shouldn¡¯t have left you alone at all."


    "?"


    Ah? Why did it suddenly shift to hers? Wasn¡¯t it about another woman?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s forehead creased. She was confused and she wanted to ask him what he was talking about but because of her speaking difficulty at the moment, and he was hugging her quite tightly, she couldn¡¯t ask him at all.


    She heard him release a heavy sigh and from that, she could somehow feel his current mood.


    Maybe he was too stressed at work? And then he probably missed her staying in the office so he was apologizing right now that he left her alone in the house?


    Ah, seriously. She was so confused! She couldn¡¯t understand what he was thinking right at this moment and it bothers her a lot!


    Since she couldn¡¯t understand his thoughts, Xiu Mei decided tofort him anyway. She returned his hug and stroked his back in a gentle manner, trying tofort him. She felt his hug tighten as he released another heavy sigh.


    Xiu Mei got even more worried. She wondered whether if an issue came up in thepany ah.... And then he got so stressed and all that¡¯s probably why he¡¯s acting like this?


    Contrary to Xiu Mei¡¯s thoughts, Lu Chen wasn¡¯t thinking about work at all. Nor it was about other women either.


    It was just simply, he thought he failed to be a good husband for her.


    He usually didn¡¯t have that much low self-esteem at all, but seeing the sadness on her face even for just a split second brought him so much heart ache. Just because of that emotional slip on her face, Doctor Lee¡¯s reminders reyed at the back of his head.


    That Xiu Mei would surely try to look fine and as if not being able to speak is not a big issue at all, but deep inside, she was surely hiding her true feelings. That she wouldn¡¯t be able to stop herself from getting envious with other people being able to do something that she couldn¡¯t even do right now. That she would unconsciously be more sensitive when she gets reminded that she can¡¯t do her normal tasks anymore. That she would just keep all those depressing thoughts within herself without letting anyone know about it.


    And he, her husband,pletely fell for what she was currently showing to himself.


    Despite being unable to speak, she still acted like her usual self. Getting excited over her son¡¯s first day of school, getting frustrated and angry at him for keeping secrets from her, being so forgiving and understanding even though she was scared of Lucia and King at first, that she would even try to convince him that she wants to continue to work despite her current situation.


    For the past two days that she¡¯s been with them and the past weeks that he spent together with her while she was under recovering in the hospital, Lu Chen almost couldn¡¯t pinpoint anything wrong with her. Nor that she was getting depressed with her current situation or something.


    He was carefully watching over her but he still failed to see the true emotion behind her smiles.


    He worried and wondered, whether she had already been like this for quite a while and he kept missing the signs.


    He felt regretful and disappointed in himself. He kept promising her that he won¡¯t let her be hurt anymore but look at him bing an utter failure again as a husband.


    He pulled her even closer to himself as he continued his train of thought.


    Lu Chen felt even more frustrated at the current situation.


    It¡¯s not like he can just directly ask her if she was feeling sad or depressed being alone at home and being unable to work normally. She would surely lie and say that she was fine even if she wasn¡¯t. She would surely only say things that will make him feel assured that she was fine, even if it¡¯s not the truth.


    Because Xiu Mei, his wife, is always such a nice person. Who doesn¡¯t worry about herself, but worries others first before herself and anything else.


    She is a kind and warmhearted person especially to her family, her son, and her husband. He married such a wonderful woman that he wasn¡¯t even sure whether he was also doing a great job as her husband. Because all he knows in life is to work.


    He didn¡¯t know how to be a romantic in a rtionship, nor was he the best in child-rearing.


    "Wife, will you forgive me?" He murmured, sounding almost like a plea when Xiu Mei heard it.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s breath hitched as she got even more worried.


    Seriously, what was going on with Lu Chen? She wanted to talk to him, to ask him why he was feeling so down right now but she couldn¡¯t even find a chance to grab her tablet or mouth the words at all with her face buried on his shoulders.


    Nevertheless, she nodded her head hoping that it wouldfort and appease him. She even patted his back trying to make it as sincere as possible through her actions.


    Finally, after what seemed like a long time, Lu Chen slightly pulled away. Though he kept his arms around her waist, maintaining a short distance between the two of them.


    She met his gaze that stared at her so deeply, that she almost drowned in his eyes. He stared at her with such immense emotions in his eyes.


    No, it wasn¡¯t l.u.s.t or desire. It was different. Completely different.


    A word came to mind but she was unsure of it.


    Is it... what they say the gaze of a person who is truly in love with you? Is that what it is?


    She was unsure but she could deny feeling like someone was scratching her heart. That butterflies on her stomach. And her heart doing somersaults in her chest.


    He lifted his hand cupped her face.


    "Wife, I love you." He blurted out.


    Xiu Mei took a sharp intake of breath.


    No matter how many times he already told her this, she still couldn¡¯t stop herself from being calm. She felt like she was on cloud nine and as if she had eaten mountains of candies because she was being drowned by his sweetness.


    ¡¯What¡¯s wrong?¡¯ She mouthed to him. He was really acting so strange that she couldn¡¯t stop herself from asking anymore.


    Lu Chen just simply smiled at her and shook his head as a response. He was telling her that it was nothing.


    Xiu Mei thought differently.


    He¡¯s lying.


    How could it be nothing if he¡¯s acting like this? And he was even apologizing to her earlier. How could there be nothing?


    Lu Chen lowered his head and caught her lower lip in between his mouth. But Xiu Mei felt slightly annoyed because of his lie so he pped his chest to push away his face from hers.


    Her brows furrowed as she stared hard at him. She was convincing him to tell her the truth.


    "It¡¯s really nothing." He pressed. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes squinted even further as she bit the inside of her cheek in frustration.


    This time, she pushed him away with more strength and got away from his arms. She returned to her previous position on the bed, lied down, and turned her back to him. She even pulled over the nket to herself in annoyance.


    "Wife." Lu Chen whined as he kept staring at her back but Xiu Mei didn¡¯t give a response.


    "Wife."


    "Wife, are you really going to ignore me?"


    "Wife, I¡¯m sorry."


    "Wife, I¡¯m wrong. I¡¯m sorry."


    "Wife..."


    "Wife, they said that couples shouldn¡¯t let the night pass with the two parties angry at each other. So wife, don¡¯t be angry alright?"


    "Wife, let¡¯s make up."


    "Wife, it was really nothing. That¡¯s the truth!"


    "Wife..."


    The longer that Lu Chen talks and pleads with Xiu Mei, the more his voice sounded more and more childish and like a puppy desperately apologizing to its owner. Xiu Mei who was pretending to sleep didn¡¯t know why she was suddenly feeling guilty.


    It??s not like she was the one who did something wrong ah! It was clearly him!


    But why are his words making her so strangely guilty? Gosh!


    Lu Chen persisted in bugging her the whole time, so Xiu Mei could only raise the white g first.


    Gosh! She didn¡¯t know that Lu Chen could be this annoying ah!!!


    She rose from the bed and turned to his direction. She squinted her eyes as if to re at him but she still mouthed, ¡¯Fine, I forgive you.¡¯


    Really. Her expression was theplete opposite of what she was saying.


    ¡¯Just stop.¡¯ She mouthed again.


    She was seriously feeling bad especially seeing his pitiful expression at the moment as if she had bullied him.


    Still, Lu Chen did not stop.


    "Wife, you¡¯re still angry."


    "..."


    Fudge it.


    Let¡¯s divorce!!

 Chapter 204 - Pei Ji Huangs funeral

    <h4>Chapter 204 - Pei Ji Huang''s funeral</h4>


    In the end, they divorced.


    Nope, just kidding!


    The couple snuggled together when they slept for the night. Xiu Mei ended up forgiving him without even knowing what he was apologizing for from the very start.


    The next day went through like their usual routine of Xiu Mei packing up Lu Qiang¡¯s lunch, with the new addition of Lu Chen¡¯s lunch. She told him what happened yesterday and to prevent it from happening again, Xiu Mei chose to just visit the office once a week or only when necessary will she intervene.


    Necessary like what?


    Like when Lu Chen¡¯s anger is at the max level.


    Like when he¡¯s being grumpy to the employees again when he¡¯s too stressed out.


    Or like when he¡¯s not listening to Lu Shao¡¯s reminders to eat and rest anymore.


    After dropping off Lu Qiang to his ss along with his extra clothes, she reminded him again once more about changing his clothes right after ying and to always wipe away your sweat during breaks.


    And then, she spent her time alone again in the house. She didn¡¯t have much work to do at all, it¡¯s all basically typing and encoding some confidential projects that they have yet to start or propose to the president.


    Staring at the clock and feeling so much boredom at the sudden free hours she got for the past few days, Xiu Mei was at a loss on where she would spend it. After thinking for a few moments, she called the driver to pick her up and briefly messaged Lu Chen that she will just roam around in some ces to stretch and you know, clear her mind on some things.


    Doctor Lee did rmend for her to not stay cooped up in the house for long periods of time.


    After spending her free time for the past few days just like that, another week passed in a blink of an eye.


    Xiu Mei attended Pei Ji Huang¡¯s funeral with Lu Chen on the final day. She stuck with her husband while they visited the funeral, half hoping that Yu Zhenzhen won¡¯t make trouble with her and half hoping that no one would try to talk to her for something.


    Lu Chen also kept his guard for his wife during the visit. And if he gets pulled by the other investors, thankfully, Xiu Gu Ren, his father-inw stayed with Xiu Mei temporarily while he was absent.


    Xiu Mei looked so solemn all throughout the visit. Not only was she here as the Lu Corporation¡¯s secretary, but also as the daughter hailing from the family of Xiu¡¯s, a political family.


    She was sincerely offering her condolences to the grieving family, but she still couldn¡¯t help but grumble inside her head that she really hated this kind of event.


    She doesn¡¯t have any good memories about visiting the funeral and it only reminds her of Ying Yue¡¯s funeral.


    Second, because both of her identities are connected to Pei Ji Huang. As a secretary of thepany who previously worked with him and as the daughter of the politician, Xiu Gu Ren.


    When her father and her husband took her to pay respects on Pei Ji Huang¡¯s deceased body, she saw Yu Zhenzhen¡¯s figure at the corner of her eye.


    It was evident in her eyes that she cried, and her normal morous dresses are exchanged with a humble and in ck dress. Still, she didn¡¯t miss the trace of dislike in Yu Zhenzhen¡¯s face fully expressing her difort in staying throughout the whole process.


    Xiu Mei quickly picked up that what she was doing is for appearance¡¯s sake. She even saw her try to leave the ce with the excuse that she has to rest because she was pregnant.


    Sounds valid and reasonable, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was trying to leave every hour.


    She silently pitied Pei Ji Huang. Look, his wife didn¡¯t look like she was grieving too much when he died. On the contrary, she even looked like she was feeling much better than when Xiu Meist saw them at the party. She was reminded of how Pei Ji Huang was strictly handling Yu Zhenzhen¡¯s actions in public as his wife.


    ...Oh. Maybe that was it?


    Pei Ji Huang¡¯s funeral proceeded smoothly despite the chaotic investigations being done behind his death. She also came with her parents when Pei Ji Huang was buried. After burying him, Xiu Mei stayed inside the car while waiting for her parents to finish their chat with some important people outside.


    She was patiently waiting in the car when she saw Yu Ming Xi¡¯s figure go past her car. Her eyes grew alert and became cautious as soon as she saw him, recalling all his actions with Lu Qiang¡¯s biological parents.


    She saw him go to an isted corner with two people and they looked like they were seriously talking about something. Xiu Mei suddenly felt torn between the decision of staying in the car or leave the car and try to eavesdrop in their conversation.


    ...if she does thetter, she would definitely be scolded by Lu Chen.


    Oh well. It is what it is.


    Xiu Mei got off the car and walked in a roundabout way and stopped a few meters away from where they are. She casually stood with a group of female aunts that was talking about something and they didn¡¯t seem to notice her attempt to try to camouge herself within their crowd.


    ".....the package in Hongkong."


    "They should be. If the scolding and warning I did to themst time after our packages were turned over to the bluecoats, then I order you to immediately get rid of them. I have no use for useless men especially those who are too clumsy to even handle a single shipment."


    That was Yu Ming Xi¡¯s voice. She tried topletely focus on their conversation that we¡¯re still trying to lower their voices while having their conversation.


    Bluecoats? Package?


    Xiu Mei paused to think.


    Hmmm, were they talking about drugs?


    She wasn¡¯tpletely familiar with that kind of shady stuff but don¡¯t criminals usually deal with drugs and stuff. Besides, Lu Chen did tell her that Yu Ming Xi was getting more involved in the underground world for quite some timetely.


    Maybe that¡¯s what where he was buying his packages? In the ck market? Assuming that it really is drugs.


    "...Yes, we¡¯ve already nted the pieces of evidence to confuse the bluecoats."


    "Good. If my brother and father get wind that I was involved with it, I¡¯m not quite sure if they will just let it pass. Make sure to keep it under the wraps and that no one will figure out that something was wrong. What about our other shipments? Did they safely pass in Australia and South Korea as well?"


    "We had a slight issue with our shipment in South Korea but we didn¡¯t alert the military over there."


    "Make sure that they aren¡¯t really keeping track of our movements. Tell our nted men there to clean up the files if there are existing files about it. I want it wiped off the face of the earth."


    "Understood."


    "What about Vice President Yamaguchi in Japan?"


    "The negotiations are going smoothly. He wanted to meet you first before he gives his permission for us to sell our products to his team and other close friends."


    Because their voices are getting lower and lower, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t hear anymore of their conversation. After deciding that she had eavesdropped enough, she took a step away from the crowd and circled around again just so Yu Ming Xi wouldn¡¯t notice her movements.


    She returned to her car and released a breath of relief. And then she started reviewing the conversation she just heard a while ago.


    Yu Ming Xi, was probably doing drugs. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure if the package he was talking about was drugs, but she was sure that it was something illegal. She could conclude that it was illegal because they were talking about alerting the military of South Korea of their movements and even trying to contact and negotiate with Vice President Yamaguchi of Japan about being given permission or something.


    She was constantly keeping track of the news online and she didn¡¯t remember any joint coborations with China and Japan for the past few years. The two countries weren¡¯t exactly in their best rtionship either so it was more unlikely that it was something nationally important.


    Oh, and then their other conversation too. The one about nting evidence.


    A hunch seeded inside her mind as she suspiciously thought whether Yu Ming Xi was talking about nting evidence in some kind of case to confuse the cops. And the only case that came to mind that was currently being investigated and that could be currently linked to Yu Ming Xi was Pei Ji Huang¡¯s ongoing investigation.


    Wait.


    Did Yu Ming Xi kill Pei Ji Huang?!

 Chapter 205 - Complicated Thoughts

    <h4>Chapter 205 - Complicated Thoughts</h4>


    (A/N: Please read Vol 0 at the very top of the table of contents regarding the future updates.)


    "Why aren¡¯t you resting yet? I know you must be pretty tired during the burial." Lu Chen appeared behind her, automatically pulling her into his arms and dropping a kiss on her cheek. Xiu Meizily leaned her back on his chestfortably.


    Lu Chen peeked at her current expression and saw her perturbed look as she continued staring out the window. He wondered what she was currently thinking about.


    "Are you worried about something?" He asked while smoothing out the stray strands of her hair.


    Xiu Mei returned to her senses and realized that she was spacing out. She shook her head in response to his question while wrapping her hand over his gently.


    "Are you sure?"


    She nodded.


    "Then take a rest early today, okay? I¡¯ll tuck in Lu Qiang for the night so you could go get some early sleep."


    She protested with her eyes but Lu Chen kept his ground.


    "Just for tonight. I know it¡¯s been hard for you to meet with a lot of people for today and the other day so just take a rest and I¡¯ll handle the rest tonight."


    Xiu Mei showed a sulking expression but her husband didn¡¯t let her have her way and held her by her shoulders. And then he pulled her to bed, made her lie down, and pulled the nket to tuck her to bed.


    "Just rest. Listen to me right now, okay?" Lu Chen pressed while stroking her forehead and the top of her head. It looked like he was coaxing a child to sleep.


    Xiu Mei pouted but in the end, she really couldn¡¯t win against Lu Chen at the moment. She didn¡¯t have any voice to protest ah. So all she could do is listen to his words and go to sleep.


    He kissed her on the forehead before shutting off the lights and leaving the room to go to Lu Qiang¡¯s.


    Her eyes wide open as she stared at the ceiling. Her mind lost in the previous conversation she heard in the afternoon.


    If Yu Ming Xi really killed Pei Ji Huang, then wouldn¡¯t that be such a dangerous move for him? And his death really fits Lu Chen¡¯s exnation before. That Yu Ming Xi really likes grand moves when he acts on something. Pei Ji Huang¡¯s rtionship with the Prime Minister alone is like the grandest stage he could ever have.


    But did he really dare to kill his brother¡¯s son-inw? Covering up such arge crime with a person with a special background, does the Yu family really have that power? Or does Yu Ming Xi alone have that power?


    Her thoughts whirled around her head like a mess.


    For thest twenty-five years she had been mingling around this circle, she already knew that it wasn¡¯t as morous as people thought it would be. Especially a ce where power is the supremacy of all. But she still couldn¡¯t help but be stunned and surprised by how dirty a person could get just to keep that power. Killing a person, a rtive at most, can they be really easily given up just to protect the power you have?


    Is that how heartless and selfish a person could turn to when they¡¯re faced with power?


    Xiu Mei was reminded of her family. Hailing from two prestigious families from military and politics, anyone wouldn¡¯t have believed that they haven¡¯t suppressed anyone with their power and prestige.


    She wouldn¡¯t even believe that. Because she herself used her family¡¯s name and power a lot of times in the past, and seldomly recently. Maybe it was something ingrained in her because she had been hearing it from a lot of people of how great her father is and her mother¡¯s family. When she was a child, she was immature and all those praises got into her head as if assuming that it were praises to her and she deserved to be praised.


    But it was her mother and Grandfather Xiu who scolded her for her terrible thoughts. That their current power is the result of their ancestor¡¯s hard work, and their rtives who worked hard to maintain it. And that it wasn¡¯t something they got without difficulties and idents along the way.


    That having the Xiu surname doesn¡¯t mean that you¡¯re the one who was great. And that we still have to work for it to be deserving of it. And that the power they have shouldn¡¯t be used to suppress and intimidate other people. It wasn¡¯t right, and even families in power have their own principles and limits that they adhere to.


    That if it weren¡¯t for the hard work and persistence of the previous generations, we would have been just like any other normal people. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be something to use and belittle against other people.


    And so, Xiu Mei was forced to listen to a whole 5 hours of scolding from them. She was immature, but she learned to ept her mistakes and bad thoughts and changed them.


    Still, her habit of depending on her family¡¯s name didn¡¯tpletely disappear. But she didn¡¯t use it to suppress and bully other people. Rather, she usually uses it when she couldn¡¯t think of anything to defend anymore or if the person is too stupid and hard-headed that only threatening them by using her family¡¯s name would work. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn¡¯t help it.


    But it never hit her to use her family¡¯s power for crime and revenge. Not only does it vite her family¡¯s principles but it would even vite her morality.


    That was why when she first heard Lu Chen operates an assassin organization, she felt awkward and ufortable. Killing is something that vites her moralpass. And she didn¡¯t even know if killing a person because that person was a bad and terrible one justifies the killing.


    Still, she epted Lu Chen. She epted her husband¡¯s dark part and the stain on his hands. On normal days, she wouldn¡¯t remember it nor be bothered by it. Because all she looked at was his honesty, sincerity, and his eptance of his other identity. When he worried and got scared that she would push him away once she gets to know of his crimes, but she did not. She tried to understand and stayed by his side all throughout.


    Her principles that she held so dearly were shaken and so she could only think about the reasons why she shouldn¡¯t hate him, despise him and push him away. Because he told her that he was using his power to maintain the order of the underground city, a ce where killing and power are in the same team. That he was doing this to maintain the peace and order in that messy city.


    Xiu Mei shifted around the bed and heaved a deep sigh.


    She couldn¡¯t help but question herself.


    She felt apprehensive of Yu Ming Xi because she thinks she killed Pei Ji Huang, his close rtive, using his power. Not only does she felt apprehensive of him because what he did was a crime, but also because he was using his power and family¡¯s name to cover up the crime and his other crimes.


    And then she rted it to herself and Lu Chen¡¯s situation.


    If she wasn¡¯t rted to Lu Chen. If he was just a stranger in her eyes, not her boss nor the president. Just really, purely a stranger. And then she discovers that he runs an assassin organization, he kills people and justifies it with the reason that he was doing it to maintain peace and order, would she have understood him?


    Would she have not felt apprehensive and scared of him? Would she have pushed him away, and despised him because of his actions?


    And then to herself. Do her actions of using her family¡¯s power and prestige justify her using it to threaten and protect herself from what other people would say to her? Or when someone tries to hurt or gang up on her?


    Was she being too hypocrite with all these factsid out in front of her?


    Xiu Mei felt frustrated.


    She didn¡¯t know why her train of thought led up to this. She was just thinking that Yu Ming Xi was a terrible person because he killed his own family to protect his power and himself, if he really was the one behind it.


    But she didn¡¯t know why she suddenlypared herself and Lu Chen to that person even though it was unfair for Lu Chen. She couldn¡¯t understand why she was being bothered by these kind of thoughts. Of power and prestige and suppression. All those things.


    Xiu Mei felt like her morality and conscience are bringing it all to light. All those hidden thoughts, subconscious thoughts. Her fears, her hypocrisy she wanted to deny and hide.


    Xiu Mei pulled the nket over her head and sighed again for the nth time.


    Really, was she thinking too much? Pei Ji Huang¡¯s death and Yu Ming Xi¡¯s thing wasn¡¯t even hers to be concerned with.

 Chapter 206 - Overslept

    <h4>Chapter 206 - Overslept</h4>


    She gradually fell asleep despite being so restless, days of fatigue sinking in as her eyelids slowly closed. Her breathing steady and quiet while she was being pulled to the dreand.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen pulled the door of their shared bedroom ajar after withdrawing from Lu Qiang¡¯s room. A curl appeared on his lips seeing his wife¡¯s slumbering figure, her shoulders up and down under the nket. He carefully entered the room and walked over to Xiu Mei¡¯s bedside.


    He crouched beside her and tenderly gazed at her sleeping face.


    "Hm." He lightly chuckled hearing the soft snoreing from her. He gently stroked her hair.


    The wife must have been really tired. She was even softly snoring in her sleep for the first time. He watched her sleeping figure in amus.e.m.e.nt while recalling her lost expression back before he left the room and tucking her to bed.


    His eyes dimmed a little bit as he thought of why she suddenly became like that. He was still quite worried even if she was with his father-inw during the burial and so he had someone guard her throughout the day without her knowledge.


    And it seems like his wife was trying to poke her nose into the dangerous waters.


    He lifted his hand and brushed his fingers on her hair as he continued his trail of thoughts.


    ¡¯Yu Ming Xi... is it really his work?¡¯ He wondered. His subordinate gave him a printed copy of the conversation Yu Ming Xi had with his men after Pei Ji Huang¡¯s burial.


    He was already clear of what his activities are abroad, but he was more interested in his statement that he was somehow involved with Pei Ji Huang¡¯s death.


    He didn¡¯t exactly say that he killed him, but he did something to confuse the authorities during their investigation. Meaning, the possibility that Yu Ming Xi didn¡¯t kill Pei Ji Huang still stands.


    He continued staring at his wife¡¯s sleeping figure.


    Xiu Mei woke up quitete the next day. It was already past the time for breakfast and almost the time to bring Lu Qiang to school.


    "Oh my gosh!" She almost shrieked as soon as she saw the shing red numbers on her bedside clock. She spun her head and looked at the space beside the bed and touched it. She felt no warmth realizing that Lu Chen must have woken up hours ago already.


    Damn it! It was already sote. Why did Lu Chen not wake her up?! She couldn¡¯t even prepare for their lunch too!


    Without washing her face or doing her normal morning routine, Xiu Mei dashed downstairs and was met with the two men¡ªone big and one small, making their way over to the front door. The kid was already wearing his backpack and the other one holding his work bag.


    Both heard the rushing footsteps from the stairs behind them, making them turn their heads.


    "Mom? You¡¯re awake!" Lu Qiang eximed in surprise seeing her mother¡¯s figure running down the stairs. His cold and sulking expression disappearing from his face in a sh as he couldn¡¯t stop a smile forming on his lips.


    Beside him stood his father, who also turned around him like him and saw his mother¡¯s figure approaching them. His cold expression turned warm as he saw his father immediately step forward toe over to his mother.


    "Good morning, wife." Lu Chen greeted, as he pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss on her hair. "Sorry, did we wake you up?"


    He said while brushing her messed up hair, understanding immediately that Xiu Mei rushed downstairs as soon as she woke up. Else, she would have tidied herself up first before leaving the room.


    Xiu Mei lightly pushed his chest and raised her head to show him her furrowed expression. She was rushing downstairs to catch up to them that shepletely forgot to grab her tablet from the bedside table before going down.


    Thankfully, her husband understood what she was trying to say.


    He continued smoothening her hair as he nonchntly replied, "I knew you were too tired so I wanted you to sleep in for today so you could get enough rest that¡¯s why I didn¡¯t wake you up."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows furrowed even further as she nced at Lu Qiang, who also walked over to her and stood obediently by her side as if waiting for them to finish their conversation first.


    "Don¡¯t worry, our son will be fine. The chef already packed his lunch and snacks so he wouldn¡¯t get hungry. I¡¯ll also drop him off before going to thepany today." Lu Chen said as if he was uttering a report to his wife. And then he threw a nce at his son who was silently watching at the side budging him to speak.


    Lu Qiang, of course, picked up his father¡¯s signal and opened his mouth in support. "Dad¡¯s right, Mommy. I¡¯ll be fine. Just take a rest for today so that when I get hometer, we can talk all night again."


    Xiu Mei bit her lip as she nced at her son and to her husband. Is this really alright?


    "It will be fine. It¡¯s just for today anyway. Tomorrow, I promise I¡¯ll wake you up again if you sleep through your rm." Lu Chen appeased her as soon as he noticed his wife¡¯s dampened mood. He lightly brushed his palm on her back as he spoke to her in a lowered voice.


    "I¡¯ll even wake you up like a princess if you want to." He softly muttered in her ears.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows still furrowed, but this time, in confusion.


    Wake her up like a princess?


    He added while winking, "I can add a tongue for better and deep experience too. Maybe with less clothing as well if you allow it?"


    He even lightly bit her ear immediately sending shivers down her spine.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes jumped finally realizing what he meant. Her heart did a flip as her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment at the rogue words escaping from her husband¡¯s mouth. Her hand instantly flew as she pped his chest and pushed him away putting distance between them.


    This guy!!! Is he itching for a beating ah?!


    How can he be so rogue and shameless in front of their son ah!!!


    She frowned and pouted as she heard him chuckle while he watched her reaction.


    He was even having fun teasing her!!!


    She harrumphed in annoyance and crossed her arms looking away and deciding to ignore him. Watch her sleep very earlyter so she¡¯ll not oversleep tomorrow! She won¡¯t let him have his chances! Hmph!


    The butler watching at the sideline watched the three people interact with each other. But as much as he wanted to not disturb them, he had to remind the two masters about the time because they¡¯re gonna bete.


    After being reminded by the butler of the time, Xiu Mei could only give up and surrender to the two men in front of her. She could only send her son with a kiss since she didn¡¯t bring her tablet and he¡¯s still learning signnguage. For her husband, she threw him a re but Lu Chen was stronger than her and so she was quickly pulled into a hug and a short kiss before finally deciding to leave.


    She followed them to the car and sent them off while waving goodbye. After returning inside the house, the butler informed her that breakfast was ready and so she pointed upstairs, trying to tell him to bring her breakfast in her room instead. The butler was quick and understood her intentions so he nodded in response to her request.


    With her husband and child away, eating alone in that big dining room would depress her instead. Besides, she hasn¡¯t even showered norbed her hair yet. She lookedpletely improper to leave the room. Her Grandmother Xiu would definitely lecture her for hours if she learns about this.


    She marched upstairs and opened her wardrobe to pick up her clothes. She briefly entered the bathroom to take a quick shower and freshened up herself. Her breakfast arrived shortly after, and so with herptop beside her, she ate her breakfast slowly while responding to some of her work emails.


    The investigation about Pei Ji Huang¡¯s death continued. With newly found information, Lu Chen informed Xiu Mo Ruo about the nted evidence of Yu Ming Xi. It didn¡¯t take long for them to find out which evidence was purposely nted.


    "Yu Ming Xi nted hidden money in Pei Ji Huang¡¯s vault?" Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s brows furrowed as he read the report he received. At first nce, it would have been very normal for some money to be kept in Pei Ji Huang¡¯s vault, given that he is a businessman and a very wealthy one at that.


    But it seems as the money evidence nted was inrge amounts of different currencies.


    A seven-digit worth of American dors, Japanese Yen, European Pounds and many more.


    Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s first thought was... Yu Ming Xi seriously let go of this much money and nted it as evidence?

 Chapter 207 - Her Day - Part 1

    <h4>Chapter 207 - Her Day - Part 1</h4>


    Xiu Mei found herself withpletely nothing to do and an empty schedule for the whole day. She didn¡¯t want to spend it dazing off again just like before, and she wasn¡¯t happy just being cooped up at home just to hide her current situation.


    And so, Xiu Mei hung out with her girl best friends for today. She vaguely exined her current situation andbined with Bei Jia Ying¡¯s poprity, the five of them chose somewhere private.


    "Oh. My. Gosh. Is this my goddaughter whom I haven¡¯t seen for so long?!" Huan Qiao Qing squealed as soon as they arrived at Lia¡¯s private resort. She and Huan Qiao Qing bumped into each other at the entrance, and so after a quick chat, both of them entered Lia¡¯s resort.


    They were weed by the sight of a little girl in a cute pink dress looking like she was running away from her nanny.


    "Julie!" Lia appeared shortly after and saw the two women by the entrance. "Oh! You¡¯re here!"


    "Xiu Mei, it¡¯s been a while." Lia greeted. Xiu Mei could only nod in response and handed her a paper bag.


    "Oh my, you didn¡¯t have to! Thank you for this."


    "I have one too!" Huan Qiao Qing stopped looking at Julie and handed her gift to Lia. "You should have told us you¡¯ll bring your lovely daughter! We could have prepared a gift for her too! Right, Xiu Mei?"


    Xiu Mei followed her words and nodded, ncing at the little girl still being chased by the nanny. Lia shook her head and replied with a helpless tone, "I wasn¡¯t supposed to bring her here but she heard me talking about it to my husband this morning and insisted toe with me. I couldn¡¯t say no or she¡¯ll just bawl her eyes out the entire morning until we give in."


    Huan Qiao Qing and Xiu Mei giggled as they watched Julie on the side.


    "Is that why you¡¯re bringing us to the spa today?" Huan Qiao Qing mumbled with a yful smile on her face. "You must have been pulling an allnighter taking care of your daughter and *coughs* your husband, right?"


    They were all a.d.u.l.ts so Xiu Mei and Lia understood what she was implying.


    "Shut your mouth or I¡¯ll kick you out!" Lia warned pping Huan Qiao Qing¡¯s arm lightly while getting slightly embarrassed because she couldn¡¯t exactly deny that.


    Xiu Mei silently giggled as she watched the two of them banter with each other.


    "Oh, wait. I haven¡¯t formally introduced to you Julie, right? Julie! Come here to mommy for a second." Lia remembered. The little girl with blonde hair and brown eyes stared at Xiu Mei and Huan Qiao Qing in curiousity.


    "Do you remember Aunt Qiao Qing?" Lia carried the child to her arms and pointed at Huan Qiao Qing.


    "Sister!" Huan Qiao Qing interrupted.


    "Dream on." Lia retorted. Julie nodded in response to her mother¡¯s answer. Huan Qiao Qing¡¯s eyes sparkled and were very delighted that her goddaughter could remember her!


    "Only Julie truly loves me ah!" And then she attempted to pull the little girl into a hug but was quickly stopped by Lia. And then she turned to Xiu Mei¡¯s direction and started introducing her to her daughter.


    "This is also mommy¡¯s friend. You can call her Aunt Mei. Say hello."


    Xiu Mei shed a wide smile at the little girl staring at her.


    "Hello." Julie shyly greeted with her soft voice.


    ¡¯Hello.¡¯ Xiu Mei mouthed. Lia quickly remembered that Xiu Mei¡¯s circ.u.mstances and so she didn¡¯t make it hard for Xiu Mei.


    Julie tilted her head as she waited for Xiu Mei¡¯s reply but Lia quickly put her down after introducing her to Xiu Mei.


    "Aunt Qiao Qing and Aunt Mei will y with you next time, okay?"


    "...Mhm."


    "Don¡¯t tire out your nanny and run around without her. If you need Mom, just tell nanny so I cane to you, remember?"


    Julie nodded and listened to her mother¡¯s words before continuing ying with her nanny again.


    Lia pulled the two of them into the lounge area while waiting for Bei Jia Ying and Li Jing Yan to arrive. The other two arrived shortly after and just like Huan Qiao Qing, the two of them squealed over Julie first before they finally started their schedule.


    Lia¡¯s private resort has everything that they could ask for¡ªSpa, Swimming Pool, Sauna, Jacuzzi, and Massage Room for rxation activities. They also have a Golf course, Archery Range, Tennis and Badminton Court, Equestrian Facility, and Skating Rink. Clearly, the whole ce screams how wealthy Lia is since this is her own private property that she built for herself.


    "Damn, isn¡¯t the limited edition archer bow that was released a month ago?! And you have one!" Jia Ying screamed as she grabbed one of the bows hanging on the wall. They were currently on their way to the Archery Range.


    "And you¡¯re still updated with the most expensive stuff in the whole wide world." Qiao Qing chimed in as she chose her bow.


    "She always says she wants these and that but we never see her buy it at all," Lia added.


    "Yeah, likest week. Didn¡¯t she say that she wanted to buy that, what was it, uh... ah! That yellow diamond ne with some gold in it? Wasn¡¯t the auction three days ago? Jia Ying said she was going to attend but in the end, not even a shadow of hers appeared there at all." Jing Yan said while picking up some arrows.


    ¡¯It was bought by the youngdy of the Francoine Family that night.¡¯ Xiu Mei typed and yed the audio as she joined in on their chat.


    The bullied Jia Ying:...


    "You don¡¯t love me anymore."


    Lia, "We actually don¡¯t."


    Xiu Mei, ¡¯Nope.¡¯


    Qiao Qing, "Never did, and never will."


    Jing Yan, "You¡¯re on your own."


    Jia Ying, "...tsk."


    Almost bullied to tears by these four, Jia Ying resolutely delivered her revenge someday. While they busily chose their bow and arrows, Xiu Me received a message from Lu Chen. She temporarilyid down her arrows and read the message, however, it was just a picture of his lunch that was packed by the chef this morning.


    A few secondster, another message was sent by him.


    Hubby President: Wife, I miss your food.


    Hubby President: Are you having fun there?


    Xiu Mei silently chuckled.


    Secretary Wife: Oh. You didn¡¯t wake me up so that¡¯s not my fault.


    Secretary Wife: I¡¯m having a good time here. I might bete tonight though.


    Hubby President: Want me to pick you up?


    Secretary Wife: Just take a rest. I¡¯ll have the driver pick me up.


    Hubby President: I still want to pick you up. Just message me what time should I pick you up.


    Secretary Wife: Are you sure?


    Hubby President: Of course. Anything for my wife.


    Hubby President: Meeting now. I need to go. I love you. See youter.


    Secretary Wife: Mm. See youter.


    Xiu Mei was busily chatting with Lu Chen that she didn¡¯t notice that the other four had already gone silent and was already focused on her figure. She didn¡¯t even notice a smile forming on her lips while she was exchanging messages with her husband.


    "Hubby President?" A voice suddenly spoke out loud.


    ¡¯?!¡¯ Xiu Mei was startled. She raised her head and saw Jing Yan beside her, trying to peek on her phone. She swiftly turned over her phone and held it to her chest. She looked at Jing Yan with wide eyes and disbelief.


    "Ohhhh!!! Hubby President? Is that Mr.Lu¡¯s name on your phone?!" Jia Ying squealed in delight and giddiness.


    Lia also grinned and looked at her suspiciously, "What? Did you get married to Mr. Lu without us knowing?"


    Qiao Qing added, "OMG! Is that true?!"


    Xiu Mei stared at them in disbelief,pletely hiding the waves of emotions underneath her expression. It¡¯s not like she wanted to lie to them but... it¡¯s been so many years and it¡¯s not like she can immediately be honest and tell them that she was already actually married as per the papers in Civil Affairs Bureau.


    Xiu Mei typed in her words, ¡¯Funny. Ha. Ha.¡¯


    She sounded so sarcastic in her words that the four of them didn¡¯t notice that it was just a lie.


    Jia Ying ignored her words and eximed dreamily, "But Xiu Mei calling Mr.Lu the hubby president, our little Mei have really grown up ah!"


    Who¡¯s your little Mei?!


    "Hey, I didn¡¯t imagine that cold CEO to be called Hubby President as well. I met him once before and he really looked so intimidating and scary. Xiu Mei, how did you manage to work for him for years ah?" Lia uttered.


    "Maybe it¡¯s based on her ideal type? Look, all these years Xiu Mei said she doesn¡¯t have any ideal man at all. Maybe... Mr.Lu is actually her taste in men? The cold type but actually softy behind closed doors.?? Jia Ying said.


    "No, it should be a beast ah. Men are beasts behind closed doors is the unspoken rule." Qiao Qing chimed in.


    ....why did their conversation suddenly switch into something rogue ah?

 Chapter 208 - Her Day - Part 2

    <h4>Chapter 208 - Her Day - Part 2</h4>


    "No, it should be a beast ah. Men are beasts behind closed doors is the unspoken rule." Qiao Qing chimed in.


    ....why did their conversation suddenly switch into something rogue ah?


    "Is that based from experience, Qiao Qing?" Jing Yan teased.


    "Do I need to have the experience to know that? Besides, aren¡¯t you the one who knows better? Kei brought you home after the party, right?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s ears perked up hearing her childhood friend¡¯s name.


    Wait, Kei brought his ex-girlfriend home after the party? OMG! Won¡¯t auntie be thrilled to know about this?!


    "Hey! Stop making things. The guy just simply dropped me off."


    "Jing Yan, how long do you think we¡¯ve been friends for to believe that?"


    "We really didn¡¯t! Wait, why did the topic suddenly switch to me? Weren¡¯t we talking about Xiu Mei¡¯s love life here and not my nonexistent ones?"


    Xiu Mei who was watching in amus.e.m.e.nt at the side froze after hearing that. All the heads turned in her direction.


    Oops. She thought she already got away ah.


    She quickly picked up her bow and arrow attempting to escape the fate of being cornered, but her friends were faster.


    "Ms.Xiu, I¡¯m afraid thou shall not pass." Lia announced as Qiao Qing and Jing Yan scrambled to block her path.


    ¡¯...¡¯ Damn it.


    "Come on, we didn¡¯t get to interrogate youst time at the party. Did you really think we¡¯ll ever let you past us right now?" Qiao Qing uttered.


    "Hey, we need some tea. This is the first time you¡¯ve hung out with us after all these years so you¡¯re already due for an exnation." Jia Ying added as she sneakily stole Xiu Mei¡¯s arrows away.


    Xiu Mei realized that there was no getting away from these four and so, she changed her strategy.


    She blinked her eyes innocently and tilted her head as if she couldn¡¯t understand a thing. And then she raised her hand and pointed to her mouth, reminding them that she couldn¡¯t speak at all.


    For the first time, Xiu Mei realized the advantage of being unable to speak.


    She suddenly felt someone p her in the back. Her mouth opened to cry out but no sound escaped. She red at Lia behind her who was the culprit.


    "Do you think you being unable to speak can¡¯t stop us from gossiping? It seems like Ms. Xiu needs to be reminded of our skills ah." Lia smiled but Xiu Mei felt a chill go down her spine instead.


    "You just have to tell us a couple of things and then you know, maybe we¡¯ll finally stop?"


    ¡¯...¡¯ She really doesn¡¯t dare to believe that they¡¯ll be satiated with just a ¡¯couple of things.¡¯


    Heck! Back then, the five of them were the most updated with thetest gossip in school, mainly because Jia Ying and Lia were a member of the broadcast and newspaper club but because they really have scary sources and connections.


    One shall not underestimate how much information these four would get once they get serious in trying to know some gossip about her and Lu Chen.


    In the end, she surrendered under their interrogation. One against four, of course, the results are already quite obvious.


    The interrogation happened while they were ying archery in the archery range.


    "So who courted first?" Was Jia Ying¡¯s first question.


    She was sitting in between Lia while the other two were taking out their arrows and making the standard archery pose in front. She changed her phone to a tablet and wrote down her answer.


    ¡¯Him.¡¯ Is what she answered.


    The smile of the other two turned wider.


    "What did she say?" Qiao Qing screamed without looking back. She heard Jia Ying¡¯s question but since Xiu Mei just wrote down the answer, she didn¡¯t know what she answered to Jia Ying¡¯s question.


    "Her hubby president did!" Lia yelled out the answer while Xiu Mei grew embarrassed hearing them address Lu Chen as her hubby president.


    "Oh." The other three reacted while continuing in releasing their arrows.


    "How long did the courtship happened?"


    Xiu Mei paused to think.


    Now that she thinks about it... they didn¡¯t really have a long courtship period ah. Actually, more like the order was thoroughly messed up in the first ce.


    Lu Chen proposed to her first, and then after turning him down, that¡¯s when he said he will court her. But then, things happened and before she could even experience the courtship part, she was confined and got tricked into signing a marriage contract before she was even discharged.


    But then, it¡¯s not like she can reveal that she¡¯s already Mrs. Lu, right?


    ¡¯About two months.¡¯ What she said were half-truth and half-lie. If we consider the first time he proposed it as the start of the courtship period, then it will turn into two months instead of just one.


    "Oh my god. You actually answered him after two months?! You, from the person who refused a guy who chased you for almost three years back in school?" Jia Ying eximed in surprise as she read her friend¡¯s answer.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brow raised. What? It¡¯s not like she didn¡¯t turn down that guy multiple times within those three years. Heck, she even turned him down the first time he asked her out.


    And what, did they assume that the length of courtship is her criteria now?


    She was just about to retort when Jing Yan¡¯s voice preceded her first.


    "Jia Ying! How could youpare Mr. Lu¡¯s oozing aura to that guy in our high school? That¡¯s downgrading Mr.Lu¡¯s prestige ah!"


    "...Mhm. You have a point there."


    Lia didn¡¯t bother at their conversation and continued interrogating Xiu Mei. "So, what did you like about him?"


    "Oh, good question!" Qiao Qing chimed in.


    "So did you fall in love with his looks or maybe his sweet side during your courtship or anything like that?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s hand that was about to write on the tablet halted.


    What did she like about Lu Chen?


    Lu Chen¡¯s face shed in her mind.


    He... is intimidating, scary, and cold. He would often get angry every time he receives a disappointing report or someone tries to use underhanded means to get close to him. He was especially scary whenever she takes care of the aftermath when women try to climb into his bed.


    That was what people have known him for. And that was her first impression of him too when she started working for him. She wondered why she was suddenly assigned as his temporary assistant when she applied for her internship in Lu Corporation. But after working with him for her whole internship period, her perception of him changed.


    He may be that same scary person but she couldn¡¯t deny that he was admirable, intelligent, wise, and responsible. He wasn¡¯t arrogant nor vain even if he was already a CEO.


    Maybe that¡¯s what attracted her to continue working for him?


    Xiu Mei bit her lip as she thought deeply.


    All this time, she only knew she fell in love with the new side of Lu Chen that she had discovered. But now that she thought about it, maybe... she was already attracted to him way early than that?


    Maybe, unconsciously, she was already attracted to the version of Lu Chen that she first met.


    Her thoughts wandered off to what she was thinking aboutst night.


    Lu Chen is the Lu Corporation¡¯s President and CEO, at the same time, he is also the head of the most dangerous ce on earth. He works as a professional businessman in front of the public, but he also operates an assassin organization secretly.


    And how did she react when he honestly told her that?


    Ah. he didn¡¯t honestly tell her. Rather, she figured it out by herself. Later, he confided to her and she epted his reasons.


    She epted him despite his bloody past and present, throwing away her principles and morals.


    Xiu Mei closed her eyes as she suppressed her chaotic emotions.


    Strangely, his voice suddenly yed in her mind.


    When he yelled out her name back in the parking lot during her attempted kidnapping.


    The desperate expression on his face when he came to save her when she was kidnapped in City S.


    His soothing voice and coaxing that never failed to calm her down.


    His whispers of love and promises to her ears.


    He... was all of that. That¡¯s what makes up Lu Chen as a person.


    Her thoughts paused.


    Yes. How could she forget?


    She was too influenced by Yu Ming Xi¡¯s ruthlessness that she couldn¡¯t help butpare it to herself and Lu Chen.


    But she was wrong.


    She shouldn¡¯t havepared herself and Lu Chen to that person.


    Because they¡¯re different.


    Yu Ming Xi is Yu Ming Xi. Lu Chen is Lu Chen.


    Both have blood in their hands, but it¡¯s still different.


    Ah... so maybe this is why she¡¯s still attracted to him despite all that.


    Because after knowing all of that, her mind never thought of pushing him away but rather, she epted this side of him. She tried to understand the truth before judging him, just like what she had learned when he first met her back when she was in college.


    "Xiu Mei?" Lia called her name waking her up from her thoughts. She raised her head finally seeing how her four friends were suddenly all looking at her waiting for her answer.


    "Did you finish thinking about it now?" Qiao Qing teased, waiting to hear her friend¡¯s answer whose hands didn¡¯t move for the past three minutes.


    Xiu Mei smiled as she lowered her head and started writing. And then, she showed them her answer.


    ¡¯Because he is Lu Chen, that¡¯s why I fell for him.¡¯


    Yes, it is because it was him.


    That¡¯s why she willingly epted her being tricked into marriage, and shepromised to his true self.


    Because it was Lu Chen, and only him alone.

 Chapter 209 - Her Day - Last Part

    <h4>Chapter 209 - Her Day - Last Part</h4>


    Silence fell over the whole archery range. A secondter, Qiao Qing and Jia Ying suddenly shrieked out of nowhere almost throwing their bows down.


    Jing Yan had her hand on her mouth and looked at Xiu Mei in disbelief while Lia smiled so blindingly as if she was teasing Xiu Mei with her response.


    Startled with their strange reactions, Xiu Mei stared at them at a loss.


    What? Was there something wrong with what she answered?


    She nced at her tablet¡¯s screen again just in case she wrote something strange but she didn¡¯t find anything.


    "Oh my gosh!" Qiao Qing almost screamed as she tried to hold down her excitement.


    "Ohmygee, did that really juste from our resident professional single since birth, Xiu Mei?" Jia Ying said almost at the same time as her.


    "That sounded so unbelievably sweet... and cringey." Jing Yanmented as she continued to stare in disbelief at her.


    Lia chuckled at their reactions and sided with Xiu Mei instead. Cupping her own face, she opened her mouth.


    "That may look cringey but believe Xiu Mei¡¯s answer. Once you find the right person for you, every time you ask yourself why you fell in love with that person, the only perfect answer for that would be simr to what Xiu Mei wrote."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s breath hitched.


    Uh... she was d that Lia didn¡¯t react like the other three but somehow... she felt more shy and embarrassed when she suddenly said those words?


    She felt her cheeks slightly turn hot as she discreetly erased her answer on her tablet.


    Lia poked her arm lightly.


    "Xiu Mei."


    ¡¯?¡¯


    "I¡¯m very happy for you." Lia suddenly said out of the blue startling Xiu Mei. And then, the smile returned to her face as she mouthed a silent thank you to her.


    Lia continued smiling at her friend, whom they spent years together back when they were younger.


    Back when they first met Xiu Mei, they only knew her as someone who came from the two most prestigious families in the country. But as they got to know her better, she was almost like them¡ªfunny, a foodie, nice and yful. At the same time, the four of them knew that there¡¯s still some distance between them and Xiu Mei.


    They¡¯ve been together for so many years that it would be impossible to miss the lonely expression shing on her face for a split second, or the days when she would suddenly miss ss out of the blue and return days after.


    They honestly felt frustrated when Xiu Mei didn¡¯t have any intentions of telling them about her situation, but as a friend, they could only understand her. It may sound fake, but the four of them truly treasured the friendship they have with each other.


    In their elite circle, it was truly hard to find true friends that you can really trust. And each and everyone here is people like that.


    Xiu Mei smiled and suddenly had the urge to hug Lia, and so she did. Lia didn¡¯t reject her and hugged her back.


    The other three also heard what Lia said and stopped teasing Xiu Mei. Instead, while Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t looking, they all looked so relieved and smiled at Xiu Mei¡¯s figure. They didn¡¯t continue on Lu Chen¡¯s topic anymore and continued gossiping about other stuff.


    After stretching their muscles in the archery range, they did some short horse-riding before having their lunch.


    "By the way, Xiu Mei. Did you see Yu Zhenzhen during the funeral?" Jia Ying asked while consuming a bowl of sd.


    Xiu Mei nodded her head. ¡¯I saw her but she didn¡¯t stay very long at the funeral.¡¯ is what she wrote.


    "Hmm. You know, we all don¡¯t like her very much but still, I feel bad because she suddenly lost her husband when she¡¯s still in the middle of her pregnancy." Jia Ying said. "I was truly shocked when I heard from my assistant that Mr. Pei suddenly passed away you know."


    The others hummed and nodded their heads in response to her statement.


    "I wonder who killed him though. I mean, who had the guts to kill someone rted to the person with the highest authority in our country?"


    "Maybe it¡¯s one of the prime minister¡¯s enemies? Or maybe someone had a grudge with Mr.Pei so they decided to murder him?"


    "Well, maybe someone was envious of him? We know how dark politics could be. Right, Xiu Mei?"


    Xiu Mei casually listened to their chat and shrugged her shoulders as an answer implying that she wasn¡¯t sure.


    Even though she came from a family of politicians, it¡¯s not like she has firsthand knowledge of how dangerous or dirty it was. All of it she learned either from her rtives and observation throughout the years of watching her father and second brother.


    "Speaking of Mr. Pei¡¯s case, I heard the military will be involved in the investigation too."


    "Hm? Where did you hear that?"


    "From my father. He said that¡¯s what his friend from the police headquarters said to him in passing. Not sure if it¡¯s true or not but, if the military¡¯s going to be involved, then doesn¡¯t it mean that something scary must have happened since the military is going to interfere with the investigation?"


    "If that¡¯s true then, that¡¯s really scary."


    "Oh, but you know what? I just hope that when Yu Zhenzhen decides to appear again in public, that she won¡¯t suddenlysh out or something."


    "Why did you suddenly say that?"


    "I mean, remember back in the party? She was very bitchy to Xiu Mei when she didn¡¯t do anything to her at all. It was because Mr.Pei held her off that¡¯s why she didn¡¯t go crazy but now that her husband is gone, won¡¯t her personality turn more twisted than it already was before?" Qiao Qing said as she voiced out her true thoughts.


    Xiu Mei and Jia Ying who was sitting between Qiao Qing lightly hit her in the back and her arm. Lia even almost threw the cabbage leaf at her while Jing Yan looked sharply at her.


    "What? I was just saying that because it could possibly happen you know."


    "We know. We all have the same thoughts, but damn. Qiao Qing, you¡¯re really brave to even voice it out. You know walls have ears, right! First rule of gossip!!!"


    "Then let them know for all I care!"


    "Oh. Then you can wait for your Dad to kill you then once he gets wind that his daughter spoke badly about the Prime Minister¡¯s daughter a day after her husband¡¯s burial."


    "...Tsk. Fine. I¡¯ll shut my mouth."


    "Nah, you don¡¯t have to shut your mouth since you definitely won¡¯t. Just think before you speak first. It¡¯s going to be terrible if our conversation here gets leaked out you know."


    Xiu Mei nodded at their words. Even though she was interested in gossip, she was still quite cautious with everything she says since someone could take it the wrong way or bend her words into something negative then put it on the tabloids or anything. That would be terrible not only for her, but for her father¡¯s and second brother¡¯s image as politicians.


    After scolding Qiao Qing, the five girls resumed their agenda of going to the spa and full body massage. And then they had dinner before they decided to split up and go home refreshed and satisfied.


    She already messaged Lu Chen that he can now pick her up. Of course, her friends discovered this and decided to wait with her so they could meet this famous Mr. Lu. Xiu Mei shook her head helplessly and surrendered.


    She¡¯s truly helpless if she can¡¯t talk back to them ah.


    They were still chatting about some random things when she received a message from Lu Chen that he was already at the entrance of the private resort.


    When Xiu Mei stood up from her seat, the other girls quickly understood that the person they¡¯ve been waiting for has finally arrived!!


    And so, they all left their seats excitedly and followed Xiu Mei to the entrance. They were met with the familiar face that they¡¯ve always seen in business magazines and interviews before.


    "Wife." Lu Chen called as soon as he saw Xiu Meiing out.


    The sound of footsteps immediately halted as soon as he spoke.


    ¡¯Shit.¡¯ Xiu Mei thought as soon as she realized what he called her.


    Without a second thought, she hastened her pace discreetly trying to make her escape but before she could even take more than two steps, two hands held both of her arms preventing her from walking away any further.


    She tried to get away with a smile as she turned behind her to look at the four girls but was met with their sharp gazes and grinning faces instead.


    "Mei Mei ah~" Lia said softly. And then they pulled her closer and whispered to her.


    "Looks like we¡¯re going to have short chatter in the group chat?"


    Xiu Mei wanted to shake her head but with their gazes turning sharp to her, she hesitantly nodded her head.


    "Great!" They eximed before releasing her.


    Xiu Mei slowly turned behind her and finally saw the culprit who called her ¡¯wife¡¯ first.

 Chapter 210 - Irresistible

    <h4>Chapter 210 - Irresistible</h4>


    ...Dammit.


    Shepletely forgot to inform Lu Chen that she hadn¡¯t told her friends about her marriage yet, except for Kei, at least.


    Lu Chen stepped forward and stood beside Xiu Mei and smoothly chatted with her friends.


    "Hi, it¡¯s nice meeting you all again." Lu Chen said as he shook hands with Xiu Mei¡¯s friends. He remembered meeting and being introduced to them at the party when she picked up Xiu Mei before.


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t sure how to react seeing that ¡¯knowing¡¯ smile on her friends¡¯ faces as they casually returned the greeting to her husband.


    In the end, Lia and the others didn¡¯t dare to interrogate Mr. Lu despite thefortable feeling they received from him. After all, they were just mere acquaintances and he wasn¡¯t just ¡¯someone¡¯ they could easily pull for questions for gossip or tease.


    After reaching their goal of meeting the mysterious Mr.Lu for the second time, they happily sent her away while throwing a teasing smile at Xiu Mei.


    Xiu Mei discreetly red at them but they continued ignoring her sharp gaze and continued throwing teasing looks. She only stopped paying attention to them when she entered the car. She saw Lu Chen nod his head to her friends before he walked over to the driver¡¯s side and entered before driving off. He just turned into a corner after driving for a few minutes when Lu Chen pulled over the car so suddenly.


    She looked at her side to ask him why he was suddenly stopping when a shadow suddenly loomed over her face.


    And before Xiu Mei could even react to what was happening, she was already caught by Lu Chen into a kiss. His hand was already clutching her waist, and he was almost hovering over her figure, pressing her onto the window as he deepened the kiss.


    He didn¡¯t hesitate to slip inside her mouth and plunder. His kiss was almost simr to his previous kisses before¡ªaggressive, desperate as if he wanted to swallow her whole being.


    Xiu Mei felt powerless under her husband¡¯s actions but she didn¡¯t dislike it. She slowly got into the kiss as she wrapped her hands around his neck.


    She felt breathless under his continuous onught of kisses. Lu Chen has no signs of stopping his actions at all, so she could only lightly push his chest to send her message over. Lu Chen didn¡¯t stop immediately but his movements visibly lightened, his aggressive kiss turned light and gentle.


    After a minute, he finally let go of her lips. Their foreheads touched, as they listened to each other¡¯s panting with their faces in close proximity, their warm breaths being felt by each other.


    Lu Chen has already stopped kissing her, but his gaze at her almost felt like he was nowhere near stopping from cornering and showering her with his kisses.


    He didn¡¯t hide his emotions and revealed his desire to his wife. He gazed at her like a predator, waiting to jump on his prey and devour her whole. His hands never strayed from her waist, holding her in ce. After catching his breath, he lowered his head once more so Xiu Mei shut her eyes in reflex awaiting her fate of being eaten again.


    But contrary to her expectations, Lu Chen didn¡¯t jump on her again. This time, he only pressed his lips on hers and bit her lower lip tightly before pulling away. She opened her eyes with a surprised expression as she looked at him.


    His expressionpletely changed. He was now smiling at her while looking at her with an affectionate gaze and his hand slowly caressed her cheeks.


    "It¡¯s strange." He muttered under his breath. With their closeness, she was able to hear his words so she furrowed her brows and mouthed her question.


    ¡¯What is?¡¯


    Lu Chen chuckled as his hand stopped on her chin and his thumb running over her lips. This action of his almost made Xiu Mei¡¯s body tremble as she felt her breath hitch while feeling a weird sensation on her stomach.


    "You¡¯re already tempting enough everyday but tonight, you looked especially... irresistible. So I couldn¡¯t stop myself from taking a bite." He said while chuckling without removing his thumb from her lips.


    Xiu Mei blinked as his words slowly sunk in her mind.


    Irresistible?


    Her mind flew back to her activities today.


    Ah.... maybe it¡¯s because of all the spa and massage they did today?


    She hadn¡¯t gone for a while so her skin would have looked more glowing and supple than before after all those skin treatments and rxing regimen they¡¯ve gone through.


    Maybe that¡¯s what Lu Chen was saying?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s mind was still flying when Lu Chen pressed a final kiss on her lips again beforepletely pulling away from her. This time, he returned to his seat and patted his creased clothest before he continued driving.


    Xiu Mei returned to her senses when she felt him brush his lips against hers for the nth time before the warm breath disappearedpletely. She watched Lu Chen act naturally as if he didn¡¯t do something shameless seconds ago as he continued driving.


    Waah... this guy really.


    Lu Qiang was already sleeping by the time they got home. It was already quitete when she finished with her friends so it¡¯s quite understandable.


    But...


    Xiu Mei held her stomach and stared at the kitchen.


    She wondered whether there¡¯s still some leftovers in the kitchen. Since they got too absorbed with their rxation treatments, theypletely forgot about dinner. And now, as soon as she got home, she felt her stomach slightly ache almost screaming to her that she needs to eat food soon.


    "Didn¡¯t you have dinner there?" Lu Chen who noticed her movements finally asked. His brows furrowing in concern as he thought that his wife skipped her meal.


    Xiu Mei nodded hesitantly as she started walking over to the kitchen.


    But before she could reach the refrigerator, her wrist was caught and was pulled by Lu Chen forcibly making her seat on the chair.


    "I¡¯ll do it." He said before he turned towards the kitchen. Xiu Mei blinked at a loss before a smile appeared on her face.


    From her seat, she watched Lu Chen¡¯s figure getting busy in the kitchen. With her face resting on her hands, she watched him in amus.e.m.e.nt as she saw him crack the eggs messily with some of the shells getting mixed in the eggs, and when he tried to hide the fact that he almost got scalded from the oil when he poured the egg onto the pan, and when he clumsily tried to fold the egg over the rice as he tried to make it in an oval shape simr to the Omurice image he was looking at.


    She silently giggled by herself as she watched her clumsy husband working in the kitchen, trying his best to cook dinner for her. She thought it was funny, at the same time, she felt warm at his sincerity and efforts.


    After spending almost half an hour cooking Omurice in the kitchen, he immediately served his masterpiece to his hungry wife.


    "For my beloved wife." He said as he ced the te in front of her. Xiu Mei lowered her head and saw the ketchup drawn in a heart shape on top of the egg.


    Hmm... not bad.


    She raised her head to meet Lu Chen¡¯s gaze and smiled at him before she picked up her spoon and started digging in her food. Without hesitation, she ate a spoonful of the rice and egg.


    CRUNCH!


    ....well. That was...to be expected. She clearly saw he continued mixing the egg in the bowl without taking out the fallen eggshells at all.


    He probably missed it? Or forgot to take it out?


    And it¡¯s not like she didn¡¯t know better ah. She could clearly remember the number of eggshells she ate before when he also cooked breakfast for her when they were still not married.


    Xiu Mei awkwardly smiled at her husband before chewing the food in her mouth again.


    Maybe it???s fine.


    Calcium.


    Xiu Mei chanted inside her mind.


    Yes, this is calcium ah. Just think of it as intaking some calcium.


    Xiu Mei did her best and tried to ignore the crunching sounds inside her mouth as she continued eating. After so much difficulty, she finally finished the whole te. Lu Chen was thrilled to see his wife finishing off his cooked food as he quickly picked up the empty te and walked over to the kitchen again to wash the dishes.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that as soon as he turned his back on Xiu Mei, she quickly picked up the ss and gulped down two sses of water like crazy while touching her neck.


    My god... is it just her illusion or something? It almost felt like something was stuck in her throat ah.


    Oh my gosh. Was it the eggshells ah?

 Chapter 211 - Somehow Normal Night

    <h4>Chapter 211 - Somehow Normal Night</h4>


    After discreetly chugging down almost a pitcher of water after finishing off Lu Chen¡¯s loving meal he cooked only for her. She did her best to ignore the lingering itch on her throat while they made their way back to the bedroom.


    Xiu Mei had just finished her shower and was still drying her hair when she came out of the bathroom.


    "Wife,e here." Lu Chen sat at the edge of the bed, patting the space next to him. She obediently walked over to him and sat next to him. But before she could turn her head to mouth to him her words, her towel was snatched by her husband as he held her ce by grabbing her by the shoulders.


    And then he started drying her hair with the bath towel carefully as if she¡¯s like a fragile ss. Xiu Mei was a bit confused with his sudden actions but she sat still and let him do whatever he wanted.


    "Did you have fun today?" Lu Chen asked while drying her hair. Xiu Mei opened her mouth before realizing her current situation again. She quickly grabbed the tablet at the bedside table and wrote her answer.


    ¡¯I had fun. We yed archery and rxed.¡¯


    And my friend asked about you, is what she left unsaid. Recalling their conversation, her lips curled up.


    "That¡¯s good. Oh, if you want, we can also go back and y at the resort we went tost time with our son. We can go there over the weekend if you like it." Lu Chen proposed.


    Xiu Mei paused to think for a second before shaking her head.


    "You don¡¯t want to? Why?"


    ¡¯You still have a lot of work to catch up to. And Lu Qiang is busy with his projects and homework. It¡¯s better to just rest this weekend instead of going out.¡¯ is what she wrote.


    She had been working for him for so long that she was well familiar with how much workload they have in the office. And since Lu Chen had just recently returned to the office, and recalling the mountain of files she had seen back when she visited him, she was one hundred percent sure that he is currently swamped with work and reports at the moment.


    So she thought that resting and staying at home over the weekend would be the best choice right now.


    Lu Chen wanted to refute her but Xiu Mei wrote another sentence.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t lie to me and say that you¡¯re free or else, I¡¯ll get angry.¡¯ she added.


    The words got stuck on his throat before he could open his mouth. He nced at his wife¡¯s face briefly and realized that she would really get angry if he tries to convince her so in the end, he could only swallow his words to his stomach.


    "...Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you. But next time, we should go back there alright?"


    ¡¯Okay.¡¯


    While he busily dried her hair, she received a message from her girl best friends in the group chat. She felt a foreboding remembering what they told her before she left as her finger hesitantly hovered above the screen thinking whether to click it open tonight or not.


    Speaking of, shepletely forgot about warning Lu Chen about calling her ¡¯wife¡¯ in public. Maybe because they weren¡¯t hanging out together in public as they like spending time just at home or in the office, she had gotten too used to him call her ¡¯wife¡¯ hence, shepletely forgot that they are supposed to be in just a ¡¯girlfriend-boyfriend¡¯ rtionship outside.


    Right after she said those words, she was suddenly pulled from behind and found herself sitting on Lu Chen¡¯sp locked within his arms. She turned her head to meet his gaze and froze when she saw his current expression.


    But before she could even react, Lu Chen¡¯s phone rang to life. She heard him sigh in disappointment and frustration as he stood up to pick up his phone on the other side of the bedside table.


    She observed him for a few seconds when he suddenly left the room in haste as if he was in a rush. Worried, Xiu Mei was about to follow behind him to see whether she could be of any help but this time, it was her phone that buzzed.


    She nced at her mobile and saw that she received another message from the group chat. After thinking for a moment, she nced at the door before making up her mind to just wait for Lu Chen to return to talk to him about what happened.


    JiayouJiaJia: MEIMEI! WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?!!! DID YOU MARRY MR.LU WITHOUT US KNOWING?!


    Mrs.Lia: I smell betrayal.


    IamTheChefJing: Mr.Lu called you wife!! Ahhhh! Isn¡¯t that so sweet?


    Dr.QiaoQing: Do contact me once you feel like you¡¯re pregnant.


    ¡¯...¡¯ what the hell are they saying? Spouting nonsense at this time!!


    MeiMei: I volunteer to leave this group.


    IamTheChefJing: You¡¯re finally here!


    Mrs.Lia: *coughs* did Mr.Lu give you a hard time?


    MeiMei: *sends a sticker of a rabbit ring*


    JiaoyouJiaJia: We still need tea. Don¡¯t think we¡¯ve already forgotten! What was that a while ago, huh?


    Mrs.Lia: We didn¡¯t receive any wedding candies either. That¡¯s mean!


    Dr.QiaoQing: I¡¯m satisfied if you prepare a table of four with no minimum of twenty thousand RMB of food served.


    MeiMei:...Qiao Qing, you¡¯re crazy.


    JiayouJiaJia: So does that mean you really got married?! *O_O*


    Xiu Mei¡¯s movements halted as she hesitated to answer her question.


    Should she tell the truth or...should she just keep hiding it from them?


    For a second, she wanted to keep the truth hidden from them for now but she recalled their conversation in the archery range this morning and how happy they were for her.


    Guilt struck her heart as she continued hesitating about what she should do.


    She finally made up her mind after thinking for almost a full minute. She was already barraged by the others with simr questions.


    MeiMei: He just called me ¡¯Wife¡¯ and suddenly I¡¯m married?


    Mrs.Lia: Well, you got a point there.


    JiayouJiaJia: So you??re not married. *cries* Please tell me you¡¯re getting married soon so we can eat at the twenty thousand RMB table.


    MeiMei: Then find others to get married ah.


    JiayouJiaJia: Who should I find?


    IamChefJing: For example, you Jia Ying?


    JiayouJiaJia: Why should I!! Come on, I just turned into an A-list celebrity and hello, I¡¯m not even in a rtionship yet. Why don¡¯t you ask Kei instead?


    MeiMei: Ohhhhhhh should I message Kei to propose to you Jing Yan?


    IamChefJing: I am out of here.


    Dr.QiaoQing: Duty calls. Talkter.


    JiayouJiaJia: AH! Qiao Qing ran away! I can¡¯t believe it!!!


    Mrs.Lia: I smell betrayal.


    MeiMei: Lia, again?


    IamChefJing: Lia just be honest. Are you having some marital issues right now or what? Seems like you¡¯re taking it out on us ah.


    Mrs.Lia: My husband doesn¡¯t dare. I¡¯m just frustrated and tempted to throw my daughter to your house at the moment. She¡¯s having her tantrums for the nth time today and my ears are nearly bleeding from all her screaming.


    JiayouJiaJia: No biggie, just dump my lovely goddaughter to my arms! I will wee her!


    Mrs.Lia: MeiMei, take over for me, please~


    MeiMei: Why me ah?


    JiayouJiaJia: *sends a heartbroken sticker*


    IamChefJing: Goodluck!


    MeiMei: Again, why me?


    Mrs.Lia: Oh. She stopped crying. I take it back.


    MeiMei:...


    JiayouJiaJia:...


    IamChefJing:...


    JiayouJiaJia: Lia, tell us. You¡¯re just ying with us, right?


    MeiMei: Congrats, Jia Ying. You finally figured it out.


    Mrs.Lia: If I really wanted to send my daughter away, I would have sent her back to my parents ah.


    IamChefJing: *sends a smh sticker*


    JiayouJiaJia: You all don¡¯t love me.


    Mrs.Lia: We really don¡¯t.


    MeiMei: Nah.


    IamChefJing: They say to just keep your mouth shut if you don¡¯t want to hurt others with your words. Sorry.


    JiayouJiaJia:...I am breaking my friendship with you guys!!!


    Xiu Mei got absorbed and amused at her chatting with her friends that she didn¡¯t notice that she had already been chatting with them for almost an hour. A smile glued on her face as she closed the chat again. At the same time, she couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty when she still decided on choosing not to tell the truth about her marriage with Lu Chen.


    She bit her lip while putting away her phone.


    Maybe she¡¯ll find the right timeter. Just... she¡¯s really not ready to reveal it to them right now. Xiu Mei is genuinely hoping that they¡¯ll understand her decision once they find out the truth.


    She was just about to cover herself with the nket when she finally realized something.


    She scanned the room and noticed that Lu Chen hasn¡¯t gone back ever since he answered the call. Her brows furrowed as she grew slightly worried.


    What had suddenlye up for him to not return to their room all this time?

 Chapter 212 - Choice

    <h4>Chapter 212 - Choice</h4>


    After being torn between following him to the study or waiting for him in the room, Xiu Mei finally chose thetter. Maybe she could ask him what¡¯s it all about tomorrow?


    Sheid on the bed, waiting for Lu Chen to return at any moment until eventually, sleep slowly took over her senses as she got pulled into the dreand without giving her a chance to see Lu Chen¡¯s figure.


    Xiu Mei woke up early the next day because of the rm. She felt bad not being able to wake up early yesterday so she made a bunch of scheduled rms to make sure she¡¯ll wake up this time.


    She groggily rose from the bed and turned off the rm in reflex. After stretching her arms for a short moment, she noticed the empty space beside her.


    Did Lu Chen wake up early today?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows furrowed when she noticed that the pillow next to her didn¡¯t have any sign of someone being slept on at all. Even the nket of the side only creased a little bit with the movements she had throughout the night, but the rest, it was almost pristine clearly showing that no one slept beside her at all.


    Xiu Mei grew more worried as she quickly climbed off the bed and rushed to the study. Unfortunately, she was met with an empty room with no trace of Lu Chen in it. She continued searching for him all throughout the second floor and still saw no shadow of her husband.


    "Mom?" A voice called behind her.


    She turned and saw Lu Qiang rubbing his eyes.


    She wanted to apologize thinking that she woke him up but she remembered her situation. Instead, she knelt in front of her son and mouthed ¡¯Daddy¡¯ then made a gesture to ask if he had seen him.


    Albeit still groggy, the little kid understood what his mother was trying to tell him.


    He shook his head and answered, "I haven¡¯t seen Dad sincest night."


    And same with her. Xiu Mei bit her lip as she fell into contemtion.


    Maybe she was wrong when she thought that Lu Chen stayed in his study all night? Instead, he could have possibly leftst night and went somewhere?


    But where could he possibly go off to? Without even informing or saying goodbye to her.


    Thest time he disappeared like this... was when she figured out that he was involved in the underground world?


    Wait.


    That actually sounds usible. Could he have really gone therest night?


    Xiu Mei got even more worried as she thought of the dangers in that ce. If he really went there and rushed out without even informing her, something big must have happened right there that needed his presence immediately.


    "Mom, I¡¯ll follow youter downstairs after I take a bath." Lu Qiang uttered before returning inside his room, waking Xiu Mei from her thoughts.


    She stood there for a few seconds before she returned to their shared bedroom to fix herself real quickly and went downstairs to start preparing for breakfast. She met the butler on her way to the kitchen.


    ¡¯Did my husband go out this morning?¡¯ she asked.


    The butler shook his head.


    "Master left in a rushtest night."


    So he did leavest night... but why?


    She didn¡¯t ask the butler anymore than that and went straight ahead to the kitchen to prepare Lu Qiang¡¯s lunchbox. She and Lu Qiang spent their breakfast chatting as she asked him about what happened in school yesterday. After that, she personally dropped him off at school.


    Her phone buzzed. It was a message from her assistant telling her that she needs some help.


    Secretary Xiu: Why? What happened?


    Something must have surely happened if her assistant needs some help. Maybe something big happened in thepany that¡¯s why Lu Chen leftst night?


    Assistant Secretary: The president of Ji Group wanted to push through with the schedule for meetingter this lunch.


    Secretary Xiu: Did President Lu wanted to cancel the meeting?


    Assistant Secretary: I don¡¯t know...


    Secretary Xiu: What do you mean you don¡¯t know?


    Assistant Secretary: The President hasn¡¯t arrived yet and Secretary Lu hasn¡¯te in either. I couldn¡¯t reach either so thinking that they weren¡¯ting, I went ahead and rescheduled the President¡¯s schedule today. But the Ji Group President insists that we push through with the meeting today or else, they said that they don¡¯t need to meet us anymore in the future.


    Xiu Mei froze. Her train of thoughts focused on the first half of what her assistant secretary said.


    Lu Chen isn¡¯t in the office?


    Then if it isn¡¯t thepany... is it his other...?


    Assistant Secretary: Ms.Xiu, are we pushing through with this meeting?


    Xiu Mei woke up from her thoughts hearing her phone buzzed again signaling her of the received message.


    Xiu Mei contemted for a moment before sending her response.


    The Ji Group President? Hmm... if she remembered correctly, it¡¯s that entric president she met once before at a party?


    He¡¯s also quite difficult to schedule a meeting with so she really wouldn¡¯t want to cancel the meeting unless necessary. But Lu Chen and Lu Shao aren¡¯t around either.


    What should she do? It¡¯s not like she can just walk in and attend the meeting on behalf of them right now. She couldn¡¯t even open her mouth to greet him ah.


    Secretary Xiu: I¡¯ll get back to you in a bit.


    After sending a brief message to her assistant, Xiu Mei quickly dialed Lu Chen¡¯s number. Unfortunately, his phone was unreachable. It seems like his phone was turned off.


    After trying a couple of times, she gave up and dialed Lu Shao¡¯s instead. Like Lu Chen¡¯s, his number was also unavable and couldn¡¯t be reached.


    She stared at her phone screen in disbelief while her brows furrowed in frustration.


    Gosh, of all times for the both of them to be unavable, why did it have to be now?


    She would¡¯ve been fine if they did this if she¡¯s capable of working right now but her current situation is definitely not the most appropriate time for her to attend the meeting in their ce.


    Xiu Mei continued trying to contact them, pacing around the room only to be left with the same unavable tone on the other end.


    She silently red at her phone again.


    These two... they better pray that they don¡¯t show up in front of her soon else she¡¯ll be very tempted to hit them in frustration right now.


    Ahhhh even though she knows they didn¡¯t intend to disappear again like this but gosh, did it really have to be now?!


    She bit her lip as she tried to think of another solution.


    She would¡¯ve chosen the meeting to be canceled by now but since they¡¯re insisting it, it would prove quite difficult for her assistant secretary to convince them to postpone the meeting.


    After thinking about it for a few minutes, Xiu Mei finally made up her mind.


    Secretary Xiu: I¡¯ming in. Wait for me right there.


    After sending that, Xiu Mei swiftly started preparing and changed into her working attire. She didn¡¯t forget to send Lu Chen a message, hoping that he¡¯ll see it as soon as possible.


    Almost an hourter, she arrived at the top floor and saw her assistant secretary looking so stressed with all the calls and papers she¡¯s been doing at the same time.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t bother her assistant secretary with her call so she strode to her desk instead and looked at the single folder ced on it. There was even a sticky note stuck in front.


    ¡¯Proposal to Ji Group¡¯ - Today, 1 PM, Paradise Dia Restaurant


    Oh, so we were supposed to propose a coboration project with them?

 Chapter 213 - Missing Him

    <h4>Chapter 213 - Missing Him</h4>


    The agreed hour was nearly approaching and the president¡¯s secretary wasn¡¯t anywhere ready as she prepares to face what might be by far the most terrible crisis she had encountered throughout her career.


    Xiu Mei grew even more nervous by the second which was quite unusual given that she was already quite used to having important meetings like this one. However... that was only possible because she could interact with themfortably on her own and with her own mouth. But this time around, that was just purely impossible.


    Her finger subconsciously tapping the table as her anxiety doubled. After squeezing every single cell in her brain, an idea finally hit her. Her head spun to nce at her busy assistant who was clearly drowning in papers yet Xiu Mei only shed a grin as she thought of her n.


    At Paradise Dia Restaurant.


    "Ms.Xiu, is this really fine?" Her assistant asked for the third time while waiting in the private room.


    Xiu Mei gave her a smile of confidence and wrote, ¡¯It¡¯s far better to have you speak on my behalf than wasting President Ji¡¯s kindness by making him wait for me to finish typing in my answers just to converse with him.¡¯


    "But..."


    ¡¯You¡¯ll have to get used to attending this sort of meetings in the future, so just take this as an early practice.¡¯ Xiu Mei typed perfunctorily however her assistant thought otherwise as her eyes sparkled.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant:... Is Ms.Xiu being officially promoted as thedy boss sooner than expected?!


    Her assistant nodded her head vigorously in excitement as her head was filled with the soon-to-be wedding. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t think much about her weird expression and just nodded while smiling thinking that her assistant must have understood her intention.


    Clearly, she was just thinking that since her recovery doesn¡¯t seem to being anytime soon, and she couldn¡¯t just always rely on Lu Shao in attending this type ofpany-rted activities given that he has his own share of work in the first ce, then Xiu Mei could only pass these responsibilities to her assistant, whom she was originally training in the first ce.


    The two people with different thoughts patiently waited for their guests. A few minutester, the Ji Group¡¯s President and two other people, whom Xiu Mei recognized to be the secretary and the other to be the Director of Operations of the Ji Group in the country, finally arrived.


    Xiu Mei and her assistant quickly stood up and greeted the guests, extending her hand for a polite handshake.


    "Ms. Xiu, we apologize for pushing you to go through with this meeting even though you¡¯ve already requested for this to be rescheduled." The Director opened his mouth first as he expressed his sincere apology after sitting down on the opposite side of the table following after the President and the secretary.


    Xiu Mei would have quickly replied however she could only nod and put a smile on her face as she gestured for her assistant to speak on her behalf.


    "It should be us who should be apologizing. We were originally the ones who requested for this meeting to be rescheduled even though it might affect President Ji¡¯s activities. We are terribly sorry if we inconvenienced you in some way." Her assistant said in an apologizing tone. Both Xiu Mei and her assistant saw the change in their expressions as soon as her assistant spoke.


    Xiu Mei instantly understood their thoughts. They must have thought that her assistant speaking first when the Director was talking to Xiu Mei was inappropriate or probably a bit disrespectful.


    Her assistant wasn¡¯t stupid and quickly exined herself ording to what she and Xiu Mei previously discussed before.


    "Oh, apologies! Ms. Xiu is currently sick and she is temporarily unable to speak for the time being hence, I¡¯ll be doing the discussion on her behalf as her personal aide and Ms.Xiu will also be trying tomunicate with us through the text-to-speech function in her phone if you have any questions."


    The three people on the other side were expressionless, but they knew that the Ji Group¡¯s President and his other subordinates are scrutinizing the two of them, not as a person but as the Lu Group¡¯s secretary and her aide.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t want to anger them but this was the only thing she could think of since they couldn¡¯t postpone this meeting.


    The Ji Group¡¯s President first opened his mouth, signifying that her assistant could continue talking making Xiu Mei secretly sigh in relief. At least, he was willing to proceed with their meeting.


    Thete lunch concluded an hourter. After sending off the Ji Group¡¯s President and the others, Xiu Mei returned to the office with her assistant.


    The meeting didn¡¯t turn bad but it wasn¡¯t the best either....was what Xiu Mei thought while traveling back to the office. She wasn¡¯t satisfied with the results of the meeting, but because of her inability, she could only do so much and it seems that she¡¯ll have to further train her assistant in a lot of stuff if she is to be the President¡¯s secretary in the future.


    The two of them took the private elevator heading straight to the top floor, and so, Xiu Mei dived into Lu Shao¡¯s table to check if there are any doc.u.ments that need immediate attention while her assistant started working on the conclusion of their meeting with the Ji Group.


    Xiu Mei would often check her phone every half an hour, hoping that person would at least send her a short message to where he was or if he¡¯s fine or just anything.


    At least, just to let her know that he¡¯s alive or anything.


    She didn¡¯t stay too long at the office after finishing some urgent doc.u.ments. After sending orders and instructions to her assistant on what she needs to do for the rest of the day and tomorrow, just in case that the Lu Chen and Lu Shao are still not around.


    She picked up Lu Qiang before going home and spent most of her time with her son. It was alreadyte when she finished tucking him to bed yet her husband showed no hints of contacting her or returning home.


    Xiu Mei sat at the edge of the bed, the side where Lu Chen usually sleeps beside her. She couldn¡¯t help but reach out to touch his pillow.


    It was cold. Just like his owner.


    Xiu Mei silently let out a half-suppressedugh. She sat still there a little longer beforeying down on Lu Chen¡¯s cold pillow. Her gaze lingered on the big space beside her.


    This...since when did her bed felt this spacious?


    To think that Lu Chen had only been gone for a day and she was already missing him this much already...truly, since when did she turn like this?


    She had already been apart from Lu Chen far longer than this but somehow... she thought that this was the first time she felt this worst not seeing him at all.


    Eventually, her eyes closed and she fell into slumber while worrying about Lu Chen.

 Chapter 214 - A Dream?

    <h4>Chapter 214 - A Dream?</h4>


    Xiu Mei suddenly felt a bit warm. She faintly woke up after feeling warm when her nket was pulled up over her body.


    Ah, she forgot to hide under her nket when she lied down on the bed.


    She even dozed off while lying on Lu Chen¡¯s side of the bed without any nket over her...


    Wait.


    Her drowsiness slightly disappeared as realization dawned on her.


    Then why did she suddenly have a nket on her...?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes shot open, seeing the empty space beside her bed. She felt a pang on her heart seeing that but then, she noticed a faint light behind at some corner of her room.


    She blinked her eyes a few more times trying to make her eyesight adapt to the not well-lit room. She shifted on the bed, turning to look behind her at the source of the light.


    "Sorry, did I wake you up?" A voice resounded within the room.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s movement halted. Her eyes are still adjusting to the light so she couldn¡¯t clearly see the figure sitting at the other end of the room, but she saw the figure stand up to approach her. Her gaze followed the figure, and she blinked her eyes furiously this time as she lied motionless on the bed until he finally stopped just beside her.


    This time, she could clearly see who the figure was.


    "Wife, I¡¯ll turn off the light okay? So you can continue sleeping." Lu Chen softly said to her, as he knelt down in front of her and lightly brushing her hair. With the faint light behind him, she couldn¡¯t clearly see the expression on his face.


    But she could feel his warm hand on her hair, and how gentle he was trying to be as if he was trying to usher her to sleep.


    His maic voice was full of pampering as he coaxed her to continue sleeping.


    Wife...he called her.


    She lifted her gaze and tried to get a good look on his face despite the darkness.


    Was she probably dreaming?


    She was missing him so much this time, maybe that¡¯s why she could even see Lu Chen in her dreams now?


    "Wife?" He called her again.


    Xiu Mei stared hard at him.


    If this is a dream then... please don¡¯t wake her up anytime soon.


    "Husband..." Xiu Mei subconsciously muttered. She didn¡¯t even notice that she had called him ¡¯husband¡¯, an endearment she never called him with before.


    This time, it was Lu Chen who froze. The hand that was brushing his wife¡¯s hair stopped as his wife¡¯s voice echoed in his head. His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at his wife that was staring at him as well.


    Did Xiu Mei just called him...?


    No, wait. Xiu Mei... spoke?


    But before Lu Chen could react even further, he felt someone tugging on his cor pulling him down. And then, he felt something soft and warm pressed on his lips and two arms wrapping themselves around his neck pulling his body even closer to the soft body against him.


    Xiu Mei,pletely overwhelmed by her emotions in addition to her grogginess, couldn¡¯t stop herself from pulling her husband even closer and uratelynding a sloppy kiss on his lips. Her mind clearly a mess and all she could think of was to hold onto the man before her right at this moment.


    Her arms around his neck tightened as she tried to imitate Lu Chen¡¯s kiss before, sliding her tongue across his lips and biting his lower lip sloppily clearly showing her inexperience in the area.


    She felt him part his lips, and so just like how she remembered, she prated his mouth with her tongue and just like a student trying to do her best, she tried hooking her tongue with his whilst exploring his mouth just like what Lu Chen usually does when he was giving her a deep kiss.


    Lu Chen was stunned by the sudden turn of events. He wasn¡¯t the type to be usually surprised or stunned, but his wife clearly caught him off guard with her sudden attack right at this moment.


    When he got home, he found his wife asleep on the bed without any nket over her body.


    Hence, he pulled the nket to cover her body so she wouldn¡¯t get cold, and then he briefly went to the bathroom to clean himself.


    When he went out, he found Xiu Mei kicking off her nket again and so he promptly covered her again. And then he sat at the table at the corner of the room nning to finish some papers before going to bed.


    But he didn¡¯t expect Xiu Mei to wake up.


    Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have turned on the light?


    Stupid. He should have done his work in the study instead. Look, now he disturbed his wife¡¯s sleep.


    And then she heard her speak, calling him ¡¯husband¡¯.


    It felt like his whole world stopped. It was her voice. The voice he terribly missed. The voice that he got used to listening to every day for many years.


    But his wife suddenly jumping on him as soon as she woke up waspletely out of his expectations. He was stunned at Xiu Mei¡¯s boldness, especially when she voluntarily french kissed him when he slightly opened his mouth to give her easier ess.


    He suppressed the chuckle on his lips when he noticed her sloppy techniques in trying to imitate him in kissing, but he couldn¡¯t help but be more than proud of this wonderful student of his.


    His arm stuck itself on the curvature of her waist, and with Xiu Mei¡¯s arm tightly clinging onto his neck, her pajamas top stretched upwards showing a bit of her skin.


    His fingers brushed against her skin as he slowly drowned himself into his wife¡¯s intimacy. He felt her body shudder at the contact, a light groan sounded from her throat while their lips perfectly molded stuck to each other.


    The kiss didn¡¯tst too long. Xiu Mei found herself breathless as she pulled her lips away to gasp for more oxygen, stopping merely centimeters away from her husband¡¯s lips.

 Chapter 215 - And I still miss you

    <h4>Chapter 215 - And I still miss you</h4>


    Their warm breath from light panting hitting their faces as they deeply gazed into each other¡¯s eyes.


    "I was worried." Xiu Mei muttered underneath her breath, barely audible to Lu Chen¡¯s ears yet he still heard it.


    Lu Chen lifted his hand and caressed her cheek.


    "I¡¯m sorry, I made you worry."


    "I hate you." Her tone didn¡¯t sound quite serious, but rather, more of a childining to her parents.


    "Mm."


    "You made me clean up after you." Now she was just venting. Cleaning up after her superior was actually her job. But who cares anyway. The annoying boss is her husband.


    "Mm."


    "I had to go to work in your ce."


    "Mm."


    "You didn¡¯t message me at all." She continuedining without noticing that she, who should be unable to speak in front of anyone, is now whining like a child to Lu Chen just like the normal person she was before.


    "Mm."


    "Not even a period or anything."


    "Mm."


    "I want a divorce."


    "Not happening."


    "Thought you weren¡¯t listening." Oh, he didn¡¯t fall for that.


    "I always listen to you."


    "You don¡¯t."


    "?"


    Xiu Mei wiped off her yful visage and turned somber.


    "If you really did, you would have at least contacted me once."


    Lu Chen realized his mistake. He was too used to not contacting anyone when he¡¯s at the other work that hepletely forgot to assure his wife about his whereabouts.


    "I¡¯m sorry."


    "You¡¯re always sorry." She lightly scolded. "Do you even know your mistake?"


    "It won¡¯t ever happen again."


    "That¡¯s what children say but they always do it again."


    "I¡¯m not a child."


    "I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m even more frustrated."


    The husband knew that he could never win against her at the moment. And so, he shifted to the most important question.


    "Are you really divorcing me?" Lu Chen thought they hadn¡¯t evensted a year.


    "..."


    Xiu Mei just nkly stared back at him, making Lu Chen even more anxious. She wasn¡¯t serious about the divorce, was she?


    "Wife." He coaxed, pecking her on the lips in an attempt to butter her up.


    "..."


    Lu Chen saw that his action didn¡¯t faze her so he dared to step up his game a little bit more.


    This time, he lightly grazed her earlobe, biting on it gently enough not to hurt her. Xiu Mei shuddered at the contact as she subconsciously avoided his lips when she felt her neck getting ticklish.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t allow him to continue his actions and pulled back her husband¡¯s face away from her neck. She threw him a warning look and that made him stop ying around.


    She stared hard at him as if she was trying to see something through his eyes. Then she traveled her gaze across his face. Her hand hovering above Lu Chen¡¯s face seemingly trying to trace his outline.


    She, herself, couldn¡¯t understand her actions but she justpletely let herself do whatever she felt like she wanted to do. And so she did.


    "I missed you." She buried her face at the crook of his neck. "And I still miss you."


    Thest line almost sounded like a whisper, her voice cracking as she told him her honest feelings.


    Lu Chen was gaping when he heard her words. It wasn¡¯t like he was not expecting her not to miss him, but what he was surprised about was she was saying those words while acting like a baby to him. He felt something tickling his heart as he felt warm, tightening his hug on his wife.


    And then there came the unexpected. The most unexpected among all the unexpected.


    His wife... bit him on his neck.


    No, it wasn¡¯t the kind of bite that leaves bite marks on your skin. It was the kind that would leave strawberries and unspeakable marks that any a.d.u.l.t person would know.


    His hand that was grazing his wife¡¯s soft skin tightened as he felt Xiu Mei¡¯s mouth trying to suck his skin harder, desperate to leave her trace on him.


    "Wi¡ª" His unrecognizable voice broke underneath the continuous neck attack of his wife. His voice turning deep as he felt a tongue sliding on his neck before suckling on it like a kid again.


    He groaned under his breath as he subconsciously pressed Xiu Mei¡¯s body onto his.


    Lu Chen tried to hold onto his self-control despite falling under the spell of his wife¡¯s temptations. He would be lying if all he wanted to do now was to just let his wife continue and press her down on the bed to do the unspeakable actions that are not appropriate for kids. He had been desiring her for so long, but he knew that she didn¡¯t love him yet. Or maybe she wasn¡¯t just telling him at all.


    Still, he thought that she still wasn¡¯t ready for this kind of thing. After all, he gave her a year to think about it. Though making love with his wife within that timeframe doesn¡¯t mean that she will promise to stay with him for the rest of their lives, he greatly respects her.


    Her chastity.


    Her virtue.


    So he could only wait until she decides that she¡¯s finally ready.


    And her actions tonight were greatly fueling his expectations and desires that he had been suppressing for quite some time.


    "Xiu Mei." He uttered her name. His voice sounding deep and husky as the feeling of l.u.s.t grew by the second.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t seem to hear him and so he directly cupped her face forcing her to look straight into his eyes as he carefully watched any change in her expression.


    "I¡¯m a man." He tried to exin to her his thoughts.


    She nodded.


    "And you¡¯re my wife."


    She nodded again.


    He carefully examined her expression and he didn¡¯t see any sign of resistance from her. His string of sanity was already barely hanging on right at this moment.


    "Do you really know what you¡¯re doing?" He pressed, watching any frown or crease that might appear on her face.


    But all he saw was the curl of her lips, as her eyes twinkled with the reflection of the light from behind him.


    "I said I still miss you." She repeated her words. She didn¡¯t stray from his stare and bravely looked at him.


    "So you have to take me with you."

 Chapter 216 - Special Night

    <h4>Chapter 216 - Special Night</h4>


    "So you have to take me with you."


    And right at that moment, Lu Chen heard the string of reason snap within his brain.


    Before Xiu Mei could even blink, the world spun in front of her and she found her back being pressed on the soft bed once again. Her air felt like it was knocked out of her lungs, but before she could catch on her breath, her mouth was quickly covered by Lu Chen.


    He kissed her as if he was trying to eat her to his stomach.


    He bit.


    He sucked.


    He explored.


    He nibbled.


    It was as if he was making sure to leave his trace on her mouth.


    Xiu Mei almost couldn¡¯t breathe. She was being too overwhelmed with Lu Chen¡¯s aggressive kiss. And she was almost going crazy when she felt his hand crawling underneath her top. His hand felt scalding hot against her cold skin that was left uncovered when she slept.


    It was almost as if she was burning under his touch.


    Momentster, Lu Chen finally left her lips. But he didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he started kissing her face, bit her ear, leaving a kiss behind her ear, and then he peppered some kisses while going down her neck.


    And then he started leaving love bites on her skin, gently sucking on her skin leaving her sanity in a mess. Xiu Mei¡¯s mind was almost exploding as she bit on her lips subconsciously trying to suppress the sound that was threatening to escape from her.


    "Wife." She heard a deep voice whisper.


    Xiu Mei heaved, her hands clutching on whatever she could hold onto the bed.


    Since when did he...?


    "Mhm!" She cried out. Lu Chen returned to ravaging her lips while his hand was touching and squeezing her chest that was hidden under her top. She was too caught up with his kiss that she didn¡¯t even notice when he unsped her brassiere.


    Usually, this was where Lu Chen would stop himself whenever he makes out with Xiu Mei. But this time, with his wife¡¯s blessing, he didn¡¯t dare to halt his actions and dly fulfilled her request.


    His actions, although a bit slow, quickly discarded his and her clothes leaving the two of thempletely bare to each other. Skin to skin. Xiu Mei¡¯s sanitypletely disappeared as she wallowed to the desire and l.u.s.t that she and Lu Chen are both sharing as of the moment.


    "Xiu Mei," Lu Chen called on her again. She could barely make coherent words at this time, trying to let out a short "Mm?" while he kept her busy down there.


    Lu Chen was trying his best to make it easy for her. This was both his and her first time so he wanted it to be memorable. The best, even.


    Tonight was special, so he didn¡¯t want to mess up. And so, he could only work hard to loosen her up so she won¡¯t be hurt. But he knew that it will still her no matter what. So he wanted tofort her at the very least.


    "I¡¯ll try to be gentle." He whispered in her ears. "So tell me if it hurts."


    Keyword: Try


    Because who knows if he suddenly loses control of himself once they¡¯re finally one.


    His words barely registered in Xiu Mei¡¯s brain, still, she nodded her head as a response.


    A minuteter, her fingers sunk leaving marks on his back as she felt a tearing pain sweeping her body. Thenter, she felt like she was on a ship being swept away with the strong waves.


    The smell and atmosphere within the room were filled with the scent of their love-making. The faint light at the corner of the room was strangely making the atmosphere even better.


    The couple, who was so caught up with their actions, finally felt exhaustion only going to sleep a few hours before sunrise.


    At the end of their activity, Xiu Mei remembered her conversation with her friends.


    That men, truly are beasts in bed.


    ***


    Xiu Mei was woken up by the sound of her rm ring loudly within her room. She stretched out her hand, wanting to turn it off but as soon as she made the tiniest movement of her body, she instantly felt ache and pain as if she was beaten up by someone.


    She softly whimpered in pain when the loud sound finally stopped. She shuffled underneath the covers trying to move her body when she felt an arm looping around her waist and pulling her towards the warm object beside her.


    Xiu Mei opened her eyes and was met with Lu Chen¡¯s grinning expression. Words got stuck on her throat when she was suddenly mesmerized by the charming smile he was showing to her so early in the morning.


    The gears of her brain clearly still not working as she still hadn¡¯t remembered what happened just hours ago.


    "Good morning, my wife." Lu Chen greeted while pecking her on the lips. Xiu Mei¡¯s brow raised in confusion as she returned the greeting.


    "Are you alright?" He asked.


    Huh?


    Xiu Mei got even more confused. What does he¡ª


    Oh.


    Oh....


    OH!!!!


    Xiu Mei lowered her head, finally seeing her n.a.k.e.dness being hidden by the nket. Along with her was her husband, as she finally realized that she, like she was, was also wearing nothing. And if her mind was ying tricks on her, then it must have been her imagination that was making her think that something hard was brushing against her stomach.


    But her body, which she felt was falling apart, says otherwise.


    Oh god.


    OH GOD!


    In an instant, the events from theirst night¡¯s activities flooded in her mind. How she first made a move on him and what went on after that.


    Xiu Mei wished that the ground would just open up to swallow her entire being.


    My gosh, she didn¡¯t know she was that bold and aggressive ah!!! To think she was the one who made the first move....!!

 Chapter 217 - Emotions over Subconscious

    <h4>Chapter 217 - Emotions over Subconscious</h4>


    No! Wait! She was forgetting something... what was it?


    Xiu Mei raised her eyes and met Lu Chen¡¯s clearly delighted expression on his face looking very fulfilled. She immediately avoided his gaze from embarrassment as her ¡¯supposed-to-be¡¯ dream reyed inside her head.


    "Wife, is this okay?"


    "Wife, are you ufortable?"


    "Wife, I promise this is thest one, okay?"


    Xiu Mei:....Fudge!


    She felt like pulling her hair out at this moment as she immediately pulled over the nket over her head while turning her back from Lu Chen.


    My gosh, it wasn¡¯t a dream. It was all real!!!


    ....fudge.


    She tried to recall what happenedst night and the truth slowly dawned on her. This... all of this was actually because of her!! She thought she was so bold in her dream but damn, she was too bold in reality!!


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t find the energy to face her husband behind her. No, she really couldn¡¯t muster any energy at all because she felt so sore and tired to the point that she was very tempted to not get up on this bed today at all.


    She jumped in surprise when she felt a hand crawl around her bare waist and her back being pulled into Lu Chen¡¯s chest.


    "Good morning, wife." Lu Chen murmured in her ear while subtly nuzzling her on her neck. His voice sounding deep and husky just like in her memoriesst night.


    She felt ticklish and strange as another emotion rose within her. Lu Chen¡¯s movements turned bolder as he started trailing his kisses on her back and shoulder while his other hand created circles on his wife¡¯s stomach.


    ¡¯Morning Wood¡¯ was quite normal for men, and Lu Chen could normally control his urges in the morning even with his wife beside him. But today, his control was nowhere to be found especially with the exercise they didst night.


    He was a man who disliked s.u.mbing to his l.u.s.tfulness and he was very proud of his self-control by not getting seduced by temptation.


    Obviously, he was that kind of man until he realized his feelings for this woman in front of him. And now that he finally got to taste such exquisite meat for the first time after the long abstinence, he found that he couldn¡¯t stop at all.


    Being one with the woman he loves,... he didn¡¯t know that it was such a wonderful thing.


    And seeing his wife¡¯s adorable sleeping face, and then her reaction upon waking up, he couldn¡¯t help himself but take a bite.


    It didn¡¯t help that the scent of their lovemaking fromst night still lingered within the room. The atmosphere slowly turns heated, with Xiu Mei finding herself underneath her husband¡¯s arms again as he feasted on her lips and corbone, leaving another trace over the bruises he already left therest night.


    She couldn¡¯t suppress her m.o.a.n as his hand made his way down and then she let out a wince remembering that her back and waist were still aching from their previous exercise.


    Lu Chen returned to his senses hearing his wife flinching in pain. He started cursing himself as he got off her body, distancing himself from her.


    What was he doing ah?! How could he carelessly forget that it was her first time? She was obviously in pain and he still tried to make his way on her this early.


    "Wife, where is it ufortable? Should I call the doctor?" Lu Chen said in rm as he rose and removed himself on top of her. He was feeling too guilty to beposed as he quickly stood up from the bed to get his mobile to contact the family doctor.


    "STOP!!!¡ªEh?" Xiu Mei stiffened, as her expression changed into shock as she went into a daze.


    Lu Chen paused and returned to her side in a split second seeing her frozen in shock.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t answer him and stared in disbelief at Lu Chen instead. And then her hand flew on her throat as she tried speaking again.


    "I can speak?" She slowly muttered. Hearing her voice, her eyes widened.


    Lu Chen shed a warm and pampering smile as he brushed her hair.


    "Yes, my wife."


    "In front of you?"


    "Mhm."


    "... am I dreaming?"


    "Absolutely not." His smile turned wider as he lowered his head stopping few inches away from her face. "Because if it is... then this husband of yours will truly be crestfallen."


    "..."


    She¡¯s pretty sure he wasn¡¯t talking about her voice at all.


    Xiu Mei ignored his roguement. "How am I able to speak with you in here?"


    It¡¯s just been a few days and all this time, she could only talk when she¡¯s alone. She even tried making herself rx and feelfortable thinking that her subconscious would eventually lift her inability to talk. She even went for her treatment just this weekend.


    And suddenly, she can finally talk?


    After... After... they did that?


    Her cheeks reddened. Please don¡¯t tell her all this time, she just had to do...that... so she could finally speak again?


    ....Fudge.


    It¡¯s not... true right?


    Xiu Mei dived back into her memories and quickly pointed out the other possibility.


    It was probably because of the surge of her emotionsst night, wasn¡¯t it? She missed him so much and was deeply worried about him for the whole day so maybe that¡¯s why her emotions got over her subconscious difficulty that¡¯s why she was able to speak the moment she saw him when she woke up?


    KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!


    "Mom? Are you awake?" Lu Qiang¡¯s voice sounded from the other side of the door.


    Xiu Mei paused her contemtion as soon as she heard her son¡¯s voice. Her eyes darted towards the door.


    Did Lu Qiang wake up early? Is what she thought.


    Wasn¡¯t it still a little bit past six thirty¡ªwait, "Oh my god, it¡¯s already seven am!"


    She quickly jumped off the bed, forgetting about her current state.


    And as a result, the nket that was covering her slid off pooling on the floor, leaving her n.a.k.e.d glory to be seen by the man who was sitting at the edge of her bed.


    "..."


    "..."


    A chuckle escaped from the man.


    Xiu Mei puffed her cheeks as she quickly grabbed the nket to cover herself again.


    "ROGUE!" And then, she immediately ran to the bathroom.

 Chapter 218 - Lazy CEO

    <h4>Chapter 218 - Lazy CEO</h4>


    "..."


    Xiu Mei turned speechless as soon as she saw herself in the mirror.


    She totally looked like a person who did something unspeakablest night. Traces of love bites all over her body. Was that just her or her lips are slightly swelling?


    And her eyes. My gosh, her eyes.


    It was slightly swelling probably because she criedst night....ugh, why did she have to remember that again ah?!


    And Lu Chen¡¯s gaze on her this morning. His possessiveness and desire that he showed her left her tongue-tied as she fell deeper under his spell.


    She lightly pped her cheek to make herself return to reality before her thoughts go to the gutter and went over to start the shower to distract herself.


    Well, what¡¯s done is done.


    It¡¯s not like she can turn back the time. Just let the rice be cooked!


    ....wait. Cooked?


    Xiu Mei paused and pondered about something.


    ...Fudge!!!!!!!!!!!!


    Oh my gosh. Lu Chen... he.... I think he didn¡¯t use any protectionst night!?


    She felt an iing pain as she couldn¡¯t remember properly if they were using protectionst night. Gosh, she wasn¡¯t really prepared to have a baby!! Come on, she recently became a mother to a seven-year-old child and she couldn¡¯t imagine having to mother an infant so soon.


    That would be crazy!


    Xiu Mei bit her lips as she noted to buy a morning-after pill in her mind.


    She didn¡¯t spend that much time in the shower. Noticing he was already dressed and seems to be working on something on hisptop, she quickly fled from her room feeling too shy to face him at the moment.


    "Madame, are you alright? You look like you¡¯re sick." The butler told her when he saw hering down the stairs.


    She opened her mouth, thinking that finally, she could now respond to him normally.


    ".....?" Xiu Mei was at a loss for a split second before nodding her head and making an ¡¯okay¡¯ gesture with her hand.


    After that, the butler told her that Lu Qiang was already waiting for her at the breakfast table.


    While walking, she pondered about her selective mutism again.


    Since she couldn¡¯t make a sound a second ago, does this mean that she is only able to speak again around Lu Chen?


    Her happiness that shot up a few minutes ago quickly dropped. She almost thought that she had already recovered... but it seems like it¡¯s still way too early for her to be happy.


    "Mom, you overslept today." Her son told her as soon as she sat with him at the table. She could only smile as a response while patting his hair since she forgot to bring her tablet from upstairs.


    She lowered her head to start eating when he called her again.


    "Mom."


    "?"


    ¡¯I love seeing you smile, Mom.¡¯ He signed in the air with his hands.


    She was stunned for a second before chuckling. Her dampened mood quickly went away seeing his son¡¯s actions, no, more like gestures. He actually fulfilled his promise to her. That he would learn signnguage so he could easilymunicate with each other.


    "Did I do it correctly, Mom?" He asked seeking affirmation from her.


    Xiu Mei praised him and responded to him in signnguage, ¡¯You did great. I¡¯m so proud of you, my son.¡¯


    A smile bloomed on his son¡¯s face as he jumped off his seat to go over to her side. And then he kissed her on the cheek before hugging her. The two of them were like that for a few seconds when a different voice interrupted them.


    "What is happening here?" Lu Chen appeared in the dining room and sat on his seat casually as if he was never gone the whole day yesterday.


    Lu Qiang peeled away his hands from her mother and threw a smug look at his father. Lu Chen raised his brow but didn¡¯t open his mouth to ask his son.


    "Mom says I did great when I showed her my signnguage skills." Lu Qiang proudly said while returning to his seat.


    "Oh?" Lu Chen nced at Xiu Mei. She nodded. "And then?"


    Lu Qiang smiled in triumph as he dered, "That means that I¡¯m better than you, Dad."


    He was so proud of his achievement that he looked so cute as he acted smug in front of his father. Xiu Mei even saw some of the maids nearby couldn¡¯t stop themselves fromughing.


    "Commendable," Lu Chen started. There was a faint curl on his lips when he said that but Xiu Mei noticed when her husband¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    She immediately realized that this guy was not going to say something good to his son in his next sentence.


    "But you know what, I don¡¯t need to learn anymore since you¡¯re Mom¡ª"


    She didn¡¯t need to think twice and kicked his leg under the table cutting off his words. He turned in her direction so she quickly threw him a warning look to make him stop from continuing his sentence any further.


    Gosh, she didn¡¯t he was this childish ah!


    To think he would evenpete with a child, much less to his son!


    "Since Mom is what?" Lu Qiang asked in confusion watching his parents looking at each other weirdly.


    Xiu Mei kicked her husband again to remind him as she threw him another warning look as if to say that if he still dared to speak nonsense words to Lu Qiang then she would really beat him up.


    Lu Chen obediently listened to his wife. She already got annoyed by him back in the room, and he was too much in a good mood to ruin it by angering his wife so he changed his tune.


    "Since Mom could just continue using her tablet tomunicate with us." He replied as he started eating his breakfast.


    "....Dad, you¡¯re justzy aren¡¯t you?" Lu Qiang criticized as he showed a disappointed look.


    Xiu Mei was momentarily stunned as her head shot up to look at the two guys before covering her mouth to stop herself fromughing and spitting out her food.


    Oh my!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!


    To think there would be a day when the workaholic CEO, who never uses his paid vacation leaves, would be calledzy by his son!!!

 Chapter 219 - Reason for his disappearance

    <h4>Chapter 219 - Reason for his disappearance</h4>


    "Tell me. Why were youpletely unreachable yesterday?" Xiu Mei asked in a serious tone while sittingfortably on the far end of the couch at the President¡¯s office. She kept her distance from the President who was sitting behind his office table while shing a look of amus.e.m.e.nt to where she was seated.


    She would sometimes avoid looking at his eyes and sometimes throw a re in his direction. She couldn¡¯t help it. Lu Chen suddenly became too sticky with her this morning.


    He was still acting like a decent human after breakfast. But as soon as they¡¯ve dropped of Lu Qiang at school, It was like he transformed into a different person.


    He didn¡¯t push her down or attacked her or anything but... his way of disying affection undoubtedly became more obvious.


    His arm was stuck on her waist while he was busy reading the reports, and then he didn¡¯t even let go of her once they arrived at the office forcing her toe with him to work. He was almost hugging her while walking towards the elevator, and thankfully Thank god for the newly built private elevator or she wouldn¡¯t dare to go to the office anymore if they were seen like that.


    She could barely show her face with just holding hands, she¡¯ll probably go into hiding for years if someone saw them sticking so close to each other like that.


    The amused expression on the face of the culprit cracked. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t miss his slip up and narrowed her eyes at him. Lu Chen quickly avoided his gaze and continued working on the papers on his desk.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows furrowed even more as she grew more suspicious.


    He¡¯s definitely hiding something!!!


    But she didn¡¯t push him for answers. She was almost a hundred percent sure where he¡¯d gone yesterday. Besides, she knew very well that he did not want her to be entangled in that kind of ce.


    As much as she wants to pry, she wouldn¡¯t do it. The anguish and despair on his face when she woke up in the hospital after her recent kidnapping was etched in her mind.


    And she knew that getting herself curious about the underworld could possibly endanger not only her life but also Lu Qiang¡¯s. Since Lu Chen wanted to protect his family so much, then she could only try to support him in the ways that she can.


    "I¡¯ll go home for today." She announced, putting down the business magazine she was reading on the coffee table. Lu Chen suddenly became agitated as guilt appeared on his face.


    He stood up.


    "Are you angry?" Lu Chen asked nervously thinking that she was mad at him again.


    Xiu Mei stifled a chuckle while shaking her head. "No."


    "But you¡¯re suddenly leaving. So you¡¯re angry." He held her arm as if he was clinging to her.


    "I¡¯m not angry."


    "Is it because I dodged your question?"


    "No, it¡¯s not really because of that. I swear I¡¯m not mad or anything. I just wanna go home to get some sleep, that¡¯s all."


    Lu Chen fell silent for a moment while staring at her. And then, he lifted his hand to her neck and shoulder that was covered by her turtleneck sweater. Thankfully, the weather is cold so no one would be suspicious why she was covering herself so much today.


    Strangely, she could feel the faint heat from his fingers even with her clothes in between.


    "Wife, I... I¡¯m sorry I pushed you too hardst night."


    "...!!"


    This guy really...!!!!


    Her cheeks flushed in shame as she instinctively pped his hand away on her shoulder.


    "I¡¯m going home!!!" She quickly grabbed her phone and stomped towards the door. She turned behind her to throw another re whilst he only grinned before she finally left his office.


    Lu Chen followed his wife¡¯s figure disappearing behind the door before wiping off the grinning look on his face. It was quickly reced by a somber expression recalling Xiu Mei¡¯s question to him.


    He sat behind his table staring at the email he received two nights ago.


    How can he answer her?


    How can he tell her that his eldest brother was shot and he almost couldn¡¯t keep his life. How can he exin to her that her eldest brother personally investigated her kidnapping and he was almost killed when they tried to follow Wan Wan in the underground city.


    He felt terrible keeping this secret from her, but her family was very against it. Her current situation wasn¡¯t very suitable for her to know and maybe, another shock might endanger her mental health even more.


    He noticed that even though she could now speak freely to him, she still couldn¡¯t with their son. He thought that she was already fine but it seems like she was slowly getting better butpletely recovering was still far from the goal.


    Xiu Min is still in aa after his operation so he had to go with Xiu Mo Ruo when he decided to go to the underground city. It was safer if he was there since who knows how that ce works better than him?


    Wan Wan¡¯s trace disappeared and he sent his men to trace her back.


    He could only return to herst night just so she wouldn¡¯t notice anything wrong and he nned to distract her from trying to contact her family soon. Though it seems he really didn¡¯t need to since that...st night, happened. Hm.


    But how long could he really distract her?


    Since she¡¯s going home... their pet lion and tiger shouldplete the task he assigned to them, right?


    And just as Lu Chen nned, Xiu Mei stared in disbelief as soon as she entered their bedroom. She stared in shock seeing the lion and tiger resting inside their bedroom. King was gnawing with a toy bone on the floor while Lucia has stolen Lu Chen¡¯s space on the bed, and slept on it as if she owned the whole room.

 Chapter 220 - Colored Box

    <h4>Chapter 220 - Colored Box</h4>


    For the first time in her life, Xiu Mei was quite thankful that she was still mute at the moment. She stood stiffly before the pharmacist, holding out her mobile with her hand slightly shaking.


    As soon as the pharmacist read what was written, she nced at her and shed a knowing smile. She instantly avoided her gaze feeling embarrassed about the situation.


    "Would you also like to purchase some of these?" And then the pharmacist pointed to the boxes lined up just beside the cash register.


    Her eyes followed where she was pointing at and saw the colorful boxes. Her face flushed but she seriously thought it over. A few secondster, she lightly nodded her head grabbing a box without looking at it and immediately handed it over.


    As soon as she returned to the car, she was momentarily stupefied realizing what she just bought.


    The morning-after pill was a given but the other box.... Mhm.


    Wasn¡¯t that practically telling Lu Chen to jump on her?


    No, Xiu Mei. It¡¯s not, okay. Let¡¯s calm down. This... this is just for... uhm... in case of emergency?


    Yes? Yes. Yes, for emergencies. Okay.


    Xiu Mei distracted herself by grabbing the morning-after pill and gulping it down immediately. Then she quickly hid the paper bag behind her noting inside her head to get it once they arrive at home.


    But just like any other forgetful human, our dearest Xiu Mei forgot to grab the small paper bag from the car while she went straight back to her room.


    Ignoring the strange looks on the servant¡¯s faces, Xiu Mei opened the door of her room and was stupefied by the presence of the two animals rxing on the floor and her bed.


    "...."


    She hurriedly closed the door and ran downstairs to find the butler.


    ¡¯Why are the pets inside my room?¡¯ She wrote down.


    "It was the Master who allowed them to stay in your room for the time being." The butler respectfully replied answering her question.


    ... Lu Chen did?


    ¡¯...Why?¡¯


    "Unfortunately, he did not state anything after giving his instructions, Madame."


    ¡¯... Okay.¡¯


    Letting the butler return to his duties, she stood at the foot of the stairs with her head raised looking at the second floor upstairs. And then she saw a maid rushing downstairs as if someone was chasing her life though she didn¡¯t forget to greet her even if she looked so frightened.


    Xiu Mei scratched the back of her ear.


    So that¡¯s why the servants are being weird today ah. It seems like they were too scared to go upstairs lest they meet the two animals resting on the second floor.


    She wondered whether Lu Chen would be sued by the servants for abuse? Though it¡¯s more like mental abuse.


    She was still slightly scared of King and Lucia but she gathered her courage and returned to her room. are still in the same position as when she left them.


    King and Lucia didn¡¯t even look at her and continued their activities. So Xiu Mei just went on her way and changed into cleaner clothes before stopping at the side of her bed.


    She nced at the napping tiger and was uncertain whether Lucia would suddenly jump on her if she disturbs her sleep.


    After thinking for a minute, she thought to just sleep in a different room today but before she could take a step, King suddenly let out a growl waking up Lucia. Xiu Mei froze, stunned by the sudden growl as she warily watched Lucia waking up from her slumber.


    But it seems like her concerns are insignificant since Lucia didn¡¯t get angry being woken up. She just stared at Xiu Mei for a few seconds, let out a purr before jumping off the bed and settling herself at the corner of the room which was the farthest from King.


    Xiu Mei watched the development before her and after ensuring that nothing big would probably happen once she falls asleep. Also considering that it wasn¡¯t her first time to fall asleep beside the two animals.


    She lied on the bed and nced at the two animals for thest time before going to sleep.


    Really, Lu Chen was so amazing. Training and disciplining a tiger and lion so well.


    At the Xiu Family¡¯s side, Xiu Mei¡¯s mother and her grandparents are anxiously standing outside Xiu Min¡¯s room. They weren¡¯t allowed to stay inside his room and it¡¯s already been almost two days after his surgery yet there were still no signs of him waking up. No wonder they got so anxious.


    It hasn¡¯t been that long when their family¡¯s youngest daughter just woke up from her recenta and now the eldest is in this situation. Lately, a lot of things are happening around them that it¡¯s hard to keep putting up their guards from anyone trying to harm them.


    Yu Shi Huang stared at her eldest son at the other side of the ss window, anxiously praying for him to wake up and recover. Xiu Min was shot at his chest, the bullet hitting a few centimeters away from his heart. If it weren¡¯t for the immediate first-aid, he would have died minutes after he was shot.


    Her husband was away for work with her second son. And her son-inw has been actively assisting them all throughout while their eldest son is in this situation.


    Yu Shi Huang couldn¡¯t help but grieve.


    Why was this happening to her family? To her sons and daughters?


    She was used to having her families¡¯ life at stake due to their line of work, but seeing her children in such a difficult situation was bring her so much pain.


    She was filled with anger as she thought of the people behind all of these. They are the ones who kept harming her family like this. And her daughter, Xiu Mei who was scarred since she was young. They will pay for this. And Yu Shi Huang never fails to pay back.

 Chapter 221 - Mens Watch

    <h4>Chapter 221 - Men''s Watch</h4>


    When the queen loses her patience, it is when all hell breaks loose.


    Today, she is Mrs. Xiu. But before she got married, she was a soldier who prioritized the country before her life. She fought and lived on a battlefield of guns and explosives, with her life on the line every second.


    The youngest woman who followed in her father¡¯s footsteps, Lieutenant General Yu. A woman who was one step away from the <i>Shangjiang</i> position and gave up that opportunity to lead a peaceful life with her family.


    Yet, fate doesn¡¯t seem to want them to live in peace.


    "Does the offer of returning for duty still stands?" Yu Shi Huang spoke as soon as the call connected.


    It was the only way that she knew wherein she could fight. Her husband and second son won¡¯t be able to stand against the people in the underworld, but she can.


    Unless she is a soldier, stepping into that ce is felonious. Hence, she would have to return to her active duty to be permitted to go to that ce and investigate. It has been so many years, but that thirst for blood that flowed her veins have never been stronger. Especially when she thought of her eldest son lying on the bed with his life hanging by a thread, and her daughter who was imprisoned by fear and trauma after all these years.


    Back in the Lu Family.


    Xiu Mei slept deeply that day almost missing lunch. If it weren¡¯t for King who was nudging her awake because they were hungry, she would have surely continued sleeping on an empty stomach.


    She stared at the lion and tiger gnawing on a piece of raw meat on the bowl from where she was sitting on the dining table. Gone was the couple of maids who would usually stand nearby to wait on her if she has any requests leaving her and the two animals alone.


    Her forehead creased.


    These two would usually eat outside ah. Why do they keep biting the end of her dress when she tries to leave them outside?


    Why are they like their owner today? Bing too sticky to her. Do Lu Chen and these animals probably have some kind of telepathic powers or something simr that could make them behave like their owner?


    Well, they ARE here for her protection though. So it makes sense that they¡¯re stuck to her.


    But before, it was fine with them being just outside...huh?


    Xiu Mei felt as if she was missing something. Maybe it was just her imagination?


    She... She¡¯s just probably thinking too much, right?


    She withdrew her gaze from the two and resumed eating her lunch.


    Somehow, she feels weird. Hmmm...


    Xiu Mei returned to her room with a stuffed stomach. Likewise, the two animals followed behind her like a dog following its owner. It¡¯s just that she wasn¡¯t really their owner. It was Lu Chen and Lu Qiang.


    She sat down on the bed and watched Lucia and King ying.


    Maybe because of that night activity, Xiu Mei felt too tired than normal. Aside from her sore waist, it was as if she had a super intense exercise routine for hours.


    And so, to stop herself from sleeping too much, Xiu Mei diverted her attention to other stuff.


    Kei¡¯s birthday was approaching and he invited her to his party, so she intends to go out and look for a gift for him. Maybe should just go to the mall today?


    She wondered what she should buy.


    Last year, she bought him a new custom made Japanese set of knives made by a veteran knife maker. This year, should I give him a magazine? Oh! Probably aption of Jing Yan¡¯s pictures for keeping?


    Recalling her previous conversation with her girlfriends, Kei personally dropped Jing Yan home after the party. Interesting~ It seems like he¡¯s nning to chase and get her back. She giggled at the thought.


    But seriously though, what should she give him this year? Should she just get him a mezzaluna? Gifting knives for two straight years... doesn¡¯t sound so bad.


    So that¡¯s settled. She picked up her phone and started shopping.


    Oh, this looks good! Wait... is this better than the other one? Let¡¯s look for others.


    Scroll up~ Scroll up~ wait, that ad is so cute. Are those clothes for kids?


    Ohmygosh they all look so adorable! It would definitely look good on Qiang Qiang~ Buy!


    Oh! This one too. Buy! Eh? This one is for girls? Waaahh so cute! Too bad she only has a son ah... scroll up~ scroll up~


    Ooooh! A baby shark watch! Should I buy it? Look, they even have the mother and father shark version. Do they have grandparents¡¯ versions as well? Buy!


    This one doesn¡¯t look so bad. Wait, this one looks so gorgeous. Is this real? Mygod, it¡¯s a luxury version. Though it doesn¡¯t look as expensive as the watch that Lu Qiang gave her, still, this one doesn¡¯t lose out ah.


    Wait. Lu Qiang¡¯s watch?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s impulse online shopping spree halted.


    Ah! Shepletely forgot about it!! Her bracelet and watch with a tracker!


    Where did it go? Maybe Wan Wan threw it away when she was kidnapped? Or maybe it was left in the hotel somewhere?


    Xiu Mei felt bad. Those were so expensive ah... especially the watch. That was the first gift that she received from her son, though Lu Qiang originally wanted her to give it to his father so she could track Lu Chen.


    Hmmm, maybe she could still find it? Both have trackers right. Maybe if she ask Lu Chen to track the watch for her... maybe it¡¯s possible?


    And so, Xiu Mei decided to consult him about it once he got home. She didn¡¯t want to ask Lu Qiang to find it since she didn¡¯t want to see him disappointed that she lost it, and it was better for the child not to remember it else he asks about it.


    "Did you perhaps... found a watch in my bag when I was kidnapped? Or anywhere when you were trying to look for me?"


    "A watch? Why? I could just buy you another one if you lost it." A surprising statementing from the economical CEO who loves to wear unbranded stuff.


    "No, that¡¯s not it. The men¡¯s watch is a gift from someone so I felt bad when I realized I lost it. Was it not there?"


    "A men¡¯s watch?" Lu Chen¡¯s lips tightened. Who dared to gift his wife a watch, even more so a men¡¯s watch! He suddenly had the idea of killing that person at the moment.


    Xiu Mei nodded.


    "No, there was none." He coldly responded. That damned watch can go and disappear into the depths of hell for all he cares. But he still has to know who gave her that.


    "Who gave it to you?" He tried to ask as casually as possible to not rm his wife.


    "Eh? Ah... from someone." Xiu Mei stuttered.


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt jealousy slowly eat him. SO.WHO.WAS.THIS.GUY?!


    But he kept his emotions in check so Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t see the inner turmoil he was having at the moment.


    "If it has a tracker..." Xiu Mei started.


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyelids jumped. "The watch has a tracker built in it?!"


    He felt his blood pressure soar. A man dared to put a tracker on his wife!!!!


    No! This one, he couldn¡¯t let it slide. He would go and have someone investigate who this person was and beat him up.


    Xiu Mei slightly jumped when he suddenly rose his voice. Luckily, she was already used to him roaring in anger inside the conference room so she wasn¡¯t scared by it one bit.


    "Is it possible to find it if it has a tracker?"


    Lu Chen almost couldn¡¯t hide the disbelief on his face as he looked at his wife.


    And why is his wife so keen on finding this watch! Who is it?! Who was it from!?


    "No! It¡¯s not possible!" He stubbornly decided. He wouldn¡¯t let that watch return to Xiu Mei¡¯s hands ah!


    "Really?"


    "Yes!"


    "...Okay..."


    Although Xiu Mei didn¡¯t have that much expectation, she was still a bit disappointed hearing Lu Chen¡¯s response.


    Ah, she really feels terrible. To think she lost the first thing she received from her son. She felt like a terrible mother ah.


    Seeing his wife¡¯s downcast expression, Lu Chen instantly felt guilty. His anger disappeared as he felt weak in front of his wife¡¯s sad look on her face.


    He slightly felt regret for letting himself get too caught up with his emotions. Maybe he was being too much?


    Looks like it was so important for his wife. Lu Chen sighed. Compared to beating up the man who gave the watch to his wife, he was more fearful of his wife¡¯s dispirited look than satisfying his possessiveness and obsession with her.


    "I¡¯ll see what I can do." Lu Chen added. Xiu Mei¡¯s expression lit up with her eyes almost twinkling in happiness.


    "Really?!"


    Lu Chen gulped. ".... Just tell me a few things about the tracker then maybe we could figure something out."


    And so, the man who was jealous of his son¡¯s gift(<i>he didn¡¯t know it was him!</i>) surrendered to his wife for the nth time.

 Chapter 222 - Meat Diet

    <h4>Chapter 222 - Meat Diet</h4>


    When Xiu Mei exined how the tracker works(as per how she remembered her son told her to use it) to Lu Chen, he immediately recognized this technology.


    It was almost simr to the tracker that they use but definitely better and advanced than theirs.


    His lips curled up for a split second as he thought of someone.


    This kid... he really ced a tracker on his mother. It seems like there¡¯s someone more possessive other than him with Xiu Mei. Should he put him up for training again.... That is what he wondered as he continued to type away, unaware of the true reason behind the tracker on the watch.


    And the said person who tweaked the luxury watch was sitting inside his room and staring at the contents of a small paper bag.


    Lu Qiang may be intelligent, but Lu Chen didn¡¯t dare to educate him about a.d.u.l.t interactions just yet. He was too young, and so Lu Qiang didn¡¯t have any idea of what was the use of this colorful box he found inside the car.


    There was another empty box inside like some kind of medicine that he couldn¡¯t recognize.


    But who is he? Of course, he is a Lu. What he wants to know, and he shall find.


    Lu Qiang read the name of the box and opened Baidu. It didn¡¯t even take him five minutes to understand the usage of this box.


    "... So this is Dad¡¯s." It was the conclusion he got after searching. He didn¡¯t get embarrassed when he finally knew what it was, though he couldn¡¯t help but think it passing that his parents were sleeping together in one room and doing this stuff.


    ... Is this what¡¯s he gonna have to do when he bes an a.d.u.l.t?


    Lu Qiang shrugged. And he jumped off his bed to change into his pajamas, before stopping outside of his parent¡¯s room with the paper bag in his hands.


    It was his father who opened the door for him when he knocked.


    "Dad."


    "What?"


    "You left this in the car." And then he extended his hand to hand over the paper bag to his father.


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t recognize that paper bag at all.


    "It¡¯s not mine."


    "That¡¯s impossible." Lu Qiang replied. "The inte says it is for men. And I doubt that this is mother¡¯s."


    What is he talking about? Lu Chen couldn¡¯t understand what his son was saying at all. Still confused, he grabbed the paper bag and checked the contents. There were two boxes inside and he instantly understood everything.


    A knowing smile briefly appeared on his face before he returned to his usual expression.


    "So is it yours? Or this is uncle driver¡¯s?" Lu Qiang asked.


    "On second thought, I forgot that this is mine." Lu Chen replied this time. He stared at his son that slightly looked naive but smart. Recalling that his son looked it up on the inte, he wondered whether he should be proud of his son¡¯s diligence in further expanding his knowledge or be worried since the child was probably imparted with s.e.x.u.a.lly explicit information at such a young age.


    After finishing his job, he told his father that he¡¯ll wait for them in his room before he left.


    Lu Chen had thoughts in his heart. He was pretty sure that this was Xiu Mei¡¯s the moment he saw the after-morning pillbox. He wondered what his wife¡¯s reaction would be if she learns that her son found these boxes and even searched about them on the inte.


    Ah,... that would surely be fun just imagining it.


    But he won¡¯t let her know. Else his wife mes herself for forgetting it in the car causing the child to find it.


    While he was grinning by himself, the bathroom door opened.


    "What are you smiling about?" Xiu Mei looked at him curiously.


    Lu Chen nced at his wife and he couldn¡¯t help but smirk. "Nothing."


    And the Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze darted to what he was holding in his hand.


    Her eyes widened recognizing that paper bag. With a shaky voice, she asked. "W-Why do you...?"


    "Ah, this?" Lu Chen continued to tease her as he lifted the paper bag. "I found it in the car."


    Xiu Mei:... asdfhjhfuiewanugjf!!!!!


    Did he check the contents?!


    She looked at his face and saw his yful expression. Her expression stiffened as she finally realized the unfortunate fate that she brought upon onto herself with her forgetfulness.


    Xiu Mei was fl.u.s.tered, as she avoided his gaze.


    "I¡¯m going to put Lu Qiang to sleep!" She made an excuse and rushed towards the door. In short, she ran away. :)


    Lu Chen chuckled watching his wife running away. He withdrew his gaze and grabbed the colorful box inside while keeping the other box in the drawer. He opened the colorful box enthusiastically and hid it in the bedside drawer so he could easily reach for it anytime.


    After tidying up, he followed after his wife with his lips curling up. His thoughts unknown to anyone.


    After tucking their son to bed, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t wait for Lu Chen and ran back to their room, locking herself up inside the bathroom. While she was taking a quick shower, she heard a knock.


    Her heartbeat quickened.


    "What is it?"


    "Wife, you forgot something."


    She traveled her gaze inside the bathroom and didn¡¯t think she forgot anything.


    "I didn¡¯t." She replied. She couldn¡¯t but look suspiciously at the door.


    This man...


    "You forgot your clothes."


    "... what?"


    Xiu Meipletely missed that one. She shifted her gaze to the counter where she would normally ce her change of clothes, and just like he said, the counter was empty, with her clothes nowhere to be found.


    .... FUDGE!!!


    She was really bringing doom upon herself!!!!!


    Xiu Mei grabbed her bathroom towel and wrapped herself in it. And then she cautiously walked over to the door.


    "I have your clothes here." The man behind the door said. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes narrowed, doubts appearing inside her head.


    For some reason, her instincts are telling her not to open this door right now.


    But as much as she wanted to keep it locked, wouldn¡¯t it be even worse to go out there n.a.k.e.d with just a bathroom towel covering her up?


    And with so much hesitation, she unlocked the door and slightly opened it just enough for her hand to pass through.


    "Give me my clothes." She replied.


    "Oh."


    She stood behind the door so Lu Chen wouldn¡¯t be able to see her. As soon as she felt the soft fabric on her hand, she wanted to immediately close the door but she failed to notice a foot slipping in between the door stopping her from closing it.


    "!!!!!!!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows jumped. Before she could react, Lu Chen already sessfully slipped himself in between the door.


    "You!!!" She almost screamed as she tried to cover herself with her hands. One arm covered her chest while her other one held down the end of the bathroom towel so that it would stop from hiking up.


    "Lu Chen, get out!"


    She didn¡¯t need to know why he did that. He was obviously aiming for something ah!


    "Wife, you also forgot another thing." Lu Chen eximed while staring at his wife. His voice was slightly deep and hoarse as he felt a heat growing below his abdomen.


    "Just leave it here and leave the bathroom!"


    "This." He ignored herints and showed the stuff he hid in his hand. It was a foil wrapper in a squared size.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes almost bulged out.


    "I didn¡¯t know my wife would be so kind to buy it for me. So I¡¯ll thank you first and express my sincere thanks to you." Lu Chen continued teasing her.


    Xiu Mei felt a cold shiver on her spine as she saw the look on Lu Chen¡¯s eyes change. He looked at her as if he was a predator that would gobble her up anytime soon. And that, he will.


    "Y-You d-don¡¯t have to." She shook her head vigorously. Lu Chen took a step forward, Xiu Mei instinctively took a step back.


    "But wife, I very much want to." Lu Chen kept the smile on his face while his eyes turned more intense as he took another step forward.


    Xiu Mei suddenly felt the cold ss door of the shower on her back. She deeply inhaled after realizing that she was now really cornered.


    "Wife, what do you say about conserving water?"


    Before Xiu Mei could even retort, his lips descended on her and she subconsciously closed her eyes. She was too stunned to react and too absorbed in the kiss that she only returned to her senses when she felt slightly warm water raining above her head. She didn¡¯t even realize when the bathroom towel that was covering her had long been unraveled and was now pitifully lying on the floor.


    She didn¡¯t even know when Lu Chen removed his clothes as he stood in front of her with no clothes on. Her eyes unconsciously darted to his fit body, as her eyes traveled to his corbone, his chest, his arms, and his... eight pack abs.


    ... Gosh, she was clinging onto such a blessed bodyst night?


    "Like what you see, wife?"


    "..." Fudge. She was caught!


    And so, Xiu Mei finally realized that this was the start of Lu Chen¡¯s meat-eating diet every night.

 Chapter 223 - Questions with No Answers

    <h4>Chapter 223 - Questions with No Answers</h4>


    After their strenuous activity, Xiu Mei was so exhausted to even lift up a finger as she immediately sunk into the dreand. On the other hand, Lu Chen who was still enjoying watching his wife¡¯s sleeping face was immediately distracted by the sound from hisptop.


    It took quite a bit of time for him to bypass his son¡¯s tracker, and only after a few hours did he finally receive the location of the watch.


    As soon as he saw the location of the watch based on the tracker, Lu Chen¡¯s face dimmed as a frown appeared on his face.


    He nced at the sleeping figure on the bed.


    His wife disappeared from the hotel and was found miles away from the city. But that¡¯s weird. If she said she probably lost the watch when she was kidnapped, then why does the tracker say that it¡¯s currently downtown? And the address belongs to one of the most vicious ruffians in the underground city. And...


    Lu Chen stopped himself from specting. He didn¡¯t dy any longer and contacted his men to confirm the whereabouts of the watch. If it¡¯s true that it is there, then they¡¯ll have to investigate how the watch fell into their hands.


    Two dayster, the report came back. A stormy expression appeared on his face as the hunch in his heart was almost confirmed with this report.


    The watch is in the hands of one of the members of the organization, TEAM. It¡¯s one of the syndicates they are currently eyeing on. For the past decade, their movements are slowly bing bolder with their activities. Drugs, Human Trafficking, Murder, and the ck Market.


    But Lu Chen had a different reason why he was monitoring them.


    The TEAM has some involvement with the death of Lu Qiang¡¯s parents. It was what he found out after investigating for such a long time yet, they have yet to identify who was the true mastermind behind their murder.


    And now, it seems that they are probably involved with his wife¡¯s kidnapping. They already identified the person who took the watch.


    Did Ying Wan Wan work with them to kidnap Xiu Mei? But that¡¯s weird. That organization doesn¡¯t just work with anyone, much less with a woman. Even if the Ying family was quite rich, Lu Chen believes Ying Wan Wan wouldn¡¯t have enough funds to pay them to get their cooperation.


    So that leaves him one conclusion. Ying Wan Wan is still working with someone. That person would surely have way better financial capability, at the same time, powerful enough to have the TEAM agree to work with Ying Wan Wan.


    That person would have no benefit from working with Ying Wan Wan, so he or she must be using her for his benefit.


    But it was a weird coincidence. For the TEAM to be linked to his cousin¡¯s death and to his wife¡¯s kidnapping.


    The TEAM wouldn¡¯t have any benefit attacking a person with such a prestigious family especially when they¡¯reing from a military family, yet they still dared to be involved with her.


    Was it Xiu Su Yi? But he said that he was just a pawn.


    Lu Chen got even more frustrated.


    The more they dig deeper, the more questions kept adding up to his mind. Yet he still couldn¡¯t find more helpful answers. He was still following the crumbs left from the incident and he was nearly investigating blind.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t like that feeling one bit. Because that meant that the person they¡¯re trying to find is definitely not weak. The person is incredibly intelligent, building a web so that they wouldn¡¯t be able to find him or her.


    His moves are tricky, and he still couldn¡¯t identify the pattern on his movements nor his true agenda.


    Lu Chen¡¯s frown deepened as he continued his spections.


    On the other side.


    "We don¡¯t have to worry about the Ying Family¡¯s loyalty to you." Ying Wan Wan spoke on the mobile. "No matter how much the Xiu family investigates them, they won¡¯t open their mouths to spill my whereabouts. With the hatred that the Ying family has on them, they¡¯d rather die than help the Xiu¡¯s."


    "Besides, they¡¯d rather worry about their eldest son¡¯s life at the moment. I don¡¯t expect to see any movements from them for now so I¡¯ll go forward with our n." She added while swirling the red wine she was drinking from the wine ss.


    "Then proceed with caution. The Lu President seems to be eyeing your movements as well. I won¡¯t save you for the second time if he finds you again." A distorted voice replied on the other line.


    "I know. But it actually seems very interesting. Who knew that bitch¡¯s boyfriend have power enough to find me in this ce. Do you want me to investigate him?" She offered. She put down the wine ss she was holding and grabbed the small knife lying beside it.


    "I¡¯m warning you. Stop making your movements outside of our agreed n or else, I¡¯ll be forced to put a bullet in your head before you do any damage to my ns." The person on the other line warned angrily.


    Ying Wan Wan froze at his warning, as she quickly returned to her senses. Lately, her ns kept being foiled by Mr. Lu and the Xiu¡¯s. That¡¯s why she was getting too caught up with her hatred that she almost caused herself to be caught by the eldest Xiu days ago.


    She cursed under her breath and suppressed the anger in her heart.


    Fine.


    Ying Wan Wan threw the knife to the wall, where the sliced picture of Xiu Mei hung.


    "I¡¯ll move on to our next n. Yu Ming Xi is also moving just like we had nned. The shipments will arrive tomorrow morning along with the drugs he ordered. I¡¯ll have someone take care of it and send it to the address you gave me."


    "Very well. Carefully watch his movements. Yu Ming Xi is still quite a valuable card that we can use in the future."


    "I know."


    And just like that, their conversation was over.


    The person that Ying Wan Wan was talking to watched the monitors before him. He grabbed his headset and continued listening to the listening device he nted in some ces.


    "Secretary Lu, this the report from the legal department that you asked for."


    "Just leave it there so I can review it. What about the market study that we requested?"


    "The Marketing Team is still working on it as of the moment."


    Those were the voices that could be heard from the listening device. The person in the seat revealed a malicious grin as he moved onto the next recording of a differentpany.


    Ying Wan Wan has no need to investigate Lu Chen. Because has already been involved in this y since from that start.


    Back to the Lu Family Home.


    Xiu Mei was helping Lu Qiang with his homework during the weekends. The two of them sat in the garden with King and Lucia encircling them. The two of them have beenfortablymunicating with each thru signnguage, and Xiu Mei witnessed Lu Qiang¡¯s smooth progress in learning it.


    "By the way Mom," Lu Qiang looked up from his notebook to look at her. "Am I gonna have a younger sibling?"


    Xiu Mei almost choked on her spit from the question.


    "Can I please have a younger sister, please? Younger brothers are annoying. My friends keptining about their brothers back in school." Lu Qiang mumbled as he lowered his head again to continue his homework.


    Xiu Mei was too speechless to reply to his request.


    What was her son suddenly saying ah?!


    A younger sister... where did he suddenly get this idea?!


    Poor Xiu Mei is still unaware that it was his son who found the colorful box in the car and was bestowed with great knowledge by Baidu at such a young age.


    Xiu Mei awkwardly signed her response.


    ¡¯Where did you get that idea?¡¯


    Lu Qiang paused to think. "From my friends. One of my friend¡¯s mom said that his mother is pregnant with his sibling, and he kept wishing it was a girl since he said his elder brother love to bully him so he wants to protect his sister from being bullied by his elder brother."


    "..." So it was just because of that?


    Goodness.


    Then she seriously thought over her son¡¯s words. Is her son probably feeling lonely as an only child?


    ¡¯So do you want a younger sister because you want to protect her?¡¯ She asked with signnguage.


    Lu Qiang nodded his head as a childish smile appeared on his lips. "Mm! Also because Dad said before that it would be better to have a younger sister who looks like mother too!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyelids jumped.


    ¡¯Your Dad said that?¡¯


    "Yep, he did. He said that before the first time you visited us in our house, Mom."


    "..."


    So Lu Chen was already preying on her that early?!

 Chapter 224 - Unreliable Xiu Mei

    <h4>Chapter 224 - Unreliable Xiu Mei</h4>


    That guy! How is he educating his son ah! Trying to nt some ideas in his head that early, did he really have such intentions to her that early?


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t control her facial expression and was too busy scolding Lu Chen in her heart that she didn¡¯t notice the smirk that appeared on his son¡¯s face for a split second.


    Lu Qiang lowered his head and hid the triumphant expression on his face from his mother. Unbeknownst to Lu Chen, his son secretly dug a pit for him through his mother.


    Who told his father to monopolize his mother¡¯s timetely? Don¡¯t think he didn¡¯t notice that his father was speeding up his bedtime stories since the other night, just so he could quickly hog his mother for his own.


    He couldn¡¯t let his father easily be happy ah. So he quickly took the opportunity to strike while his father wasn¡¯t around.


    Of course, it¡¯s not only him who wants to keep his mother to himself.


    Though he didn¡¯t exactly lie about wanting to have a younger sister that looks like his mother. If ever he really gets a younger sister, then he would surely pamper and protect her even when she grows up.


    But right now, he was particrly looking forward to seeing his Dad clinging pitifully to his motherter.


    Lu Qiang chuckled to himself. Ah, it¡¯s going to be a good day.


    She spent the entire day asking Lu Qiang how he was doing with his school activities and friendstely. Because ever since Lu Chen ended what he called his ¡¯meat abstinence¡¯, she almost spent the entire morning oversleeping. Then at night, he woulde home from work surprisingly early and upied her most of the time leaving her no time to chat with her son.


    Later that day, she received a surprising message from her second female cousin from her mother¡¯s side. It was just a brief message that asks her when did her mother return to the army. She said he saw her mother in the barracks in a navy uniform when she was dropping by there.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s forehead creased.


    What was her cousin saying?


    She exchanged further messages with her and confirmed that her mother did indeed appear in the barracks in uniform yesterday when her cousin perfectly described her mother¡¯s army uniform with her navy insignia and badges.


    She grew confused. It was quite normal for her mother to drop by a visit to the barracks from time to time, but to appear in her uniform... she could only draw one conclusion.


    Did her mother...?


    Xiu Mei immediately made a video call to her mother. But no matter how much she tried to reach her, all she could hear was a female voice saying that the number could not be reached. Meaning, her mother¡¯s phone was either somewhere without any phone signal or her mobile is turned off.


    Thetter was definitely not possible, and the former has quite the possibility. But she wasn¡¯t aware of her mother going on some kind of trip or anything at all. She would even normally ask her what souvenirs she wants when she goes on her trips or something.


    Seeing that she couldn¡¯t reach her mother no matter how many times she calls her mobile, she proceeded to call her dad. It was quickly picked up by his secretary, with him saying that his father was in the middle of a meeting.


    Then her second brother? She thought. Her first brother was often in his missions so she couldn¡¯t always contact him most of the time.


    But she could only be disappointed when her second brother¡¯s call only directed her to his secretary too.


    Xiu Mei was left dumbfounded as she stared at her phone.


    That¡¯s weird.


    It¡¯s very weird!


    How could she not even reach anyone from her family at the moment?


    That hasn¡¯t happened at all before!


    Xiu Mei felt uneasy. There¡¯s definitely something wrong that she wasn¡¯t aware of. Even though it was almost sunset, Xiu Mei picked up her things and decided to return to her maternal home tonight.


    She wanted to make check and make sure. To see for herself that nothing was wrong.


    Maybe her mother just went on a sudden secret trip with her friends?


    After checking on Lu Qiang in his room, who was doing something on his tablet again, she told the butler to inform Lu Chen of her whereabouts if he looks for her. And so, she quickly drove back to her maternal home.


    But she was doomed to an even worse scenario when it was only her family¡¯s butler who was at home.


    ¡¯Where did mother go?¡¯ She asked in signednguage.


    Arnold, their butler, was still quite collected and didn¡¯t show any signs of hiding something. "The Madam went on a vacation trip with her friends yesterday."


    "..."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes got colder, knowing that she was being lied to. But she didn¡¯t scold the butler, because she knew that he was just doing his job and her mother must have told him to say that.


    So she didn¡¯t destroy her mother¡¯s lie and stayed seated on their couch.


    ¡¯Then I¡¯ll just wait for father and second brother for now.¡¯ She replied, trying to keep her cool and not letting her anxiousness slip on her facial expression.


    After the butler went away, Xiu Mei traveled her eyes at the mansion. There seem to be nothing wrong, but she definitely saw the number of military guards in their mansion. She noticed that they seemed to have increased in number.


    And even the servants looked quite nervous when they saw her arrive.


    Her clenched fists tightened as her uneasiness grew.


    While she was waiting for her father to arrive, she received a message from her husband.


    Hubby President: Wife, I¡¯m home. But you weren¡¯t there :(


    Secretary Wife: Sorry, I was in a hurry.


    Hubby President: I could¡¯ve driven you there. I¡¯ll pick you up, okay?


    Hubby President: I miss you.


    Xiu Mei was just about to turn down his offer when she read hisst message. She felt a bit calmer as her heart warmed.


    Secretary Wife: Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you. Let¡¯s go home together.


    Lu Chen read his wife¡¯s reply to his message.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that as soon as he learned that his wife returned to her maternal home, he immediately returned to the car to follow after her. He was very anxious. Did she already know what happened to her eldest brother?


    No, she would have gone straight to the military hospital if she knew about it. Then why did she suddenly had the urge to return tonight? And so urgently.


    He sent a message earlier to Xiu Mo Ruo about Xiu Mei returning.


    But as soon as he arrived at the Xiu Mansion, the butler directed him to the library. And as soon as he entered, he heard the sound of a ss shattering.


    10 minutes ago.


    Xiu Mo Ruo returned home as soon as he received Lu Chen¡¯s message.


    "Princess, you came. You missed me, didn¡¯t you?" Xiu Mo Ruo smoothly said as soon as he saw her sister.


    Xiu Mei snorted. Did her second brother really think that she was a fool?


    She couldn¡¯t even talk to him just an hour ago and then he suddenly rushed back home when he knew that she was home?


    Xiu Mei controlled her emotions and smiled. ¡¯Let¡¯s go to the library.¡¯


    She didn¡¯t want the servants to listen in on their conversation so they moved somewhere private.


    ¡¯Why didn¡¯t I know that mother returned to the army?¡¯ Xiu Mei didn¡¯t bother beating around the bush and just shot her question directly.


    Xiu Mo Ruo showed a confused expression. "What nonsense are you saying, Princess? You know that¡¯s impossible."


    Xiu Mei then showed her message exchange with their second cousin to her brother. She noticed his lips twitching and knew that he was indeed hiding something from her.


    "That¡¯s impossible. Mom is in the middle of a trip, so the second cousin must have seen it wrong." He continued to lie to her.


    She grew angry and frustrated since her second brother didn¡¯t seem to have ns on telling her the truth at all.


    ¡¯Do you really think that second cousin could mistake someone else for Mom?¡¯


    "But she really went on a vacation trip yesterday."


    ¡¯You¡¯re lying to me.¡¯


    "Why would I lie to my cute little princess?"


    ¡¯You¡¯re all hiding something from me. I couldn¡¯t reach Mom at all. Then Dad and you, as well. That never happened before.¡¯


    "We¡¯re just busy, that¡¯s all."


    "..."


    Fine. If that¡¯s how her brother wants to y, then she¡¯ll go and look for the answers on her own. To think she became this unreliable for her family to choose to keep secrets from her.


    Xiu Mei stood up too fast and identally hit the coffee table with her leg. The vase in the middle shook, then it rolled to the ground before shattering into pieces.

 Chapter 225 - Tell Me, Please

    <h4>Chapter 225 - Tell Me, Please</h4>


    Xiu Mei was momentarily distracted by the sound of the shattered vase, as her eyes darted to the object on the ground. The sound ringing in her ears. Her eyes tracing the sharp edges of the broken pieces. Then an old memory floated up within her mind.


    Blood. A pool of blood as she slit her wrist in despair.


    She took a sharp breath, as she felt her body turning numb.


    Her second brother immediately appeared on her side as he moved her away from the shattered vase and made her sit on the couch.


    "Princess!" Panic could be heard from her second brother¡¯s voice.


    He noticed Xiu Mei¡¯s body was shivering when he held her by the shoulders. He quickly realized that her sister was having a panic attack but before he could do anything, another voice appeared behind them.


    "Wife." Lu Chen knelt before his wife, covering her small hands with his and with a soft voice, he tried to calm her down and make her return to her senses.


    "Wife, focus on me." He encouraged her as he held her by the chin to make her look straight at him. He saw her eyes devoid of emotions.


    "Xiu Mei," He called her repeatedly. "Mei¡¯er,e back."


    He whispered in her ears for a couple of minutes, until finally, his voice reached her. This time, she recovered pretty quickly and returned to her senses after just a few minutes of her panic attack. And suddenly seeing her husband in front of her, she was genuinely surprised.


    Why is he here?


    She lowered her gaze and noticed how tight yet gentle he was holding her. And then she nced at her second brother who currently looked very nervous and worried while watching her.


    Even without asking, she immediately understood what happened. Probably because she was too stimted with emotions, and then her terrible memories were identally triggered by the shattered vase, her panic attack must have set in and she experienced a Freeze Response instead of her usual reactions.


    But before she could continue to wallow on her disappointment to herself, she felt an arm loop itself under her knees and the other on her waist. She was quickly lifted into the air as she reflexively clung to the person who carried her by clinging onto his neck.


    "I¡¯ll bring her home first." Lu Chen stated to her second brother while he princess-carried her.


    Xiu Mo Ruo stared at his sister with a mix of guilt and worry because of what happened. He saw how her sister looked at him as if he was betraying her, and then when she temporarily broke down again, he couldn¡¯t even do anything but just watch his sister¡¯s husband calm her down so skillfully.


    "Take good care of my sister." Was what Xiu Mo Ruo could only say, feeling disappointed in himself. He watched the two figures disappeared from the library.


    He was feeling guilty for lying to his sister, but he felt resolute more than before that it was for the best.


    Looking at her trembling figure, he didn¡¯t want to imagine how she would react if she discovers what happened to his twin or that their mother returned to the army for her.


    Xiu Mei was very quiet on their way home. Her eyes glued on the outside while Lu Chen held her left hand, trying to give her some sense offort and security. A lot of things are running in her mind. She took a brief nce at Lu Chen¡¯s side profile before looking out the window again.


    "Chen, can you tell me the truth?" She finally opened her mouth after that long silence. They already arrived home but she didn¡¯t get off the car just yet. Because she wanted to talk to Lu Chen about something.


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes shed and he didn¡¯t notice that he tightened his hold on her.


    "What is it, my wife?"


    "Do you know something?"


    "Know about what?"


    "You know what I¡¯m talking about." Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes narrowed. "You appeared so fast in the Xiu Mansion so that means you immediately rushed to leave from here as soon as you got home. There must have been a reason why you needed to rush to follow after me. So why? What¡¯s that reason?"


    ".... Wife."


    "Please. C-Can you just tell me the truth? If all of you think that hiding it from me would be better, then you¡¯re wrong." Xiu Mei¡¯s voice cracked. "The more secret you all try to hide from me, the more I doubt myself. Am I that unreliable? Am I too weak so you all just chose to protect me in the dark while I live here mindlessly without worry?"


    "That¡¯s not wh-"


    "But that¡¯s what I feel. You know me. I¡¯m a very proud person. I don¡¯t often rely on others, and when there are problems, I like to handle them closely. But this is different. Someone is threatening me and my family and we don¡¯t know what that person wants. People kept kidnapping me, and I am very aware of my current situation. That I am not truly a strong person. In reality, I¡¯m just a weak-willed person who is scared of myself, of anyone, of my past."


    Xiu Mei felt her chest clench in pain as she said those words. Because no matter how many times she wants to deny the truth, her only option was to ept the reality. Just like how she made her resolve to get over her past, by epting her best friend¡¯s death. And ept the fact that she was left to live with that memory for the rest of her life.


    She tried. She really tried. And she was still trying. epting wasn¡¯t easy.


    And now, she had to ept the reality that she wasn¡¯t even the person that she thought she was. She thought she would be fine if she didn¡¯t know because she was afraid to worry about her parents and her family. Especially after she woke up from her two months ofa, they got even more protective and unwilling to tell her anything.


    But the more she tries to act like it¡¯s fine to ignore it, to close one of her eyes, and to fool herself, the more her anxiety increased. Lu Chen didn¡¯t want to worry her by getting her too involved with his investigation, and surely, something must be happening in the Xiu family as well that she was unaware of.


    She suddenly realized. That she was too naive, too ignorant, too... foolish. And now, when she learned her mother might have returned to the army, she med herself.


    Was it because of her? That her mother, who chose to spend her life quietly with her family, had to suddenly return to active duty without even telling her. If they didn¡¯t want her to know, then the reason must have been rted to her.


    Why? Who is it? Who wanted to target her this badly? Was it not enough for that person to harm her family by breaking her sanity since she was young?


    "I can¡¯t continue acting like nothing is going on. My second brother is not willing to tell me, and I can¡¯t even talk to my mother and father." She pleaded while looking at Lu Chen straight in the eye. She heaved a deep sigh.


    "I can only ask you."


    "..."


    "Chen, can you please tell me the truth? What is really going on?"


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t stand that long against his wife¡¯s pleading. How could he? He didn¡¯t even know that she will be pained this much just because they were keeping everything from her. He even doubted their decision of keeping it a secret from her. Maybe they were really wrong to let her keep away.


    Xiu Mei noticed that Lu Chen¡¯s determined gaze was wavering so she continued pleading for answers. Until Lu Chen sighed helplessly at her that she knew that she finally seeded.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll tell you what you want to know." Lu Chen sighed in defeat as he leaned over his wife and held her by the shoulders. "But you have to promise me, that if you feel ufortable or anything, you have to tell me."


    He brushed the locks of her hair behind her ear. "I didn¡¯t want to tell you because I don¡¯t want you to suffer. But I can¡¯t let you down. So I¡¯ll tell you."


    "Ying Wan Wan is working with Yu Ming Xi."


    "Your first brother went after her in the underground city."


    As soon as she heard that sentence, she immediately had a foreboding in her heart. It was soon confirmed with his next words.


    "He was shot and is now in aa in the military hospital."


    She gasped. Her hand that was clinging onto his clothes tightened as fear slowly crept in her heart.


    "And your mother did indeed returned to the army, to gain permission to step foot in the underground city."

 Chapter 226 - Answer to her questions

    <h4>Chapter 226 - Answer to her questions</h4>


    That same night, Xiu Mei and Lu Chen rushed to the military hospital where her first brother is being confined. She first saw her father standing in front of the ss window.


    She felt her knees slowly weakening as she got closer to her brother¡¯s room. And then she stopped.


    On the other side of the ss windowy her other brother, breathing through the oxygen mask with bandages wrapped around his shoulder.


    She felt dizzy and almost fell to the floor if it weren¡¯t for Lu Chen who quickly caught her and supported her body.


    She couldn¡¯t look away from the person lying on the bed. If it weren¡¯t for the electrocardiogram showing that he was still breathing, she would have thought that his brother had died.


    "Why are you¡ª" Xiu Mei¡¯s father reacted as soon as he saw the two of them. He looked at his son-inw who looked very apologetic to him while shaking his head. Then he nced at his pale daughter.


    He walked over to where she was and stroked her hair.


    "Princess, your brother will be fine." He consoled. Xiu Mei grabbed her father¡¯s sleeves.


    "It¡¯s going to be fine. Your brother is very strong. He will wake up when he¡¯s got enough rest, okay?"


    Xiu Mei watched and listened to his father¡¯sforting words. She felt lost, ncing at her brother and her father.


    I-Is this how her family felt before when she became like this? Unable to wake up for days and when she cooped herself up inside the room alone beforemitting suicide.


    That fear of having your loved one in this room, his life on the verge of death anytime.


    The moment she saw her brother, it was as if the oxygen was knocked out of her lungs, and she felt her body losing strength. Only fear and worry filled her mind, scared that her first brother would suddenly leave them.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine it. No. She didn¡¯t dare to imagine it.


    She knew very well the pain of losing someone close to you and she knew she lost a part of her with that person gone. If her first brother died... then...


    "Mei¡¯er!" She returned to her senses as soon as she heard her father¡¯s raised voice. Then her father made her look at him before continuing, "Listen to me. You have to believe that your brother will wake up, okay? So don¡¯t think about those terrible thoughts anymore and have faith in your brother."


    Her father made the two of them sit in a separate room for now so Xiu Mei could calm down and collect her thoughts. Thankfully, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t have an episode after seeing her first brother.


    "Are you feeling okay now, Mei?" Lu Chen asked worriedly as he kept her in his embrace tofort her.


    "Mhm. A bit." She murmured, her face buried on his shoulders, clinging to him like a kid.


    The two of them fell silent again with only the sounds of their breathing could be heard in the room.


    "Chen," She called, breaking the deafening silence.


    "Hm?"


    "Is mother okay right now?"


    He said that his mother returned to the army to investigate for her in ce of her first brother. Then surely, her husband is working with her mother if she¡¯s going to that ce.


    "She is. She¡¯s fine and well. I have my men toe with her so she won¡¯t be harmed in that ce even when I¡¯m not there." Lu Chen exined as he brushed her hair.


    "Mhm." She replied. "Thank you."


    Her hug to him tightened. "Thank you, because you¡¯re always there."


    Lu Chen felt as if someone tickled his heart. He smiled at his wife, "I will always be here with you, Xiu Mei. No matter what happens, I¡¯ll find you and return to your side." Then he pressed a kiss on her hair.


    The two of them stayed in that position for quite a while before she decided to return and see her first brother again. Then her father briefly exined to her about her first brother¡¯s current status so she understood why he became like that.


    After staying there for almost three hours, her father convinced her to go home and rest. Considering that she is also still not well, she was left with no choice but to listen obediently to return home.


    "Sleep first, then tomorrow I¡¯ll answer more of your questions. For now, you¡¯re exhausted. Let¡¯s go to sleep." Lu Chen said when they got home. Xiu Mei wanted to retort but the exhaustion for the day eventually dawned on her. She gave up and listened to his advice. After drinking the warm milk her husband gave her, she squeezed in his arms as the two of them slept properly for the first time in a while.


    Lu Chen patiently waited for his wife to fall asleep first, thinking that she would surely have a difficult time falling asleep because she was surely thinking about a lot of things. After sensing her stable breathing, he pressed a kiss on her forehead again before falling asleep after her.


    The next day, Lu Chen threw his son Lu Qiang into the care of the two animals so the husband and wife could have some privacy. Of course, the son was powerless against his father¡¯s orders so he marched towards the garden in low spirits.


    "Yu Ming Xi really killed Pe Ji Huang?"


    "No, he didn¡¯t. But your second brother discovered that he was somehow involved with his murder."


    "So who killed him?"


    "Ying Wan Wan hired someone to kill him."


    Xiu Mei got confused learning that Ying Wan Wan was also involved in the crime. "But why would she suddenly want to kill him? Did they have some kind of involvement with each other or did she have a grudge on him?"


    "That¡¯s what we thought at first. But we investigated Ying Wan Wan¡¯s past and her life abroad was fabricated so we couldn¡¯t confirm whether the two of them are really involved with each other. But we¡¯re leaning to the idea that Ying Wan Wan is moving in someone¡¯s orders." Lu Chen continued his exnations.


    "There has been a series of movements in the government that your second brother is investigating. Ying Wan Wan is indirectly involved in it, almost half of the people who had strange promotions is somehow connected to the Ying family."


    Her forehead creased as she thought of them, "But they¡¯re not a political family. And I doubt they have connections that many to have so many of their people get into the government at such a short time."


    "It¡¯s not exactly the members of the Ying family. Some of them previously worked for them, while some are just rtives of the employees there, a couple of people from their distant branches. All of which within the timespan when Ying Wan Wan got adopted into the family."


    "But she had to be so young back then. You mean she started working on this that early?"


    "I believe so. That¡¯s why we are also digging into the Ying family, if someone was helping them in the shadows, or are they paying someone to do stuff. Anyhow, Ying Wan Wan is definitely the trigger for this."


    The voice of the innocent and young Wan Wan calling for Ying Yue¡¯s name and hers echoed inside her mind. The memories from the orphanage shed before her eyes and a painful expression appeared on her face as she was reminded of the old times.


    To think that an innocent kid would grow up like this, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but feel pity for Wan Wan thinking that she was influenced by terrible people at such a young age.


    "Then what about Xiu Su Yi? He said he¡¯s just a pawn. Did you find out who he¡¯s been involved with for the past few years?"


    "Yes," Lu Chen paused momentarily when he remembered something. "He¡¯s been in contact with some organization in the underworld, and that same organization worked with Ying Wan Wan when she...she took you."


    Xiu Mei nodded hesitantly as she remembered the man with the scar that she met in City S. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Why is he targeting her? Even back in the funeral, why did he keep trying to push her to hell?


    Back then, she was still young. She couldn¡¯t have possibly offended him so seriously even though she couldn¡¯t remember any memories with him. Then, is he targeting her because she is from the Xiu family?


    But of all people, why her? Xiu Mei thought, maybe she was the easiest to be fooled and she look like a pushover so he chose her? She felt depressed at the thought.


    "And there¡¯s also another thing that I need to tell you."


    "What is it?"


    "Remember the watch that you said you lost? We found it. And it¡¯s in the hands of that organization as well."

 Chapter 227 - Changes

    <h4>Chapter 227 - Changes</h4>


    Is that person stupid? A member of an underground organization stealing things without being careful... maybe she¡¯ll have to rethink her impression of their intelligence?


    Xiu Mei silently mumbled while she continued listening to her husband as he carefully answered all her questions. She pondered seriously, not even bothering whether her husband had truly told her everything(he did not), as she tried to recount all the idents she had been in the past months.


    Well, it was quite eventful.


    Almost getting kidnapped in thepany¡¯s parking lot and getting caught by Ying Wan Wan and almost gotten herself killed by a snake while running away.


    Then her trauma worsens causing her to be mute temporarily.


    Hmm, she truly pitied her luck. Destiny must have thought getting kidnapped once wasn¡¯t enough, so he tried to attack her two more times before bestowing another form of punishment upon her.


    She wondered. Did she perhaps do something very terrible in her previous life that¡¯s why she was being punished by the gods at this lifetime?


    Ah, her focus is straying away.


    After dropping off their son, the couple returned to the hospital and Xiu Mei finally learned how terrible his eldest brother¡¯s situation was when he first came. She sat across the ss window where she could see his brother lying down on the bed, while Lu Chen sat beside her holding her hand tightly with his free hand while working with something on hisptop on the other.


    "Princess, Mr.Lu." Doctor Lee appeared on his doctor¡¯s coat as he approached them. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes subconsciously trembled at the sight of her psychologist feeling slightly worried.


    Would he advise her to stay away since it wasn¡¯t appropriate with her current situation?


    Doctor Lee nced at sleeping Xiu Min¡¯s direction for a moment before turning to the anxious little girl that was his patient. Without asking her, he could understand her thoughts. He rubbed her head, "Your brother won¡¯t be taken down by this. Just like how you always wake up every time, your brother won¡¯t let you down either."


    The haze in Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes faded quite a bit listening to his words. Her hand holding Lu Chen¡¯s tightened, as she forced a smile and nodded.


    Doctor Lee nced at the guy looking at him quite coldly, ring at the hand that was on the little princess¡¯s head. He suppressed his chuckle as he signaled him with his eyes that he needs to have a word with him.


    A few minutes after he left, Lu Chen stood up.


    There were quite a few people around so Xiu Mei was still having psychological difficulties talking so she asked with her eyes, ¡¯Where are you going?¡¯


    Lu Chen showed her a reassuring gaze while bringing the back of her hand to his lips.


    "Be good. I¡¯ll have to take a call." He softly whispered. Xiu Mei nodded reluctantly letting go of their joined hands and watching him disappear from the hallway.


    Of course, the conversation between the two men was just simply about Xiu Mei¡¯s progress and her current state as of the moment. Lu Chen told Doctor Lee that at least, Xiu Mei can now normallymunicate with him, and no, he didn¡¯t borate on the circ.u.mstances on how she was suddenly able to speak with him.


    "Did something change after she learned about Xiu Min¡¯s situation?"


    "She had been subconsciously being emotionally sensitive for the past weeks, but this time, she revealed more of her emotions and she looks quite shaken up when I answered her questions this morning."


    "Based on her actions before and after she knew about it, was there anything that became unstable or something?"


    Lu Chen fell silent for a moment to ponder for a moment.


    "Nothing to be of too much concerned about."


    Aside from being seemingly clingy to him since yesterday night, he didn¡¯t notice any particr changes to be worried about at all.


    He¡¯d been closely observing her just in case she goes into another episode of her PTSD symptoms and fortunately, she seems to be taking everything fine for now.


    Doctor Lee just hmm-ed as he reminded, "Even though I said to treat her just as usual before she had her psychological trauma, you still have to be careful not to let her be too excited. She never got over her PTSD for years so we¡¯re still unsure how she would react to circ.u.mstances simr to this."


    "I¡¯ll keep that in mind." Lu Chen concurred. He was cautious of that, that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t tell her everything because he didn¡¯t want her to worry too much. He hadn¡¯t even told her the other issues he noticed at work since surely, she wouldn¡¯t be able to stop herself from working once she knows about it.


    During the weekend, Xiu Mei brought Lu Qiang due to his insistence to visit his uncle. She didn¡¯t hear anything from her mother since she returned to the army, and her father and second brother still tells her something, but she knew they¡¯re still keeping some things from her.


    She appreciates the thought that they want to protect her, but she felt more useless the more they try to keep secrets from her. She didn¡¯t tell them that though.


    On the other hand, her husband became busier than ever juggling between thepany and his other job. She would sometimes sit with him in the study while he was working, and unlike before, he barely even had the time to chat with her.


    Feeling guilty, she had her assistant email her to forward some of Lu Chen¡¯s share that could be worked on by her instead. It was the least she could do since she couldn¡¯t help him with his other business.


    She spent most of her time in the hospital and her son who was steadily changing from being unsociable into someone hanging out with his friends every after school. She felt proud of the change and knew that they both did the right thing to send him to school.


    Two weeks passed just like that.


    Until Xiu Mei finally noticed one of the problems that Lu Chen hid from her weeks ago.


    She was having her snack break in the garden with their two pets, scrolling through the news and stocks after not checking it for quite some time. Her finger hovering over the screen paused, as she noticed the weird movement of the global stock market.


    No simple person would have noticed these subtle changes, but people like Xiu Mei, are quite sensitive to any fluctuations in the market.


    That¡¯s weird.


    Quite a number of majorpanies are having weird fluctuations in stocks. It¡¯s very subtle, but they¡¯re all slowly falling after having a peak for a few hours.


    She immediately backtracked the news for any issues rted, but it seems that there wasn¡¯t anything rted to thosepanies. She continued studying the news and market for almost an hour, before finally realizing the truth behind the weird fluctuations.


    Perhaps someone... is trying to control the movements in the market, at the same time, he intends to lower the stocks in a roundabout way to gain control over the majorpanies.

 Chapter 228 - Reward

    <h4>Chapter 228 - ''Reward''</h4>


    Xiu Mei immediately got up to grab her workptop and carefully investigated the suspicious movements in the market. She may be on indefinite sick leave but she takes pride as the Lu Corporation¡¯s secretary.


    She wasn¡¯t wasting away her time working under Lu Chen as she slowly gained experience howplicated the world could be in their industry.


    And her experience didn¡¯t fail her.


    It took quite some time but she finally found out a clue. Rose.


    She thought hard whether there was apany or someone she knew by that name but nothing came to mind. She wondered if it¡¯s a new yer in the market.


    She frowned as she thought of that possibility. Because if it really is, then this Rose seems a cunning opponent, considering how it¡¯s making its way in the market.


    She briefly alerted Lu Shao to watch out for any weird movements just in case but since the situation isn¡¯t too favorable for her to move to investigate, she could only pass the baton to him and her assistant.


    On her side, she tried to research this ¡¯Rose¡¯ but strangely, no article or anything rted appears on the inte. Aside from their appearance in the stock market, no information could be found anymore.


    Is this an illegalpany? A ghostpany?


    At thepany, it wasn¡¯t just Xiu Mei who¡¯s suspicious.


    Lu Chen and Lu Shao are secretly noticing some strange movements in thepany. Someone was moving behind the scenes actively these past few months, stealing information, tarnishing the names of some of their employees, and issues surrounding some of their operations.


    The stolen information of their projects was immediately blocked and prevented multiple times, but Lu Chen quickly realized something wrong when he noticed that even the projects that are still in progress are being targeted. Even those projects that are known within the top level were revealed hence he was quite rmed with the movements.


    "There¡¯s still a rat within. Find it." Lu Chen ordered Lu Shao who immediately heeded his orders.


    And then a few dayster, Xiu Mei was caught unprepared when she bumped into someone in the most unexpected ce.


    She just got out of thefort room nning to return to her eldest brother¡¯s room.


    "If it isn¡¯t Mei¡¯er, what a surprise."


    "..."


    Her face dimmed as she saw Zhu Lin¡¯s figure behind her. She turned her head and continued moving forward to ignore him but he was quite insistent.


    His arm blocking appeared in front of her, "You still have quite the attitude, I see."


    His face clearly showed unhappiness as he remembered how Xiu Mei kicked him out from a store months ago. It left a bitter taste in his mouth being embarrassed like that so he wouldn¡¯t let Xiu Mei go so easily this time when there¡¯s no one around.


    Xiu Mei narrowed her eyes throwing daggers at him but she was already slightly panicking inside her mind.


    She was helpless due to her inability, and to think that she bumped into one of the most terrible people in the world. Once Zhu Lin learns of her inability to speak, it would take less than a day before it spreads within their circle.


    Her face will be all over the news tomorrow too.


    With a lot of their enemies eyeing them at the moment, this small weakness of hers might get her whole family and the Lu Corporation in trouble.


    She kept a cold face on as he continued to chatter. She didn¡¯t even bother asking why he was in a military hospital.


    "Look, I know you have a grudge for what I did before but you can¡¯t me me. I didn¡¯t want to die."


    "..."


    Ying Yue didn¡¯t want to die too, you bastard.


    "I¡¯m just a human, and back then, I thought about the great life ahead of me so I couldn¡¯t just give up and die there."


    "..."


    So are you saying that Ying Yue doesn¡¯t?


    Xiu Mei was barely stopping herself from throwing her fist into his head and beat the shit out of this guy.


    "Besides, I¡¯m not the one who killed Ying Yue. It was the kidnappers, alright. So don¡¯t push the me on me."


    "..."


    You didn¡¯t. But if it weren¡¯t for you, we would have had a better chance of escape with the three of us. But you were too selfish to save yourself on your own.


    Anger slowly bubbled up within her but she immediately returned to her senses.


    Her hands balled into fists loosened as she took deep breaths, feeling her panic attack slowly emerging again. She counted in her head as she tried to not show her weakness in front of Zhu Lin.


    While she was focusing, Zhu Lin¡¯s arm slid on her shoulders and she instantly felt disgusted. She shrugged his hand on her shoulder and immediately brushed his arm off as her eyes glinted in anger at him.


    Zhu Lin didn¡¯t give up and continued pestering her. Completely forgetting where he was and Xiu Mei¡¯s background, he was only filled with ideas on how to properly return the favor of what she did to him.


    He wasn¡¯t able to properly look at her the two times they met before, but seeing her now, she didn¡¯t look so bad.


    She wasn¡¯t as curvy and her assets weren¡¯t as big as the other girls he dated before but Xiu Mei is still quite a beauty.


    Lewd thoughts popped in his mind as he thought of how to punish her. He nced at the emptyfort room, his mind already set.


    That person did tell him to ¡¯reward¡¯ her properly, so Zhu Lin was more than willing toply. And so, Zhu Lin whopletely didn¡¯t care that the military was Xiu Mei¡¯s territory started his ns.


    Taking out the spray that ¡¯person¡¯ delivered to him, he unhesitantly sprayed it on Xiu Mei¡¯s face while holding his breath.


    Xiu Mei saw his movements and immediately stepped backward, turning her face to the side trying to avoid what he was spraying.


    Was he trying to spray hydrochloric acid?!


    She thought nervously but she quickly realized the answer to her question shortly after.

 Chapter 229 - The Erased Memory

    <h4>Chapter 229 - The Erased Memory</h4>


    Damn it!


    Zhu Lin really dared to do something to her!!


    Her vision turned slightly blurry as dizziness tide over her. As she felt her body slowly turning weak, her memory of being kidnapped in the elevator shed in her mind.


    She opened her mouth nning to scream and call for help but no sound came out of her throat.


    Not knowing where she got the strength from, Xiu Mei pushed Zhu Lin¡¯s approaching figure as she staggered backward attempting to run away from him.


    "Don¡¯t fight anymore, Mei¡¯er. It¡¯s no use." He sneered as he grabbed her by her arm and pushed her towards thefort room.


    He pushed her into one of the walls while his hand started touching her inappropriately.


    Luckily, the spray wasn¡¯t enough to knock her out that fast.


    Seeing a shadow in her peripheral view, she did her best struggling to walk fast towards that person.


    Come on! This was the military hospital. Even though it¡¯s big and there weren¡¯t many visitors to this ce, it can¡¯t be possible that there¡¯s really no one around the area, right?


    She did a turn and didn¡¯t see any shadow of that person anymore.


    Grasping for breath, she almost cursed.


    Why is there no one?! Was she just imagining things?!


    Xiu Mei noticed that she was already near the elevator and immediately walked over there albeit a bit slower than before. Her energy was depleting at a lightning speed.


    She desperately pressed the button and immediately entered the lift as soon as it opened. As soon as she pressed the close button, she saw Zhu Lin¡¯s figure making a turn towards where she was but he wasn¡¯t able to catch up to her as the elevator doors already closed. She didn¡¯t see which floor number she pressed but as soon as the elevator doors opened, she quickly got out, almost leaning on the wall to support her weight as she felt her legs growing soft.


    With no strength left, she slid down the wall almost crouching to the floor.


    Before she lost consciousness, she saw something white going over her.


    "Princess?!"


    She reached for that person¡¯s clothes with a trembling hand as she opened her mouth.


    "H-help..."


    "Prepare a bed, fast!"


    "..."


    "Princess? Princess?!"


    "..."


    ...


    It was all dark. Everywhere was so dark. She could smell the scent of wet soil, and the dirt stuck on her body when she was lying on the dirty ground.


    Wait...! What?


    It was the same ce where she got kidnapped before. But why was she suddenly back here?


    Wasn¡¯t she in the military hospital a while ago? Then why was she suddenly here?


    But where was Ying Yue?


    She was all alone in the room!


    She couldn¡¯t remember being apart from Ying Yue that night at all. Was this probably a dream?


    Then she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and the sound of the door opening. Because her eyes were still bound by cloth, she couldn¡¯t see anything. But she instinctively shrunk towards the side as if to avoid that approaching person.


    Anyone approaching her at the moment was definitely not a good person.


    "Ah... I did tell them not to treat you all so roughly." A man¡¯s voice sounded in her ear. Before she couldprehend what he said, she felt a pair of hands lift her body up into a sitting position. She panicked and struggled to free herself from his hold.


    "Stay." The man said in a low voice. She felt a chill on her back as she quickly picked up the trace of anger and fierceness in his order.


    She blinked multiple times, attempting to clear her eyesight. But strangely, she still couldn¡¯t see his face clearly despite being in front of her directly.


    "The pampered spoilt princess of the Xiu¡¯s reduced into this. I wonder if they will like this gift?"


    "..."


    She could only bite her lips as she felt afraid of this person. Even if she couldn¡¯t see him properly, she could feel that piercing gaze and anger in his voice as if a slight mistake, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill her right then and there.


    "But to think that you¡¯re such a weakling. Look at those eyes."


    His finger traced her eyes and slid down to the side of her cheek. She felt disgusted by his touch as she moved her face slightly to avoid his touch.


    A chuckle escaped from his lips.


    "Oh, was I wrong?"


    He pulled his hand away as he continued talking to her.


    "You must be thinking, why we kidnapped you." His walking stopped, turning in her direction. And in his low voice, he made her feel that disgust and rage in his tone.


    "It¡¯s a gift. An unforgettable gift to your family." He walked and stopped in front of her again.


    "So me yourself for being born in that kind of family."


    Crouching before her, his face contorted into something menacing as he continued.


    "A family full of monsters. Ruthless. People who think they¡¯re heroes but they are just like us, some pathetic murderers who kill people saying it was for their country."


    Xiu Mei flinched as she tried to distance herself from him.


    Her mind in pure chaos. Everything felt so real. Wasn¡¯t this just a dream?


    She couldn¡¯t remember meeting someone that night at all.


    Maybe she was having some kind of dream delusions?


    Even her movements and reactions. She couldn¡¯t control herself at all. It was like she was on her own body but couldn¡¯t take control of it. Every movement was like an instinct rooted within her.


    It was like... like her old self.


    "Mom? Are you awake?"


    Her eyes turned towards the source of the voice. Was that...?


    "Dad! Mom is¡ª"


    Then she heard another muffled voice. Everything around her slowly started disappearing but the man spoke again for thest time. She turned her head and stared straight at the man, this time, she could clearly see his eyes despite the darkness around them.


    His blue eyes glinted in the dark, and with just his gaze, it was as if he was chanting a spell that was slowly taking her oxygen away.


    She struggled to breathe as he muttered in low tones that she couldn¡¯t understand. A smell diffused in the air as she slowly lost consciousness and everything went ck.

 Chapter 230 - Tenacity

    <h4>Chapter 230 - Tenacity</h4>


    Xiu Mei almost shot up from her bed as she went into a coughing fit as soon as she woke up. She felt aforting hand on her back then a ss of water appeared before her eyes. She drank it slowly until she felt her throat didn¡¯t feel too itchy and stuffy anymore.


    "Thank you." She subconsciously spoke. The hand on her back paused and Xiu Mei herself suddenly felt her mind turning clear as she realized what just happened.


    She lifted her gaze and saw a doctor and a pair of nurses at the foot of her bed, her son holding a ss of water and Lu Chen close by her side.


    Before she could try to open her mouth again, Lu Chen signaled something to the nurse before running out.


    "I..." Xiu Mei touched her throat and looked at Lu Chen. She noticed the worry in his eyes as he lowered his head and nted a kiss on her hair.


    "Thank god you woke up. You made me so worried." He murmured while he sped her hand with his.


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion before remembering what happened to her before she fainted.


    Right! She bumped into Zhu Lin then... he drugged her.


    "Zhu Lin! He was he¡ª"


    "I know. But you¡¯re safe now."


    "Did they catch him?"


    She was really wondering how he was able to get inside the military hospital. Did he have some rtive in the military so he was able to get in?


    Lu Chen paused for a few moments before hesitating to answer, "...yes."


    Just... they didn¡¯t really need to catch Zhu Lin at all.


    Xiu Mei picked up on the hesitation in his voice and inquired more, "Why? Is there something wrong?"


    Lu Chen sighed.


    "Before the soldiers could catch him, Zhu Lin ran into an empty room and jumped from the window."


    Her breath hitched. "...and?"


    Lu Chen shook his head in response. She suddenly felt a chill go down her back remembering how crazy Zhu Lin looked like when he was chasing after her.


    Was he perhaps on drugs? Or...


    A small hand grabbed hers cutting off her thoughts.


    "Mom, are you okay now?" Lu Qiang worriedly asked. She quickly changed her expression and tried tofort him when the doctor approached her.


    "How are you feeling Ms.Xiu?" She nced and recognized him as one of the Yu military doctors. "Are you feeling some pain anywhere?"


    "No, I feel... fine, I think."


    She should be... look, she was lowkey in shock finally being able to speak while talking with somebody other than her husband.


    "That¡¯s great. We did some examinations and your results turned out fine so if you feel like there¡¯s anything wrong with your body for the next few days, please do have a check-up at a hospital just in case." After that, he left with the nurses behind him.


    A little whileter, Dr.Lee entered her room.


    "Princess, you¡¯re finally awake." He said as he strode over to her side while lightly fl.i.c.k.i.n.g her forehead. "You keep getting into trouble, maybe I should have Lee Yu An be your bodyguard 24/7."


    Xiu Mei got annoyed and pped away his hand.


    "I¡¯ll have Brother Lee beat you up first before you could open your mouth then."


    Something flickered in his eyes but Dr.Lee quickly retorted.


    "So the princess first before the family?"


    "Of course. Maybe if you all stop calling me Princess then maybe we can talk it over."


    He chuckled at my response as he signaled to Lu Chen to leave them alone for a moment. After picking up Lu Qiang, the father and son immediately left the room.


    Dr.Lee sat beside her bed as he quickly halted his teasing and talked seriously.


    "So how are you feeling?"


    She repeated her answer when the other doctor asked her the same question.


    "You think? So you¡¯re not quite sure yet if you¡¯re really okay."


    Thinking back on what happened before she fainted, and that weird dream she just had. Including the fact that she somehow recovered without understanding how she was able to ovee her disability, she nodded hesitantly.


    "How...how am I suddenly able to talk?" She asked him, wishing that he could give her the answer.


    "Princess, the only person who can clearly answer that question is yourself. The reason why you suddenly couldn¡¯t talk, may not necessarily be the answer to why you suddenly overcame your disability. It could be an entirely different reason, but the answer to that wille from you and not from me. So, unfortunately, I also don¡¯t have an answer to that."


    Silence fell within a room as she pondered.


    She remembered shouting for help before she fainted, and it was a person different from Lu Chen nor herself. Was it really just because of her desperation that she somehow got over the mental pressure that was restricting her from speaking?


    Or maybe... because she got past her fear?


    She recalled the fear she felt when Zhu Lin suddenly jumped on her, attempting to do something to her. She felt helpless, and the same fear of almost being assaulted just like that night. But this time, she didn¡¯t just freeze and surrendered.


    This time...somehow, she found herself being desperate. Desperate to get away, to run to Lu Chen, to hide somewhere safe, just somewhere away from Zhu Lin. In her mind, it wasn¡¯tplete fear that conquered her, but there was that courage who made her push him away, that kind of strength that brought her to safety in the end that made everything worthy.


    She fell into contemtion as she carefully thought over and over the possible answer to her question.


    Was it that? The fear that she couldn¡¯t get past from that night, now instead of just giving up on her fate, maybe, the answer was tenacity?


    For ten years, the thing she thought she had all this time was something she actually didn¡¯t have all along?

 Chapter 231 - What to focus on

    <h4>Chapter 231 - What to focus on</h4>


    Xiu Mei fell into confusion.


    Was that really the weight she¡¯s been hiding all these years?


    But how?


    When she decided to move out from home and started to live independently, wasn¡¯t that her determination?


    When she chose the path of business instead of following the footsteps of military and politics, wasn¡¯t it her resolve to get away from the path alreadyid before her?


    When she chose to continue to live, pushing herself hard day by day instead of s.u.mbing to the pain and whispers that haunted her for years, wasn¡¯t it because of her persistence?


    What she thought she had... it was that kept her going every day to wake up and continue her life as normal as she possibly could. It was the only thing that she felt proud of herself because no matter what her past was, she was able to keep going despite the sin she carried alone.


    But now, the answer to her question was that tenacity that supposed to be the thing that kept her from dying for all these years?


    And that she only really had it now?


    So then what was it? What was what she had all this time? Had it been a lie?


    "It seems like you¡¯ve figured out the answer." Dr.Lee spoke out waking her up from her depressing thoughts. It took a moment for her to answer.


    "I guess... but I don¡¯t know. I¡ª"


    "So you¡¯re not happy with the answer that you found?"


    Xiu Mei lowered her gaze and bit her lip before nodding. Dr.Lee didn¡¯t ask what her answer was, but he stayed silent and just stared at her as if he already knew what she was thinking about.


    "You couldn¡¯t ept it?" He pushed.


    "I¡ªI don¡¯t know. It¡¯s just, I already know that I¡¯m not as strong as I make it out to be, but is it actually possible that I¡¯ve been living...I mean, everything that I did, that I was proud of..." She raised her head and desperately tried to ask for answers from her doctor.


    "Had it really been all a lie?"


    Silence filled the room for a few moments before Xiu Mei continued.


    "I only had my courage and tenacity to live with, but is that what was really missing in my heart? Maybe I¡¯ve just been living ignorantly and lying to myself that it was because of this and that when the truth was that I chose my decisions because it was the only choice that I could afford to take?"


    "Princess, you did not."


    A hand patted her head lightly making her raise her head to look at Dr. Lee. Her eyes were almost red, barely suppressing herself from crying.


    "I¡¯m saying this as your guardian and as a person who has known you for a long time. Resolve isn¡¯t realized once in your lifetime, nor your courage for just a single thing. Your tenacity was what pushed you to live your life despite the setbacks you had, and it was what turned you into the present you right now. Maybe you just didn¡¯t understand your own answer. That the answer you realized was because every time this fear kept being rubbed into your face, you were subconsciously running away from it. Your actions may have made you run away to save yourself physically, but your mind was left there alone to suffer."


    Her memories were slightly hazy, but she could remember that her thoughts swirled around that she has to run away and hide. Because the memories from her first kidnapping when she was pushed and touched all over by strangers felt like snakes binding her. And that no matter how far she¡¯d run, she could still feel that icky feeling of that disgusting touch, and along with that were the lifeless eyes of Ying Yue that were reflected in her eyes. How incapable and weak they are to push away those people at that time.


    Xiu Mei gripped her nket tightly as she continued to listen to Dr.Lee.


    "You had a knot in your heart after getting traumatized when you were little. That knot, it wasn¡¯t gonna go away even with all the medicines you take. It¡¯s something that you yourself had to realize, untie and ept. It was the hidden knot that kept you from moving on because even if you thought that you had already epted everything that happened, in your subconscious, you refuse to fight and step forward from that moment. The guilt and fear stopped you from taking that step, that¡¯s why when it happened to you for the second time, your mind closed itself from everyone."


    Zhu Lin... was she probably influenced because of him?


    She held a grudge against him throughout these years, ming him for getting caught and getting her bestfriend killed. Even if he wasn¡¯t there at that time, he brought a part of the pain she suffered.


    "But Princess, there¡¯s a different part that you should focus on."


    Dr.Lee pointed to her heart and continued, "That knot that hid in your heart? It¡¯s gone. You¡¯ve finally, truly taken that necessary step that you were missing. And now maybe, you can start looking forward and move on from the fear that embedded itself within you?"


    He spoke in suchplicated words yet Xiu Mei could clearly understand his message. The sadness in her heart slowly disappeared as she realized what he meant.


    "You¡¯ve already made it this far, and today is the day when you took another step forward. That means that you¡¯ve done well, and soon, you¡¯ll arrive at the finish line. And when that happens, you¡¯ll find yourself free from pain and a new you."

 Chapter 232 - Punish tonight

    <h4>Chapter 232 - Punish tonight</h4>


    Xiu Mei immediately went home after getting permission from her doctor. Besides, Dr.Lee mentioned that the fact that she overcame the rock in her heart, aside from treating her PTSD, she shouldn¡¯t have any more problems at all. So after dropping by to check on her eldest brother, she obediently went home under Lu Chen¡¯s insistence.


    The dream she had when she fainted was thrown at the back of her mind, treating it as if it was probably just some random illusion she created due to her current predicament of mental instability.


    Her heart and mind felt lighter than she ever felt for so long, so she couldn¡¯t help but agree that Dr.Lee was right. She was finally, really, showing the signs of getting better.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help butugh at the banter of father and son on the dining table, as Lu Qiang dered that he would sleep with her today. Of course, Lu Chen wouldn¡¯t let his son snatch his wife under his eyes. So he gave him his own assignments, so Lu Qiang wouldn¡¯t have time to cling to Xiu Mei at night.


    Lu Qiang caught on with his father¡¯s n and immediatelyined. So right now, Xiu Mei was being the audience just having fun watching the duo in the midst of a war for her.


    Her heart was filled with warmth, and at the back of her mind, maybe she shouldn¡¯t have moved out from her home. If she didn¡¯t move out, maybe it was this warmth that would probably have helped her to recover faster.


    Before her thoughts take a turn into the self-pity road, she quickly refocused her thoughts onto other things.


    Maybe because of all the things that happened recently, Xiu Mei felt like her emotions have been all over the ce.


    Thank God she can finally return to her post and distract herself with work.


    As for Lu Chen and Lu Qiang¡¯s war? In the end, she slept in Lu Qiang¡¯s room to pacify her son since he dered that he won¡¯t go to school if his mom doesn¡¯t stay with him tonight.


    ...He¡¯s really his father¡¯s son ah. Is this an early sign of Lu Qiang¡¯s domineering side?


    The next day, after preparing Lu Qiang¡¯s lunch she quickly changed into a proper attire for work. Seeing herself in the mirror, she felt oddly satisfied.


    "Don¡¯t tire yourself out too much." Lu Chen suddenly appeared and sn.a.k.e.d his arm around her shoulders. Pressing a kiss on her temple, he looked at her through their reflection in the mirror.


    "I know."


    She quickly lied since she knew that she won¡¯t be able to stand letting her assistant and Lu Shao keep doing her own workload by themselves.


    "Wife, I know you too well. You¡¯re probably gonna be too focused on catching up with your work today."


    Xiu Mei slightly froze before shing a sheepish smile. Scratching her cheek, she replied.


    "I mean..."


    Before she could finish her words, she felt something warm in her ear.


    "!"


    Xiu Mei instantly became fl.u.s.tered after realizing that Lu Chen nibbled on her ears. But his words made her redden even further.


    "If wife is not going to listen, then husband can only punishter." Lu Chen whispered with his husky and deep voice. Before she could even hit him in frustration, he quickly let her go and ran out of the room.


    This guy!!!!! ROGUE!!!


    And so, Xiu Mei red and ignored Lu Chen for most of the time until they arrived at Lu Corporation. Because there was so much work awaiting, Lu Shao and her assistant couldn¡¯t find any time to celebrate her recovery but they did leave their gifts on her table along with her favorite tea and desserts. Strictly following the boss¡¯ instructions, Lu Shao didn¡¯t hand over too much work to Xiu Mei this time.


    She quickly got absorbed into her work, until she was called out by Lu Chen for lunch. She didn¡¯t stay too long and returned to working again right after making Lu Chen sigh.


    He was tempted to ask soon in baidu. How to stop your wife from working too much?


    He sighed again. Forget it. It¡¯s not like he even has the right to convince her to don¡¯t push herself too hard. How can the workaholic president and husband convince her ah?


    He shook his head in surrender as Lu Chen shifted his thoughts on how he was going to punish her tonight instead. A smile crept on his face while nodding. Yes, if he couldn¡¯t convince her, then he can just punish her. Isn¡¯t that right?


    Meanwhile, the innocent Xiu Mei who didn¡¯t know of her uing fate went to several floors for work.


    "Oh my, Ms.Xiu you¡¯re finally back!"


    "I thought you¡¯d gone and was preparing to be a housewifedy boss ah!"


    "I can finally be free from reporting to the emperor!!"


    Xiu Meiughed at theints of her colleagues as she dropped by to the different departments. It was this kind of atmosphere that she terribly missed when she had to stay at home, even if she was always loaded with work every day.


    Out of consideration for Xiu Mei¡¯s health, Lu Chen had everyone dismissed by exactly 5 o¡¯clock which was quite the record given that going home on the dot wasn¡¯t verymon for such a busypany especially in their busiest time of the year.


    So Xiu Mei found herself being stared at by her colleagues as if she was some kind of god they want to worship when she bumped into them on the ground floor when she went to pick up something from the reception area.


    "Hail,dy boss!"


    "Ms.Xiu, please stay forever with the president!"


    "Shouldn¡¯t we call her the empress now?"


    "I offer thy sweets for your merciful blessings!"


    "....."


    Aren¡¯t they exaggerating too much?

 Chapter 233 - Reliable Husband

    <h4>Chapter 233 - Reliable Husband</h4>


    So on the first day of Xiu Mei¡¯s return to her post as the emperor¡¯s eunuch, she was instantly promoted as the empress. She wasn¡¯t exactly sure how to feel about it.


    She wondered how they would react if they knew that they are already married ah...


    After dropping off Lu Qiang at home, Xiu Mei and Lu Chen hastily went to the military hospital after receiving a call from her father that their eldest brother finally woke up. He was already resting when she got there, and they are still waiting for the test results.


    "I¡¯ll do that." Lu Chen took the knife and the orange from her hands when she was about to prepare some orange juice for her brother to drink as soon as he wakes up.


    "It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s not that hard." She tried to snatch it back from him but failed.


    "Wife, I can¡¯t bear to tire you out. And you¡¯re probably tired from work today so I would like it if you take a rest on the sofa for now, okay?" Lu Chen coaxed her.


    Xiu Mei could only listen to him and sigh as she walked back to the sofa to watch her eldest brother¡¯s sleeping figure. Ever since she started relying on her husband, she realized she was getting easier and easier to be coaxed by him every day.


    She silently feared her days as his secretary. Lu Chen wasn¡¯t originally the type to skip on his work but observing his performance these days... she nced at his backside suspiciously.


    Xiu Mei thought, she could slightly understand now why they say that having office romance is not a good idea.


    "I still have an important appointment to attend. Will you both be okay staying here? What about Qiang¡¯er?"


    He was expressing his concern with what happened to his daughter yesterday when he was told that someone was somehow able to trespass in the military hospital and almost harmed his daughter.


    "We¡¯ll be fine, Dad. I¡¯ll stay here with her and the nanny would watch over Lu Qiang for us tonight." Lu Chen answered his father-inw that assured Xiu Mei¡¯s Dad.


    "That¡¯s assuring then. Your second brother wouldn¡¯t be able toe tonight and tomorrow since he also had to attend some important schedule so I¡¯ll count on you for tonight then." He patted his son-inw¡¯s shoulders and walked over to his daughter.


    He sat beside her and lightly rubbed her head just like how he always did when she was young.


    "I know you might be quite anxious right now. Don¡¯t worry too much about your mother and brother, and always remember to take care of yourself first. Remember, you¡¯re already a wife and a mother. You can rely on your husband when you have concerns, and you have to take care of yourself for your son. They¡¯re the family you have to prioritize now, so don¡¯t worry too much about us. Alright?" Xiu Gu Ren¡¯s patiently uttered to her in a low voice. Amongst his three children, it was this precious daughter of his that he worries the most. She grew up too quickly under their shelter, and they always failed to protect her causing her to have wounds in her heart.


    Xiu Mei paused before nodding obediently listening to her father¡¯s words.


    Her father is right. She was too anxious about the continuous idents unfolding within her family, that she kept forgetting that she also has her own family to worry about now. She nced at her husband that returned to juicing the orange and smiled gently.


    "Dad, I know. Because my husband¡¯s very reliable."


    If all of this happened when she was alone, she knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to stay as strong as she was right now. She would surely act as if she¡¯s fine and hide her true thoughts from her family trying to adjust by herself.


    But because she had such a reliable person to lean on, she wasn¡¯t as scared as she thought she would be and she didn¡¯t feel alone. Xiu Mei truly felt lucky to have him as her husband and that he is always willing to be there despite her ws and shorings that he discovered after they got to know each other deeply.


    After her father left for work, Xiu Mei called home so Lu Qiang wouldn¡¯t wait for them to go home tonight. Her brother didn¡¯t awaken throughout their shift at that time but all of his results were better than before. They eventually went home after their Xiu family¡¯s butler arrived at the hospital to change shifts with them.


    It was already past 3 am when the two of them got home. Lu Chen knew that his wife was already tired so even if he really wanted to, he didn¡¯t dare to tire her out even further this time.


    Forget it, he¡¯ll just add some interest for her punishment ah. He thought while hugging his wife in his arms before they went to sleep.


    The next morning, Xiu Mei was not able to escape from Lu Chen¡¯s resolve to punish her.


    "What are you doing?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s instincts screamed danger as she stared at the grinning guy standing in front of the bathroom door.


    "Going in to take a bath, of course." Lu Chen answered suddenly shing a gentleman smile on his face that made Xiu Mei felt even more in danger. She subconsciously took a step back and tried to avoid him.


    This guy was clearly nning something else!


    "Oh, then I¡¯ll just go outside and cook Lu Qiang¡¯s lunch first."


    But before she could even take a step, she found herself suspended in the air being a princess carried by her husband.


    Xiu Mei already had an answer in her heart as to what this guy was nning to do.


    This bastard!! What was he trying to do so early in the morning!?


    "I thought you said you were gonna take a bath first!!" She grabbed the doorframe before she could be brought even further into the bathroom by this rogue.


    Lu Chen lowered his head and pecked her lips before speaking.


    "I never said I was going in alone."


    "...!!!"


    HOOLIGAN!!!!!

 Chapter 234 - Emperor Chasing After His Wife

    <h4>Chapter 234 - Emperor Chasing After His Wife</h4>


    "..ngh!"


    "Wait! Stop! Stop!"


    "...S-slow-ah!"


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "...Continue?"


    "......Mm."


    The sound of sshing water and m.o.a.ns echoed within the bathroom for the whole duration of their bath. In that short amount of time, she felt like her body wasn¡¯t hers anymore. Lu Chen had to carry her out and ced her on the bed.


    Xiu Mei felt like her whole body was falling apart. After beating up Lu Chen with thest bout of her energy, she could barely drag her whole body to the wardrobe to change. She red at the culprit the entire breakfast until Lu Qiang received the lunch prepared by the chef.


    He didn¡¯tin but Lu Qiang pitifully stared at his lunch and nced at her side before silently putting it in his bag. His back when he was picking up his backpack looked so pitiful making her want to hug and apologize to him.


    "My dear love, mommy will make it up to you tonight okay? I¡¯ll stay in your room tonight?"


    Lu Qiang¡¯s eyes sparkled while nodding his head.


    "Is that a promise?" He pulled out his pinky finger.


    "Promise."


    On the side, Lu Chen¡¯s expression darkened.


    She pretended that he didn¡¯t see it but she couldn¡¯t stop her chuckle.


    Heh. Did he think that he could get away with what he did this morning?


    She¡¯s not that generous to forgive him easily. This will at least let him suffer this much.


    When Lu Qiang got out first to go to their car, Xiu Mei felt a tug on her hand.


    Turning around, she bumped onto her husband¡¯s c.h.e.s.t while he took this opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist.


    "What are you doing?!"


    Xiu Mei blushed as she thought how many people are watching them right now. The helpers, butler...ah!!


    Contrary to his actions, Lu Chen didn¡¯t have much expression on his face but after spending so much time with him, Xiu Mei instantly saw the small curl on the edge of his lips.


    He was even subtly making circles on her waist, a habit he liked to do every time he was trying to arouse her before doing the deed.


    She grew angrier.


    "LU.CHEN." She angrily mouthed.


    "Yes, wife?"


    He kept his nk expression and his voice sounded as if he wasn¡¯t doing anything, yet strangely, Xiu Mei felt like there was a tone of teasing mixed in his sentence.


    She felt her anger peaking, so lifting up her foot, she stabbed his foot with her 6-inch stilettos that could probably a weapon for self-defense.


    Lu Chen stiffened when he felt a stabbing pain from his foot but he still kept his cool without letting go of his wife.


    It¡¯s not like he hasn¡¯t experienced getting shot or stabbed before ah. This is no big deal. At least, that¡¯s what he thought while he bit the inside of his mouth when his wife¡¯s stilettos kept her heels on his foot while stepping on him harder.


    Of course, Xiu Mei wouldn¡¯t miss this small action of his.


    "Hubby, you¡¯re so adorable you know that?" She shed a knowing smile as she reached out to pinch his cheeks whilst she kept pressing on his foot.


    "M-Mhm." Lu Chen replied in a low tone. He could only helplessly watch the yful smile on his wife¡¯s face while he suffered what he thought was more painful than getting shot in his stomach.


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei raised her brow.


    Still not s.u.mbing, huh.


    She was just about to victimize his other foot when Lu Qiang appeared behind her.


    "Mom? Dad? Aren¡¯t we going yet?" His head appeared behind the door, looking at the two people hugging each other.


    Xiu Mei quickly got off Lu Chen¡¯s foot and hastily pushed him away. Lu Chen didn¡¯t intend on further angering his wife so he loosened his hold and let her escape.


    Meanwhile, Lu Qiang frowned seeing his father getting all touchy with his mother.


    He stomped over, red at his Dad then grabbed her mother and dragged her outside with him.


    Xiu Mei silentlyughed at Lu Qiang¡¯s innocent re while letting him drag her outside. But before she turned from the door, she nced behind her and stuck her tongue out to Lu Chen like a child.


    Lu Chen chuckled at his wife¡¯s antics before following after the two of them. Lu Qiang sat in between the two, separating his father and mother.


    As an a.d.u.l.t person, Lu Chen generously forgave his son that kept ring at him. Besides, he¡¯s going to be dropped off at schoolter on. What¡¯s the fuss if he¡¯s the one still spending more time with his wife than the little kid.


    If Xiu Mei were to know what childish thoughts Lu Chen had on his head, she would surelyugh out loud.


    The two dropped off Lu Qiang and drove to work. This time, Lu Chen scooted over to his wife¡¯s side and held her hand.


    "Let go, you rogue." She held grudges from this morning¡¯s exercise.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m only rogue to you."


    "...hooligan!"


    And so, what greeted the employees that morning was the scene of their president chasing after his secretary while the secretary was avoiding their president¡¯s attempt to hold hands with her.


    It was an unimaginable picture that they never dreamed of that they would get to see for the rest of their life and so five minutester in theirpany gossip forum, appeared this same scene and lots ofments from the witnesses this morning.


    That¡¯s how the emperor chasing after the empress quickly spread throughout the Lu Corporation, the two protagonists unaware of them suddenly getting the top spot in thepany¡¯s forum.

 Chapter 235 - The Soldier. The TeChapter Genius. The Secretary.

    <h4>Chapter 235 - The Soldier. The TeChapter Genius. The Secretary.</h4>


    "Be careful not to crush it." Xiu Mei told her son who volunteered to hold the bouquet of flowers for her eldest brother. Lu Qiang nodded carefully holding those delicate flowers and made sure not to hug them too tightly.


    Behind them, Lu Chen held the basket of fruits and food that she bought.


    As soon as they reached the door of his room, they all stopped on their tracks to make way for the bunch of soldiers exiting his brother¡¯s room. They all seemed lively and were even energetically saying goodbye to the person inside the room before getting scolded.


    Xiu Mei smiled warmly at the picture of their backs. That was probably her eldest brother¡¯s team that she hadn¡¯t seen before.


    Well, it¡¯s not like she needed to meet them given the confidentiality of the team members in the military. After watching them disappear into the hallway, they entered the room and saw her injured elder brother who already rose from his bed and was doing some light stretch.


    "Don¡¯t you know how to rest?" She scolded.


    "Says the most workaholic sister of mine." Xiu Min retorted. If it wasn¡¯t for his slightly hoarse voice, she would doubt whether he really just woke up from weeks-long sleep.


    Crossing her arms, she narrowed her eyes at him.


    "That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you to rest. Learned it the hard way."


    Before the two siblings could continue their small banter, a little head popped in between them with flowers covering his face.


    "Hello, Uncle! I hope you¡¯re feeling better now." Lu Qiang greeted while handing over the bouquet to him. Xiu Min immediately softened at the sight of his nephew and smilingly epted the flowers.


    "Thank you, little nephew." He even patted the small head in front of him.


    "I¡¯ll arrange that on a vase." Xiu Mei grabbed the bouquet and reced the old flowers with new ones.


    Xiu Min raised his eyes to meet his brother-inw¡¯s gaze. The two didn¡¯t say anything but just nodded to each other, unknown whether this action was a greeting or if it meant something different instead.


    "We already prepared a dinner for my brother so just heat it upter when he¡¯s hungry." Xiu Mei reminded the helper who¡¯s currently on the shift to watch over her eldest brother. The helper nodded taking the food box and a couple of fruits to the refrigerator for storage.


    "Before I forgot," Xiu Min looked at his sister with a smile. "Congrattions on your recovery."


    Xiu Mei was confused.


    What? Recovery for what?


    ...Ah!


    She finally realized what he was implying. He was talking about that she could finally speak now.


    "Well, probably not fully recovered but somehow. Thanks." She walked over to his bed and yfully poked one of his injuries.


    "Ow!" The patient actually didn¡¯t feel any pain since he was already half-healed already but he acted exaggeratedly as if she truly hurt him.


    Xiu Mei grinned while continuing, "Now it¡¯s your turn to turn better. Our family hangs out too much at the hospitals. I¡¯m actually starting to think about whether we should build one for ourselves."


    She sarcastically added. Though the fact that they spend quite a lot of time in the hospital is true though.


    But most of the time, it was her fault. She was getting hospitalized too frequently in the span of one year.


    It wasughable since she barely entered the hospital in the previous years and it was like she waspensating for all those times this year.


    "Then you should ask Dad to build one for you."


    "Oh, and then we¡¯ll see our family on the news with a headline, ¡¯Are the Xiu family intending on expanding their power into the medical sector?¡¯ then it¡¯s going to be another day of hiding from the public for us because of the mixed opinions."


    "It¡¯s a matter of getting used to it."


    "So are we going to hide?" Lu Qiang popped up again in the middle surprising the two. Xiu Min and Xiu Meiughed at the child¡¯s statement while she helped her son to sit on the edge of the bed.


    "Did little Qiang understand our conversation?" Xiu Min asked the kid.


    Lu Qiang nodded. "But why do we need to hide from people? We can just remove the news on the inte, can¡¯t we?"


    "..."


    "..."


    Oh, she almost forgot. This son of hers is a tech genius ah.


    "But that¡¯s illegal." (Xiu Min, a soldier who strictly follows thews)


    "No, it¡¯s not. As long as we don¡¯t get caught, it would be fine." (Lu Qiang, the beloved nephew who constantly hangs around on the inte}


    "....He¡¯s right. It¡¯s just suppressing news, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re breaking anyw with that." (Xiu Mei, the stepmother sh secretary expert in suppressing news, or anything rted to it)


    Lu Chen, the silent husband who is quietly listening at the side while the conversation is progressing in a weird direction:....


    Lu Chen received a call in the midst of his listening to the chat of three people. After briefly going out to receive the call, he returned with a serious expression that halted the funny conversation of the trio.


    "We caught her." Lu Chen simply stated.


    They caught her. They finally caught Wanwan.


    Meanwhile, on the underground city.


    Yu Shi Huang coldly watched Ying Wanwan being thrown into a small room in the deepest bas.e.m.e.nt of The Legion¡¯s Headquarters(Lu Chen¡¯s organization) for questioning.


    "Do we start with a dagger or should we go straight with the poison test tasting?" A man with a dark skin tone viciously uttered.


    "Si Tu Yi, watch your mouth." Ming Xuan warned as he red at his colleague assassin. With his gaze, he pointed in the direction of Yu Shi Huang.


    "Tsk. Then I¡¯m wasting my time here." Si Tu Yiined but he didn¡¯t continue on pressing what he wants.


    He never usually listens to Ming Xuan, but doing their traditional atrocious acts in questioning a person in the presence of a high-ranking soldier, isn¡¯t that asking for death?


    It¡¯s not like he would against that woman in a fight, but their head specifically warned them not to touch the soldiers or else, they will be punished.


    He was not afraid of the woman but afraid of the head. Lu Chen is the scariest when he¡¯s angry, especially if someone disobeys his orders.

 Chapter 236 - Lee In and Wan Wan

    <h4>Chapter 236 - Lee In and Wan Wan</h4>


    On the other hand, Yu Shi Huang is having an internal struggle. She is a soldier, but she is also the mother of the person that woman kidnapped. Yet, the oath she took as a soldier is stopping her from doing unforgivable acts to this woman.


    What should she do?


    Considering that they are in the underground city...


    Her gazended on the people at the opposite side of the room when an idea clicked in her head.


    Yeah, it¡¯s not like she caught Ying Wan Wan alone. They are in the underground city and this is the territory of her son-inw¡¯s people.


    ...so let¡¯s just say that she doesn¡¯t have the right to interrogate people here.


    Mm. That¡¯s it. Yes. That reason should be alright.


    She just needs to watch over here while they¡¯re doing the interrogation instead of doing it herself.


    As they say, when in Rome, do what the Romans do.


    Yu Shi Huang convinced herself.


    "You can do the usual." She briefly spoke. Si Tu Yi and Ming Xuan heard her words and a sinister smile appeared on their faces.


    Nodding at her, the two left the room to go to the opposite side of the window. After casually sitting on the sofa, she watched the two do their own style of interrogation for the entire time.


    Wan Wan¡¯s body was already sprawled onto the floor with traces of blood and wounds across her whole body. Her clothes almost like a rag full of dirt and blood.


    Ming Xuan heedlessly grabbed her cor and made her sit on the chair again. Si Tu Yi did most of the interrogation, along with his handy tools of dagger, and needles. Considering that this was just an average weak woman, he already held 90% of his strength so that she wouldn¡¯t die so easily.


    "Even if k-kill me... you will never...." Si Tu Yi stabbed her with a needle that urately makes her whole body wring with pain.


    Wan Wan fell to the ground again while she g.r.o.a.n.e.d in pain but Ming Xuan dragged her back to the chair again.


    "Lee In. You¡¯re working with him." Ming Xuan tapped on the three photos again in front of her.


    Another stab.


    Wan Wan almost bent over with pain when Si Tu Yi shoved the photo on her face.


    "If you think that we¡¯ll kill you, stop dreaming. Killing people may be our profession but..." Si Tu Yi slid the blunt side of the dagger along Wan Wan¡¯s face.


    "...tormenting people is our most favorite pastime."


    Wan Wan¡¯s gaze trembled slightly when she felt the tip of the dagger dig into her cheek.


    "So even if you don¡¯t open your mouth, you need to stop dreaming that we¡¯ll kill you afterward." Si Tu Yiid down his dagger and picked up another long needle.


    "Perfect. Our crocodile pets are missing a ymate. They don¡¯t eat people but they do love to bite here and there." Ming Xuan added who was leaning on the wall.


    "So why we¡¯re still being nice, why don¡¯t you share with us if you¡¯re working with Lee In." Si Tu Yi ced the photo in front of Wan Wan again.


    She coldly looked at the photo.


    "Of course I did. How did you think I was able to abduct that witch?"


    Si Tu Yi didn¡¯t let his expression slip and continued.


    "Pei Ji Huang and Yu Ming Xi."


    "A dead man. What does he have to do with me?"


    "Yu Ming Xi brought you here."


    "Of course, he has a debt to pay. Did you really think I¡¯ll s.u.mb to that kind of stupid person?"


    Wan Wan may have looked like she wasn¡¯t leaking anything valuable other than the questions she was answering. But Si Tu Yi and Ming Xuan thought differently.


    Especially after they continued their interrogation, after a couple of needles and shes on her skin, they finally concluded her questioning.


    "She¡¯s pretty stupid. As expected of that kind of woman. To think that someone really dared to use her as a pawn. Truly an idiotic move." Si Tu Yimented as soon as they returned to the opposite room with Yu Shi Huang in it.


    "She said he was working with Lee In." Ming Xuan uttered, handing the photo to the soldier.


    This wasn¡¯t Lee In. It was an image of a stranger who just has a gash on his face. She immediately identified that this wasn¡¯t Lee In on the photo.


    "She knew the name of the person, but she never met him." Yu Shi Huang deducted from Wan Wan¡¯s statement and with this image.


    "If she hasn¡¯t met the people she worked with before, the possibility that Lee In, Wan Wan, and Yu Ming Xi are meeting with their boss is less likely."


    "At least we can infer that the person behind the scenes prevents his subordinates from creating a pack. Is it to prevent them from working together in stabbing him in the back? Or is there a different reason?"


    "What about her other answers? Yu Ming Xi owing someone?"


    "That should be a drug deal he sneaked in abroad. He was almost caught before but someone interfered. Maybe it was that person?"


    "But nothing turned up in our investigation aside from what we already know. That f.u.c.k.i.n.g person is too good at hiding his tracks, we can barely find some crumbs to investigate."


    "But we did figure out something interesting. The data leak at Lu Corporation, she admitted she was the one working with Yu Ming Xi."


    "And what¡¯s interesting in that?"


    "Remember when Lu Shao said that it was one of the director¡¯s mistress who did it. The designer was it? Anyways, that¡¯s not important. Why did Yu Ming Xi need Wan Wan¡¯s cooperation for a simple data leak news? Yu Ming Xi can control the press with his status alone, but he needed her. Why?"


    "...If it¡¯s not the press, then it must the rted to the data leak. If the data didn¡¯te from the director¡¯s woman then it could only mean it came from her."

 Chapter 237 - Narrow-minded

    <h4>Chapter 237 - Narrow-minded</h4>


    "It was Wan Wan¡¯s who caused the data leak? Is that what they¡¯re saying?" Xiu Mei repeatedly read the brief report on her hands. She was staying in the study while waiting for Lu Qiang to finish up before going to bed.


    "No. She didn¡¯t cause the data leak, but she was aware that it happened and sold it to him." Lu Chen rified.


    "Then she had to have a mole. But after that data hack incident and the issue with one of our directors, Lu Shao already cleaned up the moles from the inside. Was it one of the people that we removed?"


    Xiu Mei fell silent as she felt frustrated.


    Damn it. Why did her kidnapping ident have to coincide when they¡¯re... wait.


    That¡¯s also strange.


    She got into an ident while they were in the midst of their investigation with the cleanup process in mind. Since she was the corporate secretary, it was no brainer for all the employees there to know that she was spearheading that investigation.


    And then she had to go to City S for an emergency...


    Xiu Mei¡¯s suspicions grew.


    After handling the press, it was a normal strategy for anypany to find out where the source came from. Wan Wan would have probably known that.


    And then she appeared as soon as she arrived in City S which was hours away.


    She initially thought that she was there because of her ns to kidnap her. But what if... if she looks at it from a different angle.


    What if all of them have been looking at the wrong angle all along?


    Wait. That still doesn¡¯t make sense.


    Even if she was missing, she was reced by Lu Shao as the leader of the investigation. Ying Wan Wan should have been aware of Lu Shao¡¯s position, which should have made it more difficult for the mole she nted to slip by.


    Not to belittle her capabilities but, wouldn¡¯t it have been better if she was the leader instead of a person whose profession is far scarier?


    She bit nibbled on her lip while thinking, unconsciously crumpling the papers in her hands.


    Was she probably thinking too much?


    Lu Chen heard the sound beside him. He watched his wife¡¯s figure when she was thinking deeply about something.


    He wondered what she was thinking about so seriously when the door of their study opened and the little devil entered.


    His expression dimmed.


    This ungrateful brat. The only thing he does is fight with him over his wife most of the time.


    "What are you doing here? Didn¡¯t I tell you not to enter the study?" Lu Chen sternly said to Lu Qiang who he stopped from going in any further in the room. Looks like his wife was too deep in her thoughts that she didn¡¯t even notice the entrance of another presence in the room.


    Well, that¡¯s good. Then he can still kick out this brat before his wife could notice him.


    Lu Qiang made an expression as if he was looking at a petty person.


    "Dad, I don¡¯t remember having such rules in your study. I just entered here the other day you know."


    "Then you¡¯re banned from entering here from now on."


    "Dad, you¡¯re so narrow-minded. You¡¯re even bullying a kid, much less your son."


    "..."


    "Why did mom even marry you?"


    "..."


    Lu Chen was somehow suddenly stabbed unpreparedly.


    Tsk. It¡¯s good that this brat doesn¡¯t know the truth. He would surely use that reason to always steal his wife from him ah.


    No. He can never know that.


    "I¡¯m narrow-minded, so go out and sleep on your own from now on." He followed his son¡¯s train of thoughts and tried to use it to his advantage to keep his wife from being stolen by his son.


    "No way! Mom promised to sleep with me tonight."


    "Don¡¯t you know? Promises are meant to be broken so my wife won¡¯t stay with you tonight."


    "Dad, aren¡¯t you being too mean?! I¡¯ll hack your system tomorrow!!"


    "Oh, are you challenging me? Then I dare you to try. I¡¯ll let your mother know that it was your doing. Let¡¯s see who¡¯ll be on the losing side if that happens."


    "You¡¯re being unfair. Mom never breaks her promises so she will definitely stay with me tonight."


    "But she¡¯s my wife first before your mother. So I win. Besides, you always say you want to grow up quickly. If you really want to grow up quickly, then man up and learn to sleep on your own."


    "Ah! You¡¯re using my words against me!! You¡¯re trying to trick me!"


    "As long as it works, why not?"


    "You¡¯re too much, Dad!"


    "I wasn¡¯t. You just have terrible negotiating skills. Remind me to have Lu Shao tutor you on that. Can¡¯t have you losing to someone in school because of your poor negotiation skills."


    "..."


    Lu Qiang went speechless from his father¡¯s ridiculous remarks.


    Is there even a father in this world that treats his son so poorly like this?


    "Oh my, my little dear. You¡¯re done?" A sweet voice chimed in behind them.


    The arguing father and son duo looked in the direction of the voice and saw Xiu Mei walking over to where they are.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s face brightened up while Lu Chen frowned.


    "Mom! I¡¯m ready to go to sleep!" Lu Qiang reverted back to his childish tone and held his mother¡¯s hand to drag her out of the room, away from his father¡¯s clutches.


    He even taunted his father before going out, by shing a triumphant smile as his mother happily followed him towards his room.


    That night, Lu Chen plotted to take revenge by arranging his son¡¯s schedule strictly for the next few weeks.

 Chapter 238 - Being Cautious

    <h4>Chapter 238 - Being Cautious</h4>


    Because Xiu Mei was still swamped with work the next day, she failed to find the opportunity to share with Lu Chen about her suspicions that she contemtedst night. They are already at the hospital, and since Lu Qiang was with them, she couldn¡¯t casually open the topic at the moment.


    She barely even had time to check the list of people that were fired after finding out that they were selling information to otherpanies.


    Xiu Mei felt like she was back at the time wherein she and Lu Chen only kept their rtionship as an employee-superior at best. The two of them didn¡¯t even get to take lunch together because they were caught up in a meeting and she had to go to a different department right after that.


    It was seriously a hectic schedule that she missed yet hated.


    Now she felt that she was really back.


    "I¡¯ll need some modifications made to the supplier since I¡¯ll think we have a problem with the packaging for this part."


    "Then do a weekly report on the progress at the factory and let me know once we already had a test product for Project Eve."


    "What about this one?"


    "Let¡¯s move that to a different timeslot. It may be the peak time but that¡¯s not where our niche is. Check the stats again and find the peak time for our specific niche then we¡¯ll push through with that."


    "Mm. We¡¯ll continue with the model that you chose. Coordinate with the design team and tightly make sure that it goes along with the theme."


    She was currently in a meeting with most of the marketing teams to catch up on the progress of various projects. She just finished up on herst meeting with them and was currently noting things on herptop so that she won¡¯t forget about it when a cup of milk tea appeared beside her.


    She raised her head and realized it was Albert. She nced at the milk tea in front of her and hesitantly took it. Her thoughts that were full of work were washed away and were immediately reced by the report she read long before.


    She almostpletely forgot about this guy because of everything that happened.


    "Just ate weing back gift from my team. We weren¡¯t able to greet you two days ago since we were in the outskirts for the photoshoot." He casually exined as he sat at an empty seat near her.


    "You all didn¡¯t have to." She hid her cautious gaze while putting it back on the table. "Still, thanks for this. I¡¯ll drink itter with the cookies in the pantry."


    She made an excuse so she wouldn¡¯t have to drink the liquid. If it was given by a different colleague, she wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to drink it up but it came from Albert, one of the people they¡¯re currently eyeing on.


    His missing past records maybe because of other factors, but with a lot of people aiming for their lives at the moment, even reasons as small as this can be suspicious. It was better to be cautious than to bete in realizing when you¡¯ve already been stabbed in the back.


    Hopefully, that wasn¡¯t the case for them for now.


    "Ms.Xiu is really a very hardworking person. I greatly admire your work ethic." Albert suddenly blurted out of the blue.


    Her hands that were typing something paused as she slightly revealed an embarrassed smile.


    "Thank you for the praise. You¡¯re very hardworking and great as well, Mr. Chen." She returned the praise.


    In the verse of ttering conversations, she certainly won¡¯t lose out as a super secretary who dealt with countless businessmen who only loved hearing tteries.


    Albert chuckled at thepliment.


    "Well, I won¡¯t disturb Miss Secretary even further. I¡¯ll go first." And then he immediately left the room.


    Xiu Mei counted for a few seconds before letting out the breath that she had secretly been holding in. She quickly finished up and went upstairs to eat her veryte lunch.


    "Ah! Ms. Xiu, are you really throwing that away?" Her assistant expressed when she saw that she was throwing the cup of milk tea at the garbage can.


    She felt somewhat guilty thinking if this really came from the team, but she valued her life more than her rtionsh.i.p.s so she could only sacrifice this cup of milk tea. Besides, no one would get hurt unless they know that she just threw this away.


    "I saw it spill when I identally dropped it along the way here so I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s already dirty. Besides, it already watered down too much so it¡¯s not good anymore." And then she finally threw that cup.


    Her assistant looked pitifully at the wasted milk tea but she agreed with Xiu Mei. What if this time her boss gets sick from food poisoning this time?


    Then she would need to work more overtime again. Na-uh. Yep, a cup of milk tea was worth the sacrifice, or else it would be her life that would soon be sacrificed.


    "Did the President already eat?" Xiu Mei asked. Before she went downstairs for the meeting, she reminded her assistant to order some food and deliver it to Lu Chen¡¯s office so he won¡¯t skip lunch.


    "I delivered the food as you said, Ms.Xiu but I¡¯m not sure if the President ate it. Should I go inside to pick up the dishes and check if he had eaten?"


    "No. That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go in instead. Just carry on with your work."


    "Roger that."


    After briefly knocking on the door, she entered the room and saw her husband¡¯s figure behind the table. And then her gazended on the unopened lunch on the center table.


    She sighed and opened the boxed lunch one by one before calling for Lu Chen for a short break.


    Nevermind. She actually nned to discuss with him about her thoughts yesterday but this guy looked too busy at the moment. Maybe she should wait until they get home.

 Chapter 239 - Interview? Questioning?

    <h4>Chapter 239 - Interview? Questioning?</h4>


    After finishing her shift as Lu Chen¡¯s wife by convincing him to eat his lunch, Xiu Mei returned to her role as a dedicated secretary. It was another usual working day for the both of them.


    Lu Qiang went out with his ssmates after ss, so it was only her and Lu Chen who dropped by in the hospital today.


    She was peeling some oranges when she was suddenly called by a soldier. After saluting to her eldest brother, he informed her that the investigationmittee was asking for her.


    "What do you need her for?" Her eldest brother interjected. His voice sounded stern and cold.


    "We need Ms.Xiu¡¯s statement regarding the death of Mr.Zhu that happened here in the hospital."


    Ah. That¡¯s right.


    She forgot to leave her statement about the incident. When she woke up, she was still a bit shaken up to be interviewed, and then when she went home, she was too excited to return to work that Zhu Lin¡¯s death waspletely thrown at the back of her mind.


    "I understand. I¡¯ll go." She stood up to pick up her things.


    "I¡¯ll go with you." Lu Chen interjected. He nced at the soldier.


    "That should be fine, right?"


    Instead of asking permission, Lu Chen made it a statement that the soldier couldn¡¯t disagree with.


    And so, Xiu Mei and Lu Chen found themselves waiting inside of one of the empty rooms in the hospital. Momentster, the special army agents in charge of criminal investigations within the army entered.


    "Good evening, Ms.Xiu, Mr.Lu." The two special agents only briefly introduced themselves before they started collecting her statement.


    "Did Ms.Xiue with Mr.Zhu to the hospital that day?"


    "No. I bumped into him when I came out of the restroom."


    "Was he waiting for you outside or did hee out from somewhere then bumped into you?"


    "I¡¯m not sure. He came up from behind me then he started blocking my path right after I went out."


    The two people nodded while taking notes.


    "Could you share with us what were you two talking about before he drugged you?"


    "We didn¡¯t exactly talk because I was temporarily unable to speak at that time. He was just talking about some grudges I had to him about the incident from ten years ago."


    "If you don¡¯t mind, what was the grudge from ten years ago that you and he were pertaining about?"


    Xiu Mei lowered her gaze and stared at the table as she fell silent. Secondster, she opened her mouth and exined what it was.


    "It was when my best friend and I were kidnapped ten years ago. We were initially with him when we were caught, but he made a run for it and left us alone. That action made the kidnappers fiercer to us and he didn¡¯t report to the authorities about the situation so I held a grudge to him because of that."


    "I see. I hope you take no offense to this question Ms.Xiu but may I ask if that grudge is enough reason for you to kill him?"


    "...excuse me?"


    Did they not know that she fainted before he jumped out of the window?


    Xiu Mei thought that they were only collecting her statement but it seems like she was being interrogated like a criminal instead.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t sit still and interrupted their conversation.


    "If you¡¯re going to push this interview in that direction that I would like to call ourwyer first before continuing. It seems to me that you¡¯re not interviewing her, but rather, questioning her as a potential suspect." His expression turned fiercer as he coldly stated their stance in this situation.


    The two special agents weren¡¯t intimidated but remembering that the woman in front of them wasn¡¯t just a simple civilian. She is a rtive of the Yu n whose families hold a lot of positions within the military. They couldn¡¯t offend her so they immediately took a step back and changed their tune in questioning.


    "Apologies if that question offended you, Ms. Xiu."


    "Let¡¯s just continue and finish this up quickly." She couldn¡¯t help but let out an annoyed tone when she replied.


    But she was seriously offended by their question. It was like they were ming the victim for the death of the perpetrator which was very uneptable for her.


    If it wasn¡¯t because of her family¡¯s status, they would have surely continued to question her in that direction but since she was someone they couldn¡¯t easily offend, they retreated. But what about the others who were put in the same situation as her?


    Were they also ¡¯interviewed¡¯ this way?


    Just thinking about it alone angered her. So her attitudepletely changed for the next half of the interview.


    "What happened after your conversation with Mr.Zhu?"


    "He started harassing me, then when I distanced myself from him, he took out a spray and after that, I felt weak and my vision turned hazy. I realized that something was wrong so I immediately ran."


    "And then he chased after you?"


    "He did. But before Ipletely fainted, I bumped into a doctor, I think that was Dr.Lee then after I cked out. I woke up hourster and that¡¯s when they said that Zhu Lin was already dead."


    "Were you aware that he jumped from the window?"


    "Yes. Mr. Lu told me what happened after I fainted."


    "And how did you react when you knew he died?"


    She frowned. Were they expecting her to say that she was happy that he died? Did they think that she was some kind of evil person or something?


    "I don¡¯t know. I wasn¡¯t sure to feel at that time since I just recovered my voice after that and my psychologist was busy exining to me about my current situation so I didn¡¯t really get to think what I felt when I hear Zhu Lin died."

 Chapter 240 - Chenchen

    <h4>Chapter 240 - Chenchen</h4>


    "Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Xiu. We would like to apologize again for our rudeness before. We¡¯ll contact you again once we already have the results of our investigation."


    After the two agents left the room, Xiu Mei took a deep breath to calm down her emotions. Lu Chen held her hand and took her into his arms tofort her which she greatly weed.


    It wasn¡¯t like she hadn¡¯t experience someone treating her rudely before, but it¡¯s a different thing to be treated like a criminal when you¡¯re the victim itself.


    She remembered the days when she was being med and pointed at by people when her best friend died. She was already feeling remorse that she survived alone but being pushed to the cliff by those people, made it all worse on a different level.


    She was the victim, yet why was she being treated like she a criminal.


    That was why back then, she was the one who sinned. And she strongly believed that she was the one who killed Ying Yue. Her mental health was too unstable to differentiate the facts and lies that she chose to just me herself entirely and be the sinner.


    That was why what those agents did was totally uneptable for her.


    She just got out of that prison, and she was starting to ept that it wasn¡¯t her fault at all.


    And with their irresponsible remarks, it felt like someone was poking her wounds again. It wasn¡¯t pleasant and she almost walked out of the room.


    Xiu Mei breathed as she calmed herself down in Lu Chen¡¯s embrace.


    Thank god for you.


    Thank you for staying with me.


    Thank you for speaking out for me before I did.


    That was all her thoughts at the moment. Thankfully, she wasn¡¯t alone.


    Thankfully, she had him.


    It only took a moment for her this time to get a grip of her emotions. She was visibly getting better at controlling her emotions so that she wouldn¡¯t get random panic attacks.


    She recalled Dr.Lee¡¯s words that this was truly the first sign that she was on the right track.


    "Do you still want to return?" Lu Chen was asking if they¡¯re still going back to his brother-inw¡¯s room.


    Xiu Mei nodded. "He¡¯ll definitely notice something if we don¡¯t go back there first. I doubt he¡¯ll sit back once he learns about what happened."


    Lu Chen cupped her cheeks and examined his wife¡¯s face before getting convinced that she was truly fine.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you. Let¡¯s go back."


    Holding her hand, the two returned to the room and acted as if nothing just happened.


    Xiu Min didn¡¯t seem to have noticed anything wrong so the couple was able to leave the hospital safely without being caught by him.


    Xiu Mei breathed in relief as soon as they got into the car.


    If her elder brother knew what happened, he¡¯ll surely jump off his bed and chase after those two agents ah. Even though they have a lot of rtives with high positions in the military, she doubts they¡¯ll let him slide if he beats them up so it was better if her brother didn¡¯t know about it at all.


    "Chenchen, I¡¯m actually curious about--"


    "Chenchen?" Lu Chen was surprised by the nickname.


    Xiu Mei grinned.


    "Isn¡¯t it cute?"


    "..."


    It is cute. But...


    Lu Chen¡¯s brows furrowed. Maybe... the nickname is too cute?


    On the other hand, Xiu Mei held back herugh as she watched him getting confused.


    She was actually quite embarrassed to call him ¡¯hubby¡¯ and ¡¯husband¡¯ in private, and Chen somehow sound strange in her mouth and it still felt so distant so she pondered carefully what to call him that could be in between those two so she came up with calling him Chenchen.


    It¡¯s not as intimate as calling him hubby, but it¡¯s not as distant with just ¡¯Chen¡¯.


    Though she admits, calling him ¡¯Chenchen¡¯ sounds cute which is a bit strange considering that Lu Chen doesn¡¯t give off any cuteness at all. It even sounds a bit childish.


    But well, as long as it works, why not?


    "Don¡¯t you like it?" Xiu Mei pouted.


    Lu Chen initially wanted to say ¡¯yes¡¯ but looking at his wife¡¯s expression, he could somehow feel an invisible pressureing from her.


    His instincts were clearly warning him that if he answers her affirmatively, he can only dream to stay with his wife starting tonight.


    ...so Lu Chen followed his instincts and changed his words.


    "I like it." He briefly answered. "What was your question awhile ago? Something that you¡¯re curious about?"


    He quickly changed the topic to divert his wife¡¯s attention. Xiu Mei smiled triumphantly and went along with him.


    "I¡¯m just asking this because I¡¯m genuinely curious. Imagine yourself that you¡¯re a coward and then what if one day you¡¯re suddenly cornered by your enemy. Would you choose to die or let them catch you instead?"


    "Hm? Why are you suddenly asking about that?"


    "Well, I just thought about it. I¡¯ve been caught and cornered countless times, but each time, my first thought was to run away and survive instead of dying. But Zhu Lin, you said he jumped from the window because people were chasing after him. So that means his first instinct was to die. But when we were kidnapped together ten years ago, his instinct was to run away because he was too coward to even save us. That¡¯s why I was wondering why this time, he suddenly chose to jump to his death instead of surviving."


    "..."


    "Was it because he knows he can never escape since we¡¯re inside the military hospital? But then, if he really wanted to do something, why did he have to choose¡ª" Xiu Mei paused.


    The two of them met each other¡¯s gaze and immediately knew that they were both thinking of the same thing.


    "Oh."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze deepened as she realized her casual question made them both realize something bigger.


    It seems like there was more to Zhu Lin¡¯s death than what they know.

 Chapter 241 - Lu Qiangs complaint

    <h4>Chapter 241 - Lu Qiang''sint</h4>


    "But if he didn¡¯tmit suicide, then how were they able to kill him? People chased after him then he ran into a room and then he jumped when he was cornered. Or am I just thinking too much?" Xiu Mei expressed while trying to imagine the scenario in her head.


    If someone pushed him to his death then someone should¡¯ve seen that he was pushed right?


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t respond as he pondered about this possibility that they overlooked in this incident.


    Still, the percentage of Zhu Linmitting suicide is still high, but listening to Xiu Mei¡¯s statement, it seems that it would be safer to confirm with all the parties if there was even a little bit of possibility that this is a foul y.


    Because it is so, then they¡¯ll also need to be looking out for any traitors in the military. People who are probably in conflict with the Yu family could possibly be involved in this case if it¡¯s confirmed to be murder rather than suicide.


    "Wife."


    "Yeah?"


    "It would be better for you to stop visiting the hospital temporarily until we¡¯ve confirmed whether it is safe for you to be at the hospital." Lu Chen suggested.


    Military involvement isn¡¯t his territory so it would be better if he hands this over to his brother-inw instead. Even though he could actually nt someone inside, it still wouldn¡¯t be easy and if people find out that he did something, his wife¡¯s maternal family would definitely be caught up in the end. He¡¯d rather not escte it and leave it to the people who know the ins and outs of the military.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t want to listen to his suggestion but when she looked at his expression¡ªhis brows furrowed together and his lips pressed together showed how serious the situation was.


    She sighed.


    Why is it always like this for her?


    She couldn¡¯t even find it in herself to retort and defend herself when her case record for getting herself in trouble and danger makes her just want to go dig a hole to hide in.


    She pulled a face but still listened to her husband.


    "Okay..." She lifelessly replied. Now even the supposed to be a safe zone for her became restricted, she didn¡¯t even need to think that Lu Chen will increase her security again.


    Xiu Mei was still kind of depressed the moment they got home. To cheer herself up, she hung out with her son and their pets outside to distract herself.


    She¡¯d gotten so brave that she even fed the meat pieces to Lucia, ignoring the subtle re from the tigress because she was too slow in feeding her.


    What? Did this human woman think that she¡¯s a dog that needs some kind of slow feeder?


    Luckily, Lu Qiang noticed that Lucia was getting impatient and reminded his mother about it.


    "Mom, I think you can just let Lucia finish that on her own. I think she¡¯ll bite your hand any moment now if you don¡¯t give it to her soon." He pointed to the squinting tigress.


    "..."


    Xiu Mei:...oh.


    She quickly dropped the meat on the ground and Lucia immediately devoured it in seconds. Then the tigress looked at her and rolled her eyes as if saying ¡¯look, I can eat it on my own.¡¯ then turned away from her.


    Xiu Mei:....


    She scooted over to Lu Qiang¡¯s side who wasfortably lying down on the lion¡¯s belly, treating it as a pillow. She took a peak at what he was doing in his tablet and saw a bunch of random numbers that she couldn¡¯t understand.


    Somehow, her gut feeling knew that he was up to something that didn¡¯t sound good.


    "What are you doing? ying?"


    Please let it be ying. At least, say that he was building a game that¡¯s why she¡¯s seeing that.


    But Lu Qiang heartlessly shot down her thoughts.


    "Hacking Dad¡¯sptop."


    "...."


    What is the matter with this father and son?


    Is this the fate of having a genius father and a genius son?


    "Lu Qiang, are you having any issues with your fathertely?" Xiu Mei seriously asked. She usually passed off their small arguments as some kind of their own way of expressing their love for each other but it seems like she was wrong?


    Where do you even find a son hacking his own father¡¯sptop to express his love for him?


    Lu Qiang pondered for a second but his hand didn¡¯t stop tapping on the screen as he fought with his father online.


    "Not exactly."


    She got more confused.


    "Not exactly?"


    "I don¡¯t hate Dad but I¡¯m really annoyed with himtely."


    "...And why is that?"


    "Because he always steals you away."


    Lu Chen does? Really?


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows furrowed as she got more curious. Why did her son think that his father was stealing her away ah?


    "Why do you think your dad is stealing me away? Aren¡¯t I always with you?"


    "Yes, and no. Mom is always with me at home but Dad even takes you away from me more oftentely. Now you both don¡¯t tuck me to sleep too. It¡¯s unfair. Dad already gets to take you with him every day at work and I¡¯m alone at school. And now, Dad even steals you right away after dinner."


    "...."


    Can she say that it was because her father¡¯s beastly side was just recently activated that¡¯s why he¡¯s still at the peak of his excitement????


    Of course, she couldn¡¯t say that.


    Xiu Mei got embarrassed knowing the reason why Lu Chen often dragged her away early to sleep. On the other hand, she wasn¡¯t even aware that her son was already, in fact, very well informed of what the two a.d.u.l.ts are doing after finding out that small colorful package his mom left in the car.


    So topensate Lu Qiang after listening to hisints, she decided to stay with her son tonight much to Lu Chen¡¯s annoyance.


    "Wife, do you not love me anymore?"


    Lu Chen tried his best efforts to look pitiful while holding his wife¡¯s hand. Xiu Mei looked at him with a ridiculous expression.


    "I¡¯m just going to sleep in our son¡¯s room."


    "But you already apanied him yesterday. Isn¡¯t it supposed to be my turn tonight?"


    Xiu Mei was bbergasted.


    Wow.


    She didn¡¯t know the two were taking her on shifts every other day ah.


    "Aren¡¯t you supposed to be more worried that little Qiang is angry with you?"


    "He can be angry for as much as he would like to be, I still won¡¯t give you up to him."


    Xiu Mei:...Is this man a kid?


    "It¡¯s just for tonight."


    "That¡¯s what you said yesterday. Now you¡¯re going to stay with him again."


    "Then just sleep in Lu Qiang¡¯s room with us. His bed is so big, us three can fit in there."


    "Wife, do you want the kid to witness what a.d.u.l.ts do at night?¡ªOuch! Wife, don¡¯t hit me." Lu Chen exaggeratedlyined when he was immediately pinched and pped by Xiu Mei as soon as he finished his first sentence.


    Xiu Mei looked at the man in disbelief.


    This rogue! He wants to be beaten up so badly, huh?


    "I think I need to knock some sense into your head. How can you even think of doing that right now?! Huh!!"


    "But wife..... I want to hug you tonight."


    "Stop lying. I know it¡¯s not a hug."


    "It is a hug. It¡¯s just, not only a hug but als¡ª"


    Xiu Mei immediately covered his mouth before he could utter even more vulgar things.


    Lu Chen knew that he won¡¯t be able to convince his wife right now so he started to tease her instead. He licked the palm of her hand and nibbled on her skin while she covered his mouth.


    Xiu Mei was stunned by his bold actions. She took away her hand and red at him.


    "GOODNIGHT!" Then she stormed away.


    A glint appeared in Lu Chen¡¯s eyes.


    If his son thinks that he already won... then he¡¯s making a big mistake.


    Lu Chen returned to Xiu Mei¡¯s bedroom, which is now their shared bedroom, while Xiu Mei started tucking her son to the bed.


    Two hourster, the door of Lu Qiang¡¯s room opened. And then the person skillfully got across the room and stopped on Xiu Mei¡¯s side. He looked over at the small figure lying beside the woman and smirked.


    Xiu Mei suddenly felt like she was floating in the air. And then she smelled some kind of flower scent. Secondster, she felt something soft and warm constantly raining down on her face that slowly woke her up.


    She could clearly feel a paw touching her in some ces that shouldn¡¯t be touched so she instinctively caught that misbehaving hand and red at the culprit after realizing the situation.


    "Hello, wife."


    Very good. This man is too bold ah. Like literally.

 Chapter 242 - Spring Night

    <h4>Chapter 242 - Spring Night</h4>


    Before she could open her mouth to protest that he basically snuck her out of their son¡¯s room, Lu Chen immediately targeted her on her most s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e spot, which was her ears.


    She felt the moistness from his tongue on her ear as he nibbled and bit lightly as if provoking her. His hands roamed freely on her body, slowly unbuttoning her pajamas, while the other traveled on her smooth t.h.i.g.hs while squeezing her skin there softly.


    The words she wanted to say stuck on her throat as her mind turned to mush with the stimtion she was receiving. She subconsciously clung to his neck, as he traveled downwards from her ear, and in between her neck and shoulders leaving his marks as if to dere his possessiveness.


    "Mm..!" She let out a soft m.o.a.n when she felt a hand squeeze her right c.h.e.s.t.


    "Baby..." Lu Chen¡¯s voice sounded deep and hoarse. It was very tantalizing on her ears that sharpened her senses to a different height.


    His lips moved to hers. He went slowly at first, l.i.c.k.i.n.g and tasting until he grew hungrier. He prated in her mouth, his tongue reaching the depth of her mouth while entangling itself on her tongue. Xiu Mei responded as she fought with him as well, further stirring up the d.e.s.i.r.es hidden deep within the two of them as they fought for dominance.


    They deeply kissed and tasted each other until they¡¯ve run out of breath. The two briefly separated, a sliver of saliva barely connecting the two of them.


    Lu Chen watched his wife¡¯s expression change while he hovered above her. Her half-lidded eyes, the trace of blush on her cheeks, and her lips that were already swollen from their kissing moments ago. She was panting underneath him, which made her look even more seductive with her exposed skin and the trace of hickeys that he nted was slowly blooming around her corbone.


    He was going crazy. His wife is too alluring and enchanting that he¡¯s already losing control of his sanity.


    "Chenchen..." Her voice sounded more like a purr leaving him stunned as his string of reasoningpletely snapped.


    Lu Chen dove back to her face, ravaging her lips to his contentment while his hands continued worshipping her body. He easily unsped her bra and threw it away somewhere, before shifting his target of attack. His hand fondled the shape of her b.r.e.a.s.t, squeezing it softly in his palm. His mouth moved from her mouth to her c.h.e.s.t, catching the tip of her mountains in between his teeth.


    Xiu Mei was drowning from Lu Chen¡¯s stimtions. She writhed and squirmed under his touch. Everywhere he touched felt scalding hot on her skin. It was as if she was being electrified wherever his hands touched and fondled.


    "Nn...aaah¡ª" She let out a broken m.o.a.n when she felt Lu Chen¡¯s knee being pressed on her most s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e part down there. Xiu Mei found herself feeling strange, as her need for her husband became more desparate.


    She needs him. She needs more of him.


    Her thoughts only filled to be with him.


    Momentster, they were alreadypletely n.a.k.e.d and pressed to each other skin-to-skin. Ignoring the sweat and saliva on their skin, the two fully concentrated on pleasuring each other. Even though they¡¯ve done this multiple times, they still couldn¡¯t get enough of each other. Xiu Mei and Lu Chen¡¯s attraction to each other increased as they fully revealed themselves to each other.


    Lu Chen¡¯s finger dug deep inside her, making her squirm and arch her back closer to his. A low chuckle escaped his mouth as he enjoyed her reaction. Lu Chen started teasing her, curling his finger and moving it around while he bit her shoulder to increase the stimtion. She thrashed her head on the pillow, going crazy because of him.


    After feeling contented, he stopped his movements and pressed another kiss on his wife¡¯s lips. Even in their time of intimacy, he closely watched the change in her expression. He continued to pry and discover his wife¡¯s most s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e spots, what she liked the most and the least action she liked during their love-making. He was very devoted to making their experience enjoyable to each other, and he aimed to be even better every time they do the deed.


    At the moment, even though they haven¡¯tpletely done the deed, he was already satisfied just by watching his wife. But of course, he won¡¯t miss the main appetizer.


    He lowered his head and whispered seductively to her ears.


    "Baby, I¡¯m going in."


    Then they were finally connected. Lu Chen g.r.o.a.n.e.d as she felt her squeezing him inside while Xiu Mei m.o.a.n.e.d at the sudden pration. He pulled her to sit up, his hand supporting her back while her arms looped around his neck. He caught her into another kiss as his lower body started to move instinctively.


    The soft creak of their bed, their skins pping to each other, and the sound of their m.o.a.ns filled the room. The two clung to each other desperately as they fell into a trance of their y.


    Even after their peak, Lu Chen didn¡¯t let go of her. He pulled her into various positions, continuously unlocking and experiencing it together with her.


    By the end of their love-making, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t even find the energy to open her eyes nor kick this beast out of the bed. She couldn¡¯t even stop the misbehaving paw that was roaming around her body again.


    "Last one, baby?" He pleaded while cuddling her from behind and biting her shoulders.


    "I¡¯m tired..." Sheined. She¡¯s really sleepy ah. Is he not yet tired after doing it for so long already?


    "Don¡¯t worry, just lie down and I¡¯ll do the work." Lu Chen replied.


    Xiu Mei scoffed. She wasn¡¯t doing much work but she was still tired, how can be so shameless ah?!


    But before she could push him away, he already entered her from behind that made her m.o.a.n instantly. He didn¡¯t think twice and started moving while his hands yed with her c.h.e.s.t, while Xiu Mei was clutching the pillow and nket from the intense movements he kept doing to her.


    After finishing their activity, Xiu Mei¡¯sst memory from that night was being carried by Lu Chen to the bathroom. She didn¡¯t even remember what happened after they washed and how she returned to the bed.


    The next day.


    While Xiu Mei was still passed out on the bed, the big ice cube and the small ice cube were having a face-off in the living room. The small one was ring at the big one while the big one triumphantly smiled with his hand crossed on his c.h.e.s.t.


    "You. Took. Mom." Lu Qiang fiercely red at his father.


    "Mm." Lu Chen nonchntly hummed in reply and didn¡¯t look the least bit regretful to what he did.


    Of course, Xiu Mei is his wife. He wasn¡¯t going to be too generous in letting his son hog all his wife¡¯s time.


    "I don¡¯t think you have the leisure to argue with me today." Lu Chen rxedly sat on the sofa and picked up his coffee mug. "You should be in training, not here to dawdle around."


    "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know the reason why I suddenly had a training schedule for this weekend." Lu Qiang retorted.


    "Then isn¡¯t it better? You know the reason so what are you still doing here?"


    "You¡¯re just taking revenge for what I did on yourputer."


    Lu Chen scoffed. "I¡¯m not that petty to punish you for that. Besides, it was an easy win over you. It¡¯s the least of my worries."


    Lu Qiang fumed. His Dad is too possessive! He won¡¯t even share his mother with him.


    Knowing that he wouldn¡¯t win over his father, he angrily turned his back against him and went out to meet Lu Shao who was there to pick him up and bring him to the ce of their training.


    An hourter, Xiu Mei went downstairs with difficulty while supporting her aching back.


    Lu Chen who saw her quickly supported her by holding her arm and back.


    "Wouldn¡¯t it be better to have breakfast upstairs?" Lu Chen said worriedly.


    Xiu Mei red at the culprit of her misery. She very much wanted to p his hand away at the moment but her need to go to the dining room won over her grudges to her husband.


    "Where¡¯s little Qiang? Is he still asleep?" She asked when she saw only two tes on the table.


    "He went out for training."


    "Training? For what?"


    "Martial Arts."


    "This early in the morning?"


    "Mm."


    Xiu Mei narrowed her eyes at his husband and his nonchnce.


    Why does she feel like something was off?

 Chapter 243 - Investigation: In Progress

    <h4>Chapter 243 - Investigation: In Progress</h4>


    A few days after, the results of the investigation on Zhu Lin¡¯s case were concluded as suicide. Besides, he was also under the influence of drugs when he sneaked in. It was also discovered that it was one of their rtives who had connections within the military that helped him sneak inside so the military filed a case against that person and had him pay fines in return.


    The Zhu family was silent all throughout andplied with everything, clearly showing their stance that they didn¡¯t want to make this issue any bigger. Zhu Lin¡¯s parents even met with her father. She didn¡¯t bother to ask the context of that meeting but a few dayster, she heard how the Zhu family lost a very important investment that they¡¯ve been eyeing on for a few months.


    And that mention investment was suddenly found on Lu Shao¡¯s table, much to Xiu Mei¡¯s surprise.


    She actually looked disapprovingly at that file and red at the direction of the President¡¯s office. She was honestly appreciative of what her husband is doing but to think he grabbed another project, won¡¯t the employees soon protest in front of their building soon ah?


    Okay, she¡¯s straying from the topic.


    Xiu Gu Ren wasn¡¯t satisfied with the results of the investigation after Lu Chen discussed with them their suspicions on Zhu Lin¡¯s death. They didn¡¯t have any evidence to prove that Zhu Lin¡¯s suicide was foul y, but it indeed arose suspicions considering the countless targeting of her life in a span of one year.


    Lu Chen handled this matter swiftly. Zhu Lin wasn¡¯t as careful as Wan Wan and Yu Ming Xi. His life revolved around women, bars, and secret gatherings for the socialites. They immediately knew who he interacted with and everything that he did before Zhu Lin died.


    "It was Xiu Su Yi." Lu Shao briefed the two of them in the President¡¯s office.


    "He first contacted Zhu Lin three months ago in a private auction in Australia then they met again in the Rose Hill Club three weeks after. Since Zhu Lin usually hung out with escorts we were able to find out the contents of what they discussed."


    Then he handed over a pile of papers to Lu Chen. He didn¡¯t skim over the papers and continued listening to Lu Shao¡¯s report.


    "They briefly talked about some kind of project and then some investments. Zhu Lin¡¯s investments flunked and he got into debt so he borrowed money from his family but instead of paying for it, they started hanging out in the casino. Zhu Lin¡¯s debt grew but the Zhu family didn¡¯t give him any money so he started taking out loans from Xiu Su Yi."


    Xiu Mei: "...." Is he stupid?


    As Xiu Mei continued listening to Lu Shao¡¯s report, the more she found Zhu Lin ridiculous. She sighed in disappointment about the fact that in their social circle, eight percent has the brains to survive while the rest are basically socialites with no brains because they only leech off from their family, then when they start to y with stocks and investments, it bes the start of their downfall.


    She had witnessed a lot of people who fell from grace and got seriously ridiculed that they didn¡¯t appear again. Some moved abroad while some just disappeared like a ghost.


    "So it was Xiu Su Yi who ordered Zhu Lin to do something to my wife."


    "As it seems, Sir. However, we still couldn¡¯t confirm if Zhu Lin was with someone when he snuck into the military hospital. About the drugs, it was bought in the ck market and Xiu Su Yi provided."


    "Did you trace it back?"


    "We did. But it was nothing significant."


    "Anything else?"


    Lu Shao continued and handed over another folder to Lu Chen.


    "Regarding the possible mole that Ying Wan Wan nted within thepany, we haven¡¯t reached any conclusion to whom she wasmunicating with. We¡¯ve already hacked her phone and emails, even pressed her during the questioning but she refused to open her mouth."


    "What about a different phone?"


    "Nothing was found in the Ying Mansion nor where we caught Ying Wan Wan in the underground city."


    "What about the employees involved during the incident? Maybe we missed someone or a friend of a friend of Wan Wan provided the information." Xiu Mei chimed in.


    "Nothing turned up as well. Ying Wan Was had so many friends and connections that she developed when she stayed abroad so she was also pretty popr when she returned to the country."


    Xiu Mei was surprised. Ying Wan Wan was? Howe she didn¡¯t know at all?


    Did she miss so many social gatherings that she wasn¡¯t as up-to-date with the news at all?


    She would¡¯ve surely known if Wan Wan was quite active in attending the gatherings since Kei is pretty active in participation about that and her other friends as well.


    "How long had she been here? I wasn¡¯t aware that she was quite popr in the social circle."


    "She returned just recently. But Ying Wan Wan didn¡¯t attend the gatherings that Madame often attended. It was mostly gatherings in the clubs and outings abroad that she went with people."


    For real?


    She didn¡¯t even catch wind of Ying Wan Wan¡¯s name at all?


    Well, it¡¯s not like Kei and her friends actually know Wan Wan¡¯s involvement with her at all. So they probably didn¡¯t think too much when they met her during the events.


    While she picked up her phone and briefly texted her male best friend and group of girl friends, Lu Shao continued his progress report as Lu Chen¡¯s personal secretary. Afterward, Xiu Mei picked up her own set of folders to report to the President as the Lu Corporation¡¯s Main Secretary.


    "These are the progress reports for all the projects for the past two months. Different department managers will present the progress report tomorrow at our monthly meeting. For the investigation cases, including the case, Lu Shao handled for thepany-wide clean-up, we still have a few people on the list that looks suspicious but we couldn¡¯t find any evidence that they¡¯re doing something under the table as of now so we couldn¡¯t fire them unless they submit the resignation in their own."


    "Are they being surveilled until now?"


    "Yes, they are as of the moment. We don¡¯t entirely follow their movements on the outside but we are watching out if they¡¯re interacting with suspicious people."


    "What about the ongoing negotiations?"


    "All of them are proceeding smoothly without anyplicated issues. The approaching productunching will be discussed by the assigned marketing team tomorrow during the meeting as well."


    "Good. Any operational or back-end issues?"


    Xiu Mei stopped for a second to ponder if there were anything significant.


    "Nothing too serious as of the moment. However, I did notice something strange regarding the stock movements for the past month. It didn¡¯t have too much effect on us at the moment but I think someone is beginning a stock maniption at the moment. It wasn¡¯t very noticeable, but it was very simr to the stock maniption case in America three years ago."


    Then she handed another folder to him containing her assistant¡¯s research and data for that specific stock market maniption case.


    "The culprit for the previous case in America was caught, but it seems like someone is trying to do a simr market in the Chinese Stock Market. It¡¯s notpletely simr though, since this time that person is moving too intelligently in ying with his investments. The movements were too subtle to notice and it just happened that I was eyeing on some smallpanies that had potential but they suddenly closed down for bankruptcy without any news or issues as to why they suddenly closed down."


    Lu Chen opened the folder and briefly observed the charts and tables containing the stock movements for the past year in the Chinese stock market. He nced at his wife and was very satisfied with her work.


    He really didn¡¯t choose wrong when deciding for his corporate secretary. Xiu Mei still has room for improvement when ites to negotiations but her eye for details and movements are very top-notch.


    "Any effect on us at the moment?"


    "As of now, zero percent. But I suspect we¡¯ll see more obvious effects in half a year if this continues."


    "Okay. Closely watch over the other side¡¯s movements. Investigate whether others have noticed it as well and it would be better to find out the mastermind behind this issue."


    "I understand."

 Chapter 244 - The Third Gift

    <h4>Chapter 244 - The Third Gift</h4>


    In a different location, the sound of ssical music echoed within the whole house. A man with a broad back can be seen ying with an Old English Sheepdog in the vast green garden. The dog¡¯s bark sounded happy as he ran across the garden to pick up the chew bone that his owner had thrown.


    "Mr.Lu¡¯s people started moving to investigate Zhu Lin¡¯s death." Xiu Su Yi stated as soon as he arrived at the garden.


    The man still looked at ease as he threw another ball.


    "They¡¯re too slow. I expected much more from Ms.Xiu¡¯s choice of man."


    Silence befell between the two. Xiu Su Yi solely focused on the man¡¯s view from behind.


    "Send another gift on my behalf." The man ordered. The man pondered for a moment, tapping the ball with his finger as he carefully chose the gift he wanted to send Xiu Mei.


    A broken doll. A blood-red rose. Hmmm,... what should he give her next?


    "Ah." The man raised his hand and smoothed out the fur of the dog as he continued his sentence, "A letter."


    A mysterious smile appeared on his face as he cupped the dog¡¯s head and rained it with kisses.


    "A letter would be nice. What do you think, buddy?"


    The dog barked as if to respond to what he said. The manughed and cuddled the dog into his arms, carried it with ease then went back inside the house.


    The next day, Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant was going through the box full of mails directed to the president. After dividing the mails ording to their receiver, she left Secretary Lu¡¯s mails to his table and both the President¡¯s and Secretary Xiu¡¯s on Xiu Mei¡¯s table. That morning was as busy as the previous weeks, the three members of the President¡¯s office were buried in their work.


    "An earl grey tea?" Her assistant offered.


    Xiu Mei dly epted the teacup and immersed in the sweetness and bitterness of the tea. Her tensed shoulders gradually rxed while her assistant briefly went out to pick up the food they ordered in the lobby. Ever since the parcel incident, not many people are allowed to drop by the President¡¯s office.


    Luckily, the President and Lu Shao were out on official business she had the freedom of doing whatever she wanted for the day, may it be drowning in work or rxing secretly in the office.


    While she was enjoying her short break with a cup of tea, her eyes darted towards the small pile of mails that she pushed off just this morning.


    Xiu Mei nced at the elevator door.


    "Well, I guess she would still take a while." She muttered under her breath, recalling the long line of people queuing during lunchtime.


    Grabbing her paperknife, she opened and read the mails one by one, dividing them by priority, importance, and useless mails. Well, it wasn¡¯t like there¡¯s that much mail to go through since a lot of things are now done thru emails. It¡¯s usually special invitations and requests thate in paper mails.


    "Oh my, this is so pretty." Xiu Mei uttered seeing a white envelope sealed with red wax with a fewces in between that made the whole look of the letter look very fancy.


    This is probably an invitation for some kind of fancy gathering, huh?


    She innocently taught as she nonchntly opened the envelope. She marveled at the whole appearance of the letter before reading it.


    Whoa... whoever made this really made an effort in their design ah.


    Every design glued on the paper looked fancy and expensive. Was this some kind of super-rich party or something? They even used some kind of red ink. That¡¯s not a reallymon color to use ah. It must¡¯ve been so expensive.


    She slowly read the letter. It was addressed to her, which she already somehow predicted given the girlish appearance of the letter.


    <i>Dear Ms.Xiu, </i>


    <i>This humble self writes a letter to you hoping that it will reach your hands and feel my sincerity. I couldn¡¯t think of a perfect third gift, except this letter, which I hope will bring a surprise to your face. </i>


    <i>Along with my letter is another gift, which shares the same features as my second. It is inscribed in this paper, as to which you are reading as of the moment. I do hope it won¡¯t scare you, as it is a precious liquid that I collected and kept for quite some time. Oh, you don¡¯t know how much I would be willing to pay just to see the expression on your face at the moment. </i>


    <i>Carrying on, I would also like to know if you¡¯ve enjoyed my previous two gifts that I wholeheartedly and carefully chose as a perfect gift dedicated for you. </i>


    <i>Some might think that I meant to endanger you, but I assure you that it is not what I intend to do. It is merely my expression of feelings for you, and how far I would go just to make you see me in those eyes. </i>


    <i>Oh, those pools of hazel brown eyes that I could never forget. The first time Iid eyes on them, they twinkled and shone brightly under the nket of darkness, and it looked so charming despite the expression on your face that night. </i>


    <i>How I wish to see you like that again. </i>


    <i>Look how much I¡¯ve babbled. It seems like I¡¯m letting you on too much at the moment which is not entirely my intention. I do hope that you could remember me, even if it is just for a brief moment so that it would bring a smile to my face thinking that I wasn¡¯t the only one who had forgotten our shared moment. </i>


    <i>It seems my correspondence is taking a little too long than intended. Unfortunately so, I would have to cut this letter short. Ms.Xiu, I sincerely look forward, to the time we meet again. A moment when you can finally recognize me, just like how I¡¯ve always remembered you. </i>


    <i>P.S. I wonder how my special present is doing as well? I would not entirely consider it as a present, but since you willingly received it so that makes it a special present then.</i>


    "...What?"


    Xiu Mei was confused about the meaning of the letter. She thought it was an invitation... but it seems like it was a love letter instead? It even sounded a bit too...weird? It looked like a letter written by someone who reads ssical books. She wouldn¡¯t be too surprised if she sees a ¡¯thy¡¯ or some kind of old English word in the letter.


    She grabbed the white envelope to look at the back but nothing was on it. No stamp or anything.


    T-This... this wasn¡¯t set thru postmail. And that means it¡¯s a very suspicious letter.


    And it¡¯s even addressed to her.


    She instantly threw the letter on the table. Her eyes lingered on the words on the paper and thought hard.


    Who is it? Who sent this?


    Even though she was a bit scared, she continued to reread the letter hoping to understand the meaning behind the cryptic message.


    Wait.


    The sender said that this was the third gift. And just like the letter mention, she already received the two previous gifts. Then on the postscript, there¡¯s another gift. A special gift.


    Xiu Mei tried to recall if she received anything.


    A third gift...third...second...


    Xiu Mei paused and a memory instantly clicked in. That¡¯s right! How could she forget?


    The third gift! This was the third gift. Then there was a first and second gift.


    And there¡¯s only one thing she remembers that it was mentioned as a second gift.


    <i>"A bloodstained rose from the first victim I killed as my second gift to you."</i>


    A chill suddenly ran down her back.


    That red rose dyed red with blood.


    She shuddered as she recalled that memory, but she instantly remembered the words that she read from the letter.


    It was written that the third gift shares the same features as the second gift. The second gift was a rose dyed with blood so that means...


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes darted on the dark red ink contrasting to the white textured paper. A thought shed in her mind.


    D-Don¡¯t tell her... that the ink was blood?!


    What the hell! Who is so crazy to use blood as ink in writing a letter?!


    In the first ce, who is that crazy bastard sender?! Why does that person keep sending her strange exotic gifts?!


    A broken doll. A rose dyed with blood. Then a letter written with blood ink.


    What¡¯s next? A juice made with blood?!


    Xiu Mei feltplex emotions for the entire time she was washing her hands. She felt scared and angry.


    But then, she remembered another part of thetter.


    A special gift.


    She almost forgot that there was a special gift!


    A special gift that she had no idea what it was at all!!

 Chapter 245 - Suspicious First Meeting

    <h4>Chapter 245 - Suspicious First Meeting</h4>


    Before she could properly think about what the ¡¯special gift¡¯ was, she heard her assistant looking for her outside. She instantly pushed the problem at hand in her mind and went out.


    "Just put it on the pantry then we can eat together there." Xiu Mei uttered as she passed by her assistant while walking over to her table.


    "O~kay!"


    After watching her assistant now focusing on preparing their lunch, she immediately grabbed the letter lying carelessly on her table. She held it by the edges to avoid touching the written words since she hasn¡¯t really confirmed whether the ink was really blood or just a prank that the sender did to frighten her.


    She hid it under the drawers to keep it away from her sight.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes lingered at her drawer before striding towards the pantry.


    President Lu and Lu Shao returned an hour just before the word ended. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t immediately bring up the mail that she received and focused on her work in front of her. She was reviewing the employee profiles that the investigation department shortlisted for people with questionable backgrounds.


    It was the same file that was sent to her email a few weeks back. She had been updating it ording to the reports being sent to her email regarding the movements of these people. So far, all of the shortlisted people have no suspicious movements yet.


    A man with an untraceable past. Another with a blood connection to one of their rivalpanies. Then another who entered thepany through connections, and that connection was one of the people they fired for leaking restrictedpany data and bribery.


    All three had pretty high positions within thepany. Since leakingpany secrets is a pretty big issue, they were being more cautious than usual hence it almost looked like they were a bit discriminating when shortlisting the people they find suspicious.


    Xiu Mei interacts with these three people quite often given their positions. So she also makes her own assumptions based on what she¡¯s seeing in front of her.


    As she reached on Albert¡¯s profile, her hands paused momentarily as she pondered about this person.


    Among those three, Albert Chen actually had the least chance of betraying the Lu Corporation. Having an untraceable past is undoubtedly not normal, but Xiu Mei thought that maybe he was just living off in the streets when he was young until he came to the orphanage. Or it could also be a different reason.


    He also has the best personality out of the three¡ªnice, friendly, good attitude and work performance, and popr. He is a very likable guy that everyone can hang out with, but somehow, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t get herself topletely getfortable with this person.


    Was it because of how they first met?


    It was that night, back at the hotel...eh?


    Wait. That... That¡¯s strange.


    Xiu Mei realized that something didn¡¯t add up at all after recalling how she first met Albert on the night of their batch party.


    Why did she meet him there that night?


    She read his file again and his profile clearly shows that he wasn¡¯t even her schoolmate. And the floor where they handled the party was not a private floor. So other visitors of the hotel wouldn¡¯t even loiter around that ce since there are no amenities there aside from the ballroom hall.


    But she... met Albert Chen there. A lot of people actually recognize her since she would often appear on television from time to time as Lu Chen¡¯s secretary or as the daughter of a politician. She didn¡¯t find it strange when he recognized her back then.


    Xiu Mei did her best to remember how she bumped into him and then he recognized her. His attire... he was wearing formal attire simr to how her ssmates dressed up.


    Yeah, that¡¯s right. That¡¯s why she wasn¡¯t bothered by it since Albert Chen didn¡¯t look out of ce. She thought he was a schoolmate who attended the party but apparently, he actually isn¡¯t.


    Xiu Mei had a hunch in her heart, but she still wanted to confirm it with facts before drawing her conclusions. She picked up her phone and called the investigation department to confirm whether, on the day and night of their middle school gathering party, she wanted to check if there was any other party happening in that same hotel.


    It wasn¡¯t difficult to check so a few minutester, she got a confirmation that there was no other event that happened on that day.


    "Good job. Thank you." She murmured before cutting off the call. She took a deep breath as she slowly digested and organized her thoughts.


    If Albert Chen¡¯s goal was to meet her that night, then what is his reason? This action alone made her even more suspicious and ufortable.


    It seems like her gut instincts are still working properly. Thankfully, she kept drawing the line every time she sees him so she doesn¡¯t feel betrayed at all. They¡¯re not even close enough to begin with. At most, a colleague, a superior, and an acquaintance.


    It¡¯s really strange.


    What was his purpose of meeting her beforehand? Especially since it¡¯ll just make her wary of him if she finds out about it, which she did.


    Xiu Mei scratched her head as she tried to piece everything together in her head.


    At least now, among all the three people, Albert Chen who is supposed to be the least suspicious rose up the ranks and now became the person of interest for further investigation.


    And he¡¯s also one of the people who knew very well about the hacking incident so there¡¯s a possibility that he could also be the point person of Wan Wan for the news.


    But... it¡¯s not like she already confirmed that those two knew each other. Since this a bit tooplicated for the investigation department, she¡¯ll just pass it on to Lu Shao instead. It would be hard for them to enter the Ying Mansion or snooping without catching their attention.


    Xiu Mei noted down all these facts and added her own conclusion before passing it to Lu Shao.


    "Then I¡¯ll leave this to you."


    "I¡¯ll do my best." Lu Shao dly epted the file and hid it inside his bag. Because it also involves Ying Wan Wan, this investigation couldn¡¯t be considered apany case anymore.


    After her assistant and Lu Shao got off work, Xiu Mei visited her husband in his office. She nced at her watch and chuckled.


    This time, he must have been quite busy to notice that it was already past five.


    Lu Chen had been consistently preventing her from working overtime these days so she was quite surprised that he didn¡¯te out of his office even though it was already half an hour past working hours.


    She didn¡¯t forget to grab the envelope that she hid inside her drawer, hid it inside her purse, and walked over to Lu Chen¡¯s office. After knocking, she entered the office and saw him still looking at something on hisputer.


    She didn¡¯t say anything and just stood by the door, watching him with mirth in her eyes.


    Lu Chen heard her knock and sensed her presence as soon as she entered his office, so he was waiting for her to say something but she kept silent throughout. From where he was, he could see how she was enjoying watching himself working.


    "I¡¯ll be done in a minute." He raised his head and looked at his wife.


    "Mhm. It¡¯s alright."


    While waiting for him to finish up, Xiu Mei decided to briefly organize the papers on his table. She was too focused on returning the books back on the shelves that she didn¡¯t notice Lu Chen already standing behind her.


    As soon as she finished putting back thest book, her back was suddenly covered with warmth, and an arm looped around her waist.


    She almost jumped in surprise.


    "Mrs.Lu, let¡¯s go home." Lu Chen whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her neck causing her to unconsciously tilt her head on the opposite side.


    Her action gave Lu Chen a good view of her white and smooth neck. Because she covered up the marks he leftst night with a concealer, he couldn¡¯t see the traces he left on her. He somehow felt frustrated, not seeing those marks on her.


    It was like a switch was pressed in him and he was very attracted to this unblemished neck in front of him.


    Hmm...


    His body instantly moved on its own. Lowering his head, he bit her vicle and focused on s.u.c.k.i.n.g her skin there.


    Before Xiu Mei could understand what was happening, a shudder ran throughout her body as she felt an electrifying feeling from her husband¡¯s sudden attack on her vicle. She admittedly felt aroused by his actions but she didn¡¯t lose her mind yet and was aware of where they are at the moment.


    "W-We¡¯re in the office. Don¡ªa-ah!" She couldn¡¯t suppress her m.o.a.n as soon as she felt his wet tongue l.i.c.k.i.n.g her ears. Her knees were almost giving up with the sudden stimtion, so she immediately grabbed the nearest thing she could hold onto which was the bookshelf.


    The emperor CEO seductively whispered in his secretary¡¯s ear.


    "Mrs.Lu, why don¡¯t we do some office y this time?"

 Chapter 246 - Figured it out?

    <h4>Chapter 246 - Figured it out?</h4>


    An hourter, an interesting gossip appeared in thepany forum.


    A witness shared what he saw while he was getting off work. Like how Secretary Xiu shoved their mighty and cold President Lu in the parking garage while they were entering the car and that the President even looked at his secretary dotingly, and insistently stuck to her side even inside the vehicle.


    Comments flooded in and soon spread around to the different branches of Lu Corporation.


    Unfortunately, what the witness didn¡¯t see was the blooming strawberries on Secretary Xiu¡¯s neck.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen was busy appeasing his angered wife as they drove home.


    Xiu Mei kept ring at the shameless man beside her who tried to look as pitiful as possible in front of her to get her attention. She rolled her eyes at his act, recalling his beastly actions in the office.


    Her ears reddened in embarrassment as she recalled Lu Chen¡¯s passionate y as he pressed her on the shelf, on the desk, and on the sofa.


    She covered her face after itpletely registered in her mind how they did such shameless acts in the workce.


    My god! How is she supposed to enter the President¡¯s office from now on ah?!


    Xiu Mei grew even angrier at the man beside her. She really feels like beating him up right now. Should she make him sleep with King and Lucia tonight instead of the guestroom?


    Damn it. Why does it feel like she won¡¯t be able to escape from his misbehaving ws?


    But no matter how much Xiu Mei wants to ignore her husband today, she never forgot the important thing she needs to show him which was the mail she received today. So after snubbing him for the entire dinner and after tucking Lu Qiang to bed, she decided to talk to him again.


    "Not angry anymore?" Lu Chen revealed a knowing smile on his face as he sat on his side of the bed. His n.a.k.e.d c.h.e.s.t was exposed to her eyes so she could clearly see the contours of his entire upper body from where she was standing.


    Xiu Mei hasn¡¯t forgotten his shamelessness at the office so she just rolled her eyes at him, grabbed the mail inside her purse, and threw it over to the man on the bed.


    Lu Chen nced at the attractive white envelope and picked it up.


    "What¡¯s this? A love letter that my wife wrote for me?" Lu Chen continued teasing her while picking up the envelope. He went and read the contents. As soon as he began to read it, the smile on his face disappeared, and as it grew darker until he reached the end of the letter.


    "Bastard!" Lu Chen heartlessly threw the letter on the floor.


    He red at the letter while suppressing himself from tearing it into pieces. To think that such a pervert was after his wife! A lunatic!!


    But what angered him the most was that this guy was too bold in his actions. He was a pervert that has no fear as if he waspletely confident that no one will catch him.


    No, it may actually be the opposite. It¡¯s actually more like he was waiting for someone to catch him. And he has some kind of perversion towards Xiu Mei, that¡¯s why he kept giving him gifts.


    "I¡¯ll take care of this." He rose from the bed, grabbed a shirt, and stormed away leaving Xiu Mei in the room.


    Realizing the situation, Xiu Mei immediately went after him to the study.


    "I want to stay." She resolutely expressed her stance on the matter. She didn¡¯t want to be pushed aside again, and since this time they have much more clues to investigate with, there¡¯s no way she¡¯ll be watching on the sidelines again.


    Lu Chen pressed his lips tightly before giving in to his wife¡¯s request. Both sat at the opposite sides of the study table, and on the tableid the open letter.


    "I¡¯ve already contacted someone to pick up this letter for testing if this is human blood." He stated.


    "Mm."


    "When did you receive this?"


    "Just today. This was already on my table and since mails for our department are picked up daily, at least we know that this was slipped in the morning."


    "Have Lu Shao pull up the CCTV footage starting fromst night to this morning at the main reception."


    "I already requested for the footage. I watched it once but I didn¡¯t notice any suspicious person at all. Even the receptionists said that all the mails we received were from the usual mailman. Since they immediately set aside the mails addressed to the staff under the President¡¯s office as soon as they receive it, they put it in a box and that¡¯s when my assistant picks it up in the morning. They also check each mail so they were sure that all the members in the box for us today were with postage stamps."


    Lu Chen listened andmented, "then that means it was slipped after it was picked up."


    Xiu Mei scratched her cheeks. "Yeah... but that¡¯s the problem. When my assistant picked it up, it was a rush hour so it was inevitable that she bumped into a lot of people and squeezed into the elevator before she arrived at the office."


    It¡¯s not like Xiu Mei hadn¡¯t thought of that so she also requested the footage for that as well. But when she reviewed it, she just got disappointed.


    "Forward those footages to Lu Shao and he¡¯ll know what to do."


    "Mhm."


    Lu Chen pointed at the postscript on the letter.


    "We¡¯ll need to identify this one as well."


    "Yeah. I was trying to figure that out for the entire afternoon but I really had no clue what the ¡¯special gift¡¯ was. And that¡¯s scarier because ording to the letter, he said I willingly epted it so that means whatever that gift was, it¡¯s probably still with me." Xiu Mei pointed out.


    "Since we receive a lot of stuff most of the time, I can¡¯t even identify what the gift was at all. If we could figure that out, and since it seems that I personally received it, I¡¯ve probably met the sender before." She added as she continued pondering about it.


    "Any idea about receiving anything recently?" Lu Chen recalled when they received the first gift. "Probably anything within the span of six months."


    Xiu Mei carefully thought it over again. Within six months?


    Well, since she was in and out of the hospital within those time period, she didn¡¯t attend that many events. She did meet with a lot of people as well the business trips she took back when she was hiding from Lu Chen before. Then she tends to receive souvenirs from her colleagues as well so she can¡¯t really list it all down. Six months is still too much timeframe.


    She shook her head and sighed deeply.


    Her head suddenly felt heavy catching her off-guard. She raised her head and met with Lu Chen¡¯s gentle gaze as he continued stroking her head tofort her.


    "I¡¯m here." He said in a soft voice.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze quivered. Even though it was just a short phrase, the weight on her heart suddenly felt lighter than before. Since lunchtime, her head was filled with figuring out the contents of the letter and she was getting too stressed out about it.


    Lu Chen probably noticed that so he was trying to ease her worries at the moment.


    But then... Xiu Mie frowned again recalling the shameful office y.


    Well, he still won¡¯t let him off for what he did in the office. He won¡¯t kick him out of her bed but she¡¯ll make sure he won¡¯t touch her tonight.


    Xiu Mei was curious. Was it probably rted to the underground city or something?


    She didn¡¯t bother the two and returned to her seat to watch the drama with her son. She was chatting andughing with him when the butler suddenly informed her that Lu Chen was calling for her.


    Puzzled, she made her way to the study and saw the grim expressions on the two men¡¯s faces.


    "..."


    She suddenly felt scared.


    The atmosphere was so heavy and Xiu Mei was immediately brought back to the time when she was always frightened to go to Lu Chen¡¯s office every time he angrily tells her toe to the office.


    The atmosphere was so simr at that time that she subconsciously felt like she was going to get scolded again.


    "President Lu?" She said in a small voice, thinking that he called her here not as his wife but as his secretary.


    She thought hard.

 Chapter 247 - Manipulation

    <h4>Chapter 247 - Maniption</h4>


    Lu Chen was working in his study when Lu Shao entered the room hurriedly that he even forgot to knock on the door. His eyes changed in an instant.


    Lu Shao hurriedly gave him a piece of paper containing a report.


    "This was passed to me by the Madame a few days ago for investigation." Lu Shao reported.


    "She wrote in her report all that she thought needed to be investigated so I went with it and this is what we found about that person."


    Lu Chen read the report at an unbelievable speed. He immediately understood why Lu Shao was in a rush to give this report to him.


    They finally identified the person whom Ying Wan Wan had in contact with within thepany.


    "Call the Butler and tell him to bring the Madame here."


    Xiu Mei arrived shortly after that.


    Sensing the weird and heavy atmosphere within the room, somehow made her nervous more than usual. Lu Chen was ring at the file on the table and her memories of him ovepped with his previous figure in her early years of working with him. Lu Chen would always slump on his chair with his hands together while he narrowed his eyes sharply at her.


    Then she who stood stiffly in front lowered her head, her shoulders slightly trembling in fright as she prepared herself to get scolded by the emperor President.


    This was the side of Lu Chen that she first got to know of when she was just starting as an intern and even the directors and her other colleagues have experienced this emperor¡¯s wrath as well.


    And so, Xiu Mei suddenly got nervous.


    Was she going to get scolded ah?


    It was already after working hours?


    Besides, she was his wife. Even if she did something wrong, can¡¯t he at least wait in the office to scold her? Why do it at home?


    "President Lu?" She resumed her persona as a secretary instead of as his wife.


    Hearing how she called him, Lu Chen almost chuckled. As soon as he raised his head and saw her frightened expression, she looked like a little rabbit with its ears down and her body trembling in front of him.


    He was slightly amused. It seems like his wife had misunderstood his anger ah.


    "I didn¡¯t call you here to scold you." He immediately exined himself. Hearing that, Xiu Mei instantly rxed.


    "Then why did you call me over?" She nced at the two men back and forth. "It seems like you two were discussing something urgent."


    A thought popped into her mind. "Ah! Is it rted to ourpany?"


    Yeah. She wouldn¡¯t be called in here if it was something about their other job ah.


    But...did something arise within thepany that made Lu Shao rush over here thiste? But why wasn¡¯t she informed ah?


    Xiu Mei frowned. Does this mean her skills as a secretary was deteriorating because of all her absences?


    Lu Chen flipped the paper on the table upside down. She walked over to look at the contents of the paper and she gasped in shock as soon as she read the report.


    She quickly picked it up and read it closely.


    "...Albert Chen was also in contact with Yu Ming Xi aside from Ying Wan Wan." She read the words out loud.


    Silence fell within the room as the words sunk in.


    "T-This... So does this mean we¡¯ve been looking at it at the wrong angle all along?!" Xiu Mei reacted when she finished reading it.


    In summary, the report was about the investigation she handed over to Lu Shao days ago.


    Albert Chen... hid too deep.


    In the Ying Mansion, it was said that the youngdy, Ying Wan Wan, had a personal attendant that rarely appeared to other people. Thest time they heard about this attendant was that he died before the youngdy left the mansion to hide. It wasn¡¯t something new for the people there to hear about someone¡¯s death, because they¡¯ve been working in the Ying mansion for too long to know that there are things that they shouldn¡¯t dare to tell to other people or they will lose their life. For the wealthy, the life of the lowly employees didn¡¯t amount to much and the employees were frightened to open their mouths to outsiders. At least that¡¯s the situation within the Ying Mansion.


    ording to the report, a few people who had seen the male attendant before confirmed that the dead body they saw was that same attendant. Everyone dismissed it as something normal and went on with their lives.


    The person they nted within the Ying Mansion snooped around, showed Albert Chen¡¯s picture, and confirmed that they were the same person.


    Now that¡¯s actually the least shocking part. What came after was what made the three people in the room in disbelief.


    A separate investigation was done on Albert Chen¡¯s missing past records. The investigation team wasn¡¯t able to further dig deeper given their limited capability, but with Lu Chen¡¯s connections, it became possible.


    Albert Chen came from an impoverished family in the eastern part of China. They live in the borders, a ce where people who sneak in from the other side go through to enter their country. Amongst the military, it is one of the danger zones that they are guarding with strict restrictions. They tend to assign different teams across all the borders to keep people from sneaking in, especially from the spies that were sent by other countries.


    And that¡¯s where the people who live in those borderse in. The life in those poor viges was too poor, so a handful of people had to make money differently, even if it was illegal.


    Albert Chen¡¯s parents were like that.


    They get bribed to help people sneak into the country, and that¡¯s how his parents were able to feed him and his siblings.


    But they were eventually found out by the military. His parents and the other people who were also involved were taken and brutally killed by the soldiers. A few dayster, the soldiers suddenly returned to their vige and killed everyone no matter how innocent some of them are.


    Albert Chen and a couple of other children were able to escape from the ughter. They ran towards the borders and crossed the country.


    There¡¯s still a missing part on how Albert Chen suddenly appeared in an orphanage. And then the report also contained Albert Chen¡¯s hidden movements. He lived like any other normal student on the surface, but it seems like someone was helping him behind the scenes.


    Albert¡¯s influence grew fast, and he eventually built his power secretly. Then he returned to China after getting an offer from the Lu Corporation.


    And it seems he was acting as an underling for Ying Wan Wan, when instead, it¡¯s the other way around.


    Following their conclusion that Ying Wan Wan, Yu Ming Xi, and Xiu Su Yi haven¡¯t met each other despite working under the same person, they can somehow conclude from there that person¡¯s character. The chances that they haven¡¯t personally seen to whom they are working for was higher.


    For Albert Chen¡¯s big influence in the West, it was difficult to imagine that he¡¯ll be willing to work as an underling to someone. So that must mean he had a different agenda why he chose to work under her.


    That is to cover up his true identity.


    Finding out that he and Ying Wan Wan have a connection, people would just conclude that he was only her underling who was following her orders. It may look too simple, but with Albert working in Lu Corporation, and Ying Wan Wan¡¯s grudge against her, people would be convinced that his movements were under Wan Wan¡¯s orders.


    Lu Chen, Xiu Mei, and Lu Shao would have believed that as well if they weren¡¯t aware of how much influence Albert had on the west. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for someone so powerful to work as an underling unless he has an ulterior motive, and appearing as somebody¡¯s underling is the best camouge.


    Ying Wan Wan is working under someone that she hasn¡¯t met with before. She only knew that she cooperated with Xiu Su Yi but she hasn¡¯t met him even once at all. So there was a middle man.


    And their suspicion is that Albert Chen was the middle man between the two.


    "Everything¡¯s a bit confusing, but it does make sense." Xiu Meimented remembering how she met Ying Wan Wan after she parted with Albert Chen back in City S. That ce wasn¡¯t too small for them to bump into each other and call it a coincidence.


    Albert Chen... was manipting everyone from the very start.

 Chapter 248 - Cactus

    <h4>Chapter 248 - Cactus</h4>


    "Unbelievable."


    It was the onlyment Xiu Mei could make at that time. To think that she¡¯s being yed by this person the whole time... she was barely stopping herself from exploding with anger.


    Just merely recalling how that bastard looked like whenever she sees him, and how he acts like the two were close made her let out a string of curses in her mind.


    His shamelessness was beyond disbelief. He actually had the gall to personally work in thepany, brazenly approached her and the others, willingly acting as ackey to his subordinate to hide his true identity, and acted as if he did nothing so outrageous every time they bump into each other.


    Clearly, he was fearless, and he wasn¡¯t afraid if he was going to be found out by them or not.


    She can already imagine how amused he was as he worked with them every day while thinking how foolish they were for being too slow in not figuring out that the person they¡¯ve been looking for has been under their noses all along.


    In Albert Chen¡¯s ce.


    Albert Chen was sitting rxedly on his porch, with his dog sleeping at his feet and swirling the ss of red wine in his hand.


    He looked prettyid back, unconcerned about the events that will unfold in the future.


    "We¡¯ve found traces of someone investigating master¡¯s records for the past two days." Xiu Su Yi¡¯s voice sounded from Albert Chen¡¯s phone. Albert Chen¡¯s ce was devoid of people, with only a man and a dog living in it. He always disliked staying with strangers, even if it was his subordinates.


    And it could only be counted in one hand as to whom Albert Chen revealed himself to his subordinates, Xiu Su Yi included.


    "Too slow," Albert nonchntlymented as he took another sip from his wine ss. He didn¡¯t speak anymore after that but Xiu Su Yi didn¡¯t cut the call yet. A few momentster, Xiu Su Yi gave an instruction.


    "Kill Ying Wan Wan."


    And then the call was hung up.


    Albert Chen raised his head and watched the clear night sky bright with stars silently.


    "What do we do now?" Xiu Mei seriously asked.


    If it were just a normal case, the protocol would be to fire the employee who leaked thepany information outside, clean up the aftermath after the mess, and then it¡¯s all over.


    But she knew that it¡¯s not as simple as that.


    Albert Chen was maniptive and intelligent. Firing him was easy, but it wasn¡¯t enough.


    "He was on a paid leave since two days ago." Lu Shao added.


    "Two days ago?" Xiu Mei was surprised.


    Was it a coincidence?


    She contemted about something with her hand on his chin.


    "Was he already on paid leave when you started investigating him?" She asked.


    "No. We started the investigation the day Madame passed this to me then he was on paid leave the next day."


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei¡¯s eyelids jumped. The two nced at each other as they shared the same thoughts.


    "Then that means he was already aware that we started investigating him so he immediately filed his leave." Lu Chen spoke out his thoughts.


    "To think that he filed a leave after we started the investigation, I doubt it¡¯s all a coincidence."


    "When did he file his leave?"


    "It was the afternoon of the day before his paid leave." Lu Shao answered.


    Xiu Mei frowned. "If I remember correctly, I only handed the file to you in the afternoon. How¡¯s that possible?"


    Maybe it was a coincidence?


    Lu Chen nced at the two people in front of him.


    "When you passed the investigation file over, how did you do it?" He asked his wife.


    "How? Of course, I personally handed it over to him."


    Their tables are merely just across each other. Since she handwrote the information in the file, it was easier to personally hand it over instead of typing it again thru email.


    Hearing her answer, Lu Chen¡¯s face darkened.


    "That bastard was watching our movements." He stated. Lu Shao and Xiu Mei fell silent.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s mind was in a mess. Because she was aware of how serious their problem is at the moment.


    It¡¯s a different case if Albert Chen only knew about their movements when Lu Sha started investigating, but because he already nned to disappear the moment she passed over the file to Lu Shao, that means that he was watching them REAL TIME. IN. THE. OFFICE.


    But how?


    How did he know it?


    Were theirputers hacked? Or were there listening devices on their floor?


    They¡¯ve already restricted the ess to their floor to so many people. How is that even possible?


    "Do another sweep of the floor. If it meant having to check all the devices on the floor, do it. I need to know if that bastard was listening in on us the whole time or not." Lu Chenmanded with a grim voice. His tone alone revealed how grave the current situation was so Lu Shao didn¡¯t dare dy and immediately left to carry out his orders as early as possible.


    Xiu Mei grabbed one of Lu Chen¡¯s hands and gripped it tightly. The two didn¡¯t speak to each other at all but they understood each other¡¯s thoughts at that moment.


    The next day, Xiu Mei gave her assistant a day off. Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates were on their floor, and she didn¡¯t want to get her assistant involved about it so it was better to keep her in the dark with what they¡¯re currently doing.


    She stayed in Lu Chen¡¯s office briefly before going out. There, she saw people upying her table and her assistant¡¯s table. She wandered around the floor curiously watching their movements. She didn¡¯t want to bother them any further so she started to walk back to Lu Chen¡¯s office when her eyesnded on the sulents by the window.


    Her assistant was the one who takes care of it and since she wasn¡¯t around today to do that, Xiu Mei took it upon herself to do the task. After all, this was the only area that disyed the green nts since it would be a bother to care for a lot of nts when they¡¯re all too busy with their own work.


    She picked up the water spray and started watering the sulents that werepletely basked in sunlight. They all look well taken care of since they¡¯ve been growing steadily and she can see some sulents that could already be transferred to a different pot as well.


    She was spraying water religiously on them when her movements halted as soon as she saw a familiar cactus.


    Her mind crashed temporarily.


    Wait... wasn¡¯t this the cactus that Albert gave her back then?


    She recalled that box full of small pots of sulents that he said he was going to give away to his coworkers. And how he grabbed one pot and gave this cactus to her saying that it was a gift.


    It was like an rm rang in her mind as soon as she remembered that.


    "Lu Shao!" She almost shouted in a loud voice in her urgency. Lu Shao was immediately next to her, so Xiu Mei grabbed the cactus pot and shoved it to his hand.


    "This pot...this was what Albert Chen gave me when he newly arrived here in ourpany. I don¡¯t think he was simply giving this away. Maybe he put something inside?" She voiced out her suspicions.


    After listening to Xiu Mei, Lu Shao immediately had someone send some tools so they could take apart the pot. After separating the cactus from the soil, he continued separating the soil but found nothing. They even took apart that poor cactus into two to check the inside but they found nothing of importance.


    Xiu Mei watched all of it unfold before her eyes. She was puzzled when they found nothing and she immediately doubted whether Albert was really merely sending it as a weing gift.


    "Was I thinking too much?" She muttered under her breath as her eyes lingered on the poor cactus nt.


    "Madame, is this what he really gave you? Maybe it¡¯s a different nt?" One of the men who took apart the nt asked her.


    Xiu Mei looked at the aisle of sulents by the window and carefully looked at every pot before answering.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s the one."


    Almost all sulents they have were from the other employees who gave them to them, and she could clearly remember who gave which so she didn¡¯t identify the wrong nt that Albert gave her.


    "What about the pot?" Someone voiced out.


    "But it¡¯s just y." Another voice responded while he tapped the pot making a dull sound on the table.


    "Smash it open."


    "...Okay."


    And then a loud sound echoed within the room. In an instant, everyone fell silent as soon as they saw the shattered pieces of the pot in front of them.


    A hand removed the shards of y, picking up some kind of rectangr chip that was mixed in the shattered pieces.


    "We found it." Lu Shao dered in a low voice.

 Chapter 249 - The Special Present

    <h4>Chapter 249 - The Special Present</h4>


    Inside a conference room in a secret location, three men and one woman all with stern expressions sat around the round table. The monitor shing a confidential doc.u.ment, supposed to be limited to the eyes of those who are only granted ess to ssified information.


    However, though, the military does give sanctions in special cases.


    "We ran the blood in our database and found a match." Xiu Min pressed a button and a ssified profile shed on the monitor.


    "The blood matched with Sgt. Fang, who died by suicide in his family home in Chicago seven years ago. A man was sent to confirm the factors surrounding his death, which concluded with no foul y. Died by shing his own wrist and was found dead by a rtive the day after."


    Multiple pictures of the crime scene were disyed on the monitor yet the people in the room didn¡¯t even flinch from the gory sight in front of them.


    "Well, it looks like the man you sent needed more practice." Lu Chen said offhandedly.


    "How we train our men is in the least of your responsibility, Mr.Lu." A man in military uniform, with five-star rank, coldly retorted to his word.


    "If it weren¡¯t for Lt. General Yu¡¯s endors.e.m.e.nt, you wouldn¡¯t be allowed to even breathe in this ce." His toneced with threat as he looked at the man, who is supposed to be their natural enemy, sitting just across from him.


    Lieutenant General Yu Shi Huang merely nced at the exchange of the two men and kept her eyes in front.


    On the other hand, Xiu Min kept his expression nk but he was already scolding his brother-inw in his mind. Provoking the highest person in the army, was he asking for a beating?


    It would be chaos if the Military General and the Leader of the Underground City shed. It would be bloodshed, and their family will surely get caught in the crossfire.


    He sighed and continued their findings on the rose and letter dyed with blood that Lu Chen had sent over to them.


    Lu Chen initially didn¡¯t n on turning those items over to the military, but since they didn¡¯t find a match with anyone when they tested the blood, they had to conclude the possibility that one, this person¡¯s data isn¡¯t on any database which technically means that their non-existent or second, that the blood match belongs to ssified and restricted information which could only be essed by authorized individuals.


    Hacking the government¡¯s database, specifically the military¡¯s, may sound amusing but Lu Chen wasn¡¯t the least interested in provoking the military¡¯s anger especially now that he is now indirectly connected with the military as Xiu Mei¡¯s husband.


    Lu Chen only decided to send over those two items after getting informed about the findings rted to Albert Chen.


    Yesterday.


    "I can¡¯t believe that he was bold enough to nt a device in the pot of the cactus." Xiu Mei was bewildered after finding a chip installed in the y plot. Lu Chen¡¯s subordinate has confirmed that it wasn¡¯t just a listening device but was also able to bypass the cybersecurity of various devices but with a limited number.


    God knows how muchpany data was stolen by Albert Chen until today.


    "We need someone to sweep the whole building who received one from him. I remembered he had a box full of these kinds of nts so it¡¯s probably not limited to the Marketing Department," said Xiu Mei.


    So three of his subordinates disguised as a cleaner and used an excuse to take away all the sulents within the building.


    "To think that a gift like this could be dangero¡ª" She was stunned instantly in her words as a familiar sentence shed in her mind.


    <i>P.S. I wonder how my special present is doing as well? I would not entirely consider it as a present, but since you willingly received it so that makes it a special present then.</i>


    A present?


    Her eyes darted back to the nt on her hand.


    <i>"Oh, Ms.Xiu! Hello."</i>


    <i>"Oh my, do you not remember me? I introduced myself to the partyst week." </i>


    <i>"Really?! Wow, that¡¯s great. I thought Ms.Xiu already forgot about me."</i>


    <i>"Ms.Xiu, here." </i>


    <i>"A small gift from me. Actually, I¡¯m nning to give these nts to my other co-workers as a gift."</i>


    <i>"You just have to water that once a day and keep it somewhere with sunlight then it¡¯s going to be fine." </i>


    A special present that she willingly received...


    Willingly...?


    Could it be..?!


    Xiu Mei stared incredulously at the nt in her hand.


    Was it possible? That Albert Chen and the man who kept sending her those parcels... could they be the same person?!


    Or maybe it was just a coincidence or the sender was bluffing to her that she received some special present just to confuse them?


    Xiu Mei was instantly thrown in confusion. She originally didn¡¯t think that the sender of the letter and Albert Chen could be the same people, after all, there was nothing to connect it to him and they haven¡¯t found anything on the man yet except that his movements are clean without any crumbs left to trace at all.


    But... was it really possible?


    She was worried that she might be having this train of thoughts just because there were too manyplicated things happening right now. So after carefully contemting it for a little longer, she decided to share her thoughts with her husband.


    Lu Chen could understand her suspicions at the moment, but since they couldn¡¯t find anything on the letter nor on the previous things that the sender sent, instead of trying to connect the sender to Albert, then they will connect Albert to the sender instead.


    How?


    By noting the most notable souvenir that the sender always mentions on his presents. That is the blood from his first kill.


    If they¡¯re trying to connect it with Albert Chen¡¯s, then they have to find who was his first kill.


    In this line of work, Lu Chen was somewhat simr to Albert¡¯s. Both of them grew and trained to have blood in their hands, except that Lu Chen¡¯s objective was to keep the messy powers in the underground city under control while Albert was most probably for revenge.


    For Lu Chen, the blood of the first kill doesn¡¯t necessarily mean literally the person whom they killed for the first time. It is definitely a memory that he would never forget, but first kills are usually the least important or in other terms, something like a practice game.


    What Lu Chen considers his first kill would be the first subject he had to kill as his first assignment after he finished his training which already involved getting used to the bloodshed. He was the heir to one of the big organizations underground, but because of his rampant killing to the point that he was starting to involve civilians in his killing spree, Lu Chen had been ordered by his master to remove himpletely.


    It was a necessary kill to establish his role as the sessor of the leading underground organization, so for him, that person was what he considers his first kill. Who came after wasn¡¯t as memorable as this one in his opinion.


    So following this line of thought, Lu Chen had to consider Albert¡¯s motives. Remembering how he tried to erase his past, then it must mean that it was a piece of s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e information that Albert wanted to hide from everyone.


    Sometimes, it could be the same reason why he chose to follow this bloody path.


    Albert¡¯s motive.... Was he doing this as revenge for the death of his family?


    And knowing that it was done by the military, then could it be that his first kill was...?


    A killing for the first step in his revenge. What if this blood belongs to a person in the military? Something personal, maybe directly involved in that incident?


    Maybe that¡¯s also the reason why they couldn¡¯t find any match on the blood? Because most of the information on the members of the military is protected heavily by the government.


    This reasoning was somehow a bit far-fetched since they¡¯re trying to connect Albert to the sender, but there¡¯s still room for the possibility that it was possible. That the sender¡¯s first kill was a soldier.


    And today, Lu Chen calmly stared at the crime scene on the monitor.


    The sender¡¯s first kill was indeed a soldier. And the sender was Albert Chen.

 Chapter 250 - Cooperation

    <h4>Chapter 250 - Cooperation</h4>


    Lu Chen took that one chance by turning over the blood sample to Xiu Min. It didn¡¯t even take long for them to find out the blood match, which was as he suspected, a person with his information categorized as ssified.


    Surprisingly, the General took notice of their investigation this time. Especially when they confirmed that someone was using the blood of an ex-soldier for illegal means. It was simply like pping the faces of everyone in the military.


    "Who was the man that was sent to confirm about Sgt. Fang¡¯s death?" The General spoke with his deepmanding voice.


    Xiu Min pressed another key showing another profile.


    "It was Sgt. Fang¡¯s teammate in the same battalion, Sgt. Zhao."


    Yu Shi Huang read out loud the status in his profile, "Deceased?"


    "Sgt. Zhao died a few months after Sgt.Fang¡¯s. He was killed in a car ident, as concluded by the police back then."


    Lu Chen already realized that there must be something behind their deaths. Suicide and a car ident, their deaths may not look suspicious but with the addition of Albert Chen in the picture, it seems like they¡¯ll have to reopen the case for reinvestigation.


    "Were there any records of them being assigned in the borders before?" He asked.


    Xiu Min hummed in affirmation as he continued, "Sgt. Fang was stationed before in the borders within his first three years of duty. However, there were no records for Sgt. Zhao getting assigned to the border control at all."


    "Then Sgt. Zhao must have been bribed to cover up the truth behind Sgt. Fang¡¯s death." Lu Chen stated.


    "Bribing lower military officials such as him is often easily overlooked by the military police. Alpha Battalion Capt. Xiu, do a thorough investigation of Sgt. Zhao¡¯s activities within and outside the military. It¡¯s highly possible that if he did receive bribes, it won¡¯t definitely be on his bank records. Check anyone in his rtives who received suspicious money transfers or any assets that could be used as an exchange."


    "Lt. Gen.Yu, I assign you to oversee the entire investigation about Sgt.Fang and Sgt. Zhao¡¯s deaths."


    General Qu nced at Lu Chen, who introduced himself as the leader of the most notorious ce on earth. He didn¡¯t want to cooperate with this kind of man, and it is true that they should be arresting this person immediately however, he also has his own beliefs.


    Beliefs that there is a certain bnce between the authority of the military and the authority in the underground world and ck market. He knew very well how words that ce is, but he couldn¡¯t deny the fact that it¡¯s been already almost five decades ever since those dangerous people wreaked havoc outside. And meeting the man who is currently suppressing those dangerous organizations from going out of control, he definitely has hidden respect for him.


    And also knowing how famous his name is in the business world, General Qu knew that he was someone that couldn¡¯t be trifled with.


    For this man to confidently walk inside the military, that alone is something to be amazed in.


    Oh, but he¡¯s still an enemy in his eyes. But knowing that this guy was now rted to the Yu and Xiu family, he wasn¡¯t exactly sure to feel about that matter.


    Well, it¡¯s thest thing that he needs to be concerned about given that they need to cooperate with this man for their investigation in this matter. They don¡¯t need exactly need the assistance, but if it¡¯s going to be easier to finish the case with their cooperation.


    After all, he couldn¡¯t overlook the fact that someone was trying to use their authority as a soldier for illegal means. The prestige, moral, and name of the military is the most important thing he upholds above anything.


    That same night, a man was caught within the grounds of the Legion. He attempted to sneak in and mix in with the other members of Lu Chen¡¯s organization, but what he didn¡¯t know was that all the people within that ce were trained to remember the faces of each member as their protocol, and all new recruits have a protocol they¡¯ll need to follow so the other old members could identify them as new recruits.


    So as soon as the man passed through the doors, he was instantly caught. They immediately put something in his mouth, to prevent him from biting the poison hidden under his tongue and immediately brought him for questioning.


    Compared to Ying Wan Wan¡¯s style of questioning, they were definitely more vicious and merciless.


    "You¡¯re a toughd." One of the legion membersmented as he stabbed deep on the man¡¯s t.h.i.g.hs. The man immediately g.r.o.a.n.e.d in pain, his cloth stained with blood and pooling underneath his feet.


    "I wonder if you¡¯re internal organs could be reused and resold in the market? Isn¡¯t that what the civilians say, you know, save mother earth by recycling? Since we¡¯re cleaning up this trash, we can recycle his organs and give it to those who need them better." Another one chimed in who was holding some kind of dental pliers. Beside him was a tray with three bloody teeth taken from the man they tied up.


    "Then what about the blood? Should we take a bag or two? Hey!" They kicked the leg of the man who whimpered in pain. "Speak up! Tell us your blood type! We¡¯ll make sure to save every drop of your blood."


    The man tied up with the chains, being beaten and tortured mercilessly to death by these people was almost hysterical. His mind was copsing in fear after being tormented in different ways. He was whipped, stabbed, his tooth pulled out one by one, stabbed with needles, drowned with water, even the chains that they used have sharp needles that would tighten every time he tries to pull on it a little bit. He was currently standing on hot coal, his feet almost numb from the heat and burn he felt hours ago.


    "I...I....." The man could barely make coherent words with his muddled mind.


    "Aw... going to speak up now? When we haven¡¯t had enough fun yet?"


    "Stupid. Just go torture the next idiot that would try to trespass again. You! Continue what you¡¯re saying!"


    "K-Kill...I--to kill W-Wan.... Wan Wan..." The man said with difficulty.


    "Wan Wan? Do we have a newbie with that name?"


    "Idiot. That¡¯s the name of one of our prisoners in the dungeon. The one Si Tu Yi wasining to Ming Xuan the other day."


    "....Really? Then can I y with that person instead?"


    "Do you wanna get killed by Si Tu Yi? Besides, I heard that the head was the one who ordered them to keep that person alive. And I think that was the same person that the female soldier brought in if I¡¯m not mistaken."


    "F.u.c.k! I was only gone for one month and now I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re all saying. It seems like I¡¯m missing a lot of things?!"


    "Let¡¯s talk about thatter. Since you love ying so much, I¡¯ll hand that person to you to finish up." The man put down his pliers and walked out of the torture room without waiting for his other colleague to speak.


    The man with the dagger shrugged and looked at the chained-up trespasser with a fierce and cold gaze.


    "Let¡¯s move on to the next question. Who sent you?" He slid the blunt side of the dagger on the man¡¯s neck as he continued questioning him.


    "X-Xiu S-Su Yi..." The man¡¯s voice trembled. "P-Please spa..spare me..." The man continued to plead as he felt another needle stab on his skin.


    The other man just simply scoffed. Just a lousy trespasser dared to beg for his life in front of him?


    "Well, since you answered all our questions. I¡¯ll set you free." The man said as he put down the needle in his hand.


    The chained man¡¯s eyes brightened a little, but before he could open his mouth, the other man swiftly swung his dagger on the man¡¯s neck killing the man instantly. He ignored the sttered blood on his clothes, threw away the dagger, and walked away with nonchnce.


    He walked over to one of his superiors, Ming Xuan, and reported the information that the dead man said to them.


    Ming Xuan didn¡¯t seem surprised. "Good work." He simply stated before walking away.


    He immediately informed Lu Chen about the investigation progress on their side and that Xiu Su Yi sent someone to dispose of Ying Wan Wan.


    "Tighten the guards around the woman. The military wants us to hand her over to them." Lu Chen replied.


    "...Are you sure?"


    Ming Xuan recalled the poor state of the woman they left her in. Won¡¯t their leader be arrested for beating a civilian?


    "Just hand her over." Lu Chen repeated before hanging up the call.


    Ming Xuan stared bewilderedly at his phone.


    So... are they going to war against the military next ah?

 Chapter 251 - All Starts Now

    <h4>Chapter 251 - All Starts Now</h4>


    Regardless of what they found out yesterday, Xiu Mei had to continue their operations. Her assistant waspletely unaware that her ownputer was bypassed and cleaned up by Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates yesterday, and now Lu Shao and Lu Chen were called up by her eldest brother about some kind of emergency meeting that apparently, she wasn¡¯t allowed to attend.


    Well, considering their circ.u.mstances that she had to backtrack all thepany information that Albert Chen was now aware of, she had gotten busier than ever while closely tracking all their current projects to see if there were anything wrong or something suspicious going on that Albert would probably interfere with.


    Five days after Albert Chen filed for leave, Xiu Mei was immediately notified that he sent a formal resignation through email.


    No, the Human Resource Department did not notify her.


    It was the sound from herputer. Because the resignation letter was sent to her email.


    "..."


    Was he sending some kind of malware or something?


    She opened the email without hesitation. It was just a pretty normal resignation letter like any other person. She stared at the email puzzledly, at a loss at what she should do next.


    Even in the beginning, she couldn¡¯t understand this guy¡¯s way of thinking. He acted easygoing and friendly in front of her, but he was a maniptive man that liked to toy with people¡¯s lives. Just like how he had his fun watching on the sidelines acting like a bystander while he controlled everything behind the scenes.


    And now, even if they¡¯ve already uncovered his identity, he looked tooidback, even daring to send his resignation letter to her email. So what was he insinuating?


    That he was not worried at all. And that he was probably provoking them even.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s expression turned somber.


    She was just about to forward this email to Lu Shao so he can choose whatever to do with it when another email came in from Albert.


    This time, it was just a simple sentence. A message that made her feel chills run down her back.


    <strong><i>It all officially starts now.</i></strong>


    She didn¡¯t even have time to ponder about his sentence when her assistant shouted beside her, along with the sudden burst of all the phones ringing in their whole floor.


    "Ms.Xiu, there¡¯s an issue in the stock market..!!"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened. She immediately grabbed her phone in one hand while the other continuously pressed the keys on her keyboard.


    Continuous ringing echoed on the other line, showing no signs of someone picking it up. She grew frustrated as she continuously called.


    "Call the CSRC and see if you can reach them on your side! We have to suspend all ourpany¡¯s stock trading at the moment!" Her voice raised visibly as her anxiousness grew when she saw how all the stocks strangely peaked and continuously dipped like a cycle.


    The CSRC would surely suspend stock trading if this continues, but seeing that they¡¯re not halting it at the moment means that no one¡¯s ordering for the suspension yet.


    Shit! Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t help but curse. No one was picking up on the other line, and all the stock prices were dropping at an unbelievable rate.


    A minuteter, the stock trading was suspended at the same time, the CRSC announced that they would temporarily suspend stock trading indefinitely until further notice. The instant she saw that it was now halted, she immediately gave instructions to her assistants so that she could delegate the tasks to the respective departments.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if the President was already aware of what happened, but in this circ.u.mstance when he wasn¡¯t in thepany, it was her job to oversee and put everything under control as his capable secretary.


    Albert¡¯s recent email was already thrown at the back of her mind as she immediately went to arrange meetings with the board, and relevant departments regarding the current incident.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen just got off the call with Ming Xuan. He was still in the midst of a meeting with his brother-inw when he received a call from Lu Shao regarding the stock trading incident that happened just a few minutes ago.


    "Did Xiu Mei contact you?" He asked.


    "Not as of yet. Madame is probably busy with the incident just now." Lu Shao was currently reading the updates from the trading suspension. "Should I call her now?"


    "No, don¡¯t bother her at the moment. I¡¯m sure she knows what to do at the moment and I¡¯ll just be useless at the moment even if I call her about it now. Just update me if there¡¯s any update regarding this."


    "Understood. Then I¡¯ll just leave a brief message to Madame that she won¡¯t need to inform you about it for now."


    "Hm."


    Lu Chen was silent for a moment thinking back at the report that Xiu Mei submitted to him about the strange movements in the stock market.


    He frowned. Was this probably rted to that? But ording to Xiu Mei¡¯s report, it wasn¡¯t supposed to happen this soon. Did something change?


    Xiu Min suddenly spoke out, "Are we going to continue?"


    He heard their conversation and knew that it was about his younger sister. But it seems to be rted to his work so he didn¡¯t pry for information.


    "Yeah." Lu Chen temporarily shifted his attention back to what they were previously doing.


    "I¡¯ll open Sgt. Fang¡¯s case and reinvestigate if there were any foul y. Whether it was suicide or not, we need to know how they collected his blood and know whether if there are any other victims like him."


    Lu Chen recalled Lu Shao¡¯s report on Albert¡¯s past. Since his first kill was Sgt. Fang, then he definitely knew him. "Was Sgt. Fang assigned somewhere near the Russian borders in his records?"


    Xiu Min was the only one allowed to read the military records so he skimmed through Sgt. Fang¡¯s profile.


    "He was. He was assigned to *** battalion for two years. He also got promoted within that timeframe. Hmm....I don¡¯t see anything from Sgt. Zhao¡¯s records as well."


    "Check who were the members of that battalion at that time and cross-check their records if they are alive or if there are some who died."


    Xiu Min knew where Lu Chen was going so he immediately checked their database for the records. It took a while to find but he eventually found all the profiles of the members from that battalion in that year.


    He pointed at the monitor where he projected all the profiles.


    "There were twenty members from that battalion. As of now, Eleven out of twenty is currently deceased." He stated grimly as he thought suspiciously whether all their deaths were rted to Sgt. Fang¡¯s as well.


    "Any information on how the other ten people died?"


    "ording to their files, three died during the mission, two died from natural causes ording to their death certificates, the rest of the five was either killed in an ident ormitted suicide."


    "What do you think?"


    "Too strange. Ignoring the causes of death alone, eleven out of the twenty members are now dead. It¡¯s too much to say that¡¯s a coincidence. I doubt that what we¡¯re all reading in here could be true, besides, Sgt. Zhao was once assigned to the records department for a short month. These records could¡¯ve been manipted as well just like how we¡¯re doubting his ruling about Sgt. Fang¡¯s suicide case."


    Xiu Min continuously typed in his notes as he continued, "With this amount of death cases for reinvestigation, it¡¯s going to take me awhile. I¡¯ll hand over to you the two people who died from natural causes and the other five thatmitted suicide and were caught in an ident. I¡¯ll take care of Sgt. Fang¡¯s case and the other three that died on the mission." He quickly divided their tasks.


    Lu Chen approved his words and added, "Then I¡¯ll leave you in checking what happened at the *** vige. For the soldiers to suddenly wipe out an entire vige, check whether this was ordered by someone from above or if it was done by the soldier¡¯s back then alone."


    Xiu Min, who was listening to his words didn¡¯t feel good at all but he couldn¡¯t disagree with him as well. Not all military officials have clean backgrounds, but if it was really someone from above who ordered to kill all those innocent civilians, then that was already beyond the moralpass of any human.


    "I know."


    "I¡¯ll take care of digging deeper about Albert¡¯s movements abroad for the past few years. He¡¯s definitely hiding at the moment so we need to identify all the things he calcted to almost everyone. Since he¡¯s involved with Yu Ming Xi, he¡¯s probably involved with Pei Ji Huang¡¯s and probably somehow in politics as well."

 Chapter 252 - Dream or Memory?

    <h4>Chapter 252 - Dream or Memory?</h4>


    It was pure hell for Xiu Mei that day. Aside from keeping everything under control within thepany, she also had to handle the queries from their global branches and partners abroad to pacify them that everything was fine.


    She even had the nanny pick up Lu Qiang since she had to stay at thepany for overtime. After personally attending the meeting with the board on behalf of the President, she had to continuously read the progressive updates from all departments and from all their branches.


    That was not even half of the work she had to do that day. She was too busy to even remember the resignation letter that she received that morning.


    It was already past eight when she crawled back home.


    Xiu Mei doubled over andnguidly took off her shoes when she heard a small sound of footsteps hurrying in her direction.


    "Mom, wee home."


    She suddenly felt a warm peck on her left cheek. Xiu Mei raised her eyes and was immediately weed by the sight of her most adorable son, Lu Qiang.


    Aaaaahhhh just the perfect recharge she needs!!


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t think twice. Tossing away the bag and shoes with her other hand, she immediately pulled her little one into a tight hug.


    Of course, Lu Qiang happily embraced his mother with open arms.


    "Only my little Qiang Qiang truly loves mom ah!" Xiu Mei eximed while pinching her son¡¯s cheeks and raining him with her kisses.


    "I love mommy so much too!" He cheerfully replied. The two walked hand in hand while Xiu Mei asked about his day. He sat with her in the dining room as she ate herte dinner.


    Xiu Mei spent the whole hour with her son and tucked him to bed afterward. After giving him a goodnight kiss, she stealthily left his room and went over to hers.


    It was only after she finished taking a shower when she nced at the wall clock and realized that it was alreadyte yet her husband hasn¡¯te home. She checked her phone with concern.


    "Why hasn¡¯t he called at all?" She murmured under her breath.


    Thest message she received was from Lu Shao telling her that she didn¡¯t need to update Lu Chen regarding the issue today and that Lu Chen gives her the full authority to decide everything on her own.


    But that was in the morning. Lu Chen didn¡¯t even call or message her the whole day.


    Did something happen?


    Xiu Mei stared at her phone before finally deciding to message him instead of calling him. He was probably doing his other work since he wasn¡¯t contacting her at all, just like thest time he disappeared without telling her.


    Xiu Mei pouted while sulking.


    Still, how could he not even message her ah? It¡¯s not like she wasn¡¯t aware of what he¡¯s doing. She¡¯s not even going to force her to go home.


    But to think that he won¡¯t even send even a period, isn¡¯t that too much?


    "Hmph. Maybe I should make him sleep with King for a week next time." She muttered as she went and lied down on her bed. She was exhausted for the whole day so she instantly fell asleep as soon as she lied down.


    <i>"You won¡¯t remember me." Xiu Mei almost jumped hearing the voice behind her. </i>


    <i>Her whole body felt cold. Darkness nketed her vision, and all she could hear was the eerie silence surrounding her. Her heart raced nervously, as she heard that voice whispering in her ears again. </i>


    <i>"But I wille back." </i>


    <i>"Because I hate people like you." </i>


    <i>She could sense the anger and resentment from that voice. The more he spoke, the more it made her frightened because it was as if someone was going to strangle her out of nowhere. </i>


    <i>But most of all, she was afraid because she couldn¡¯t see at all. </i>


    <i>In a split second, she immediately regained her sight. It was still dark, but it was not entirely dark. This time, she could finally make out a silhouette crouching in front of her. She almost toppled backward, as she let out a muffled scream when the silhouette grabbed her by her hair and yanked her up close to that silhouette. </i>


    <i>She immediately remembered. This was the man that she couldn¡¯t see his face in her dreams before.</i>


    <i>Wait... was she dreaming? </i>


    <i>This... should be a dream right? </i>


    <i>"But it¡¯s not going to be fun if I make them suffer from just this." He pulled her closer to his face and this time, she had a clearer view of him. </i>


    <i>The man... no, he wasn¡¯t a man. </i>


    <i>The person in front of her looked young... but the rage on his face was not something you would normally see on a young person¡¯s face. Now that she thought about it, he wasn¡¯t even yanking her too up high. It was just a bit taller from her height as well. </i>


    <i>"I¡¯ll pull you to another y. This... is just the prelude." He tightly held onto her chin, making her whimper in pain.</i>


    <i>"You¡¯re going to be my puzzle piece that they won¡¯t even know that I¡¯ve started with you." </i>


    <i>He finally let her go, dumping her back to the ground. And then he covered her eyes. </i>


    <i>"I won¡¯t let you remember meeting me, but I wille to you soon." </i>


    <i>And then everything turned ck for her. </i>


    <i>It was thest words that she could remember.</i>


    "N-No... " She covered her mouth in disbelief as she recalled her dream.


    No, it wasn¡¯t right to call that a dream.


    She didn¡¯t recognize him in that dream. But... she could recognize who that person was now.


    How could she not?


    That was Albert Chen. He looked very different from the easygoing and smiling expression she often saw at work, but she wouldn¡¯t identify it wrong.


    The person in her dreams was Albert. It was his younger self.


    She was at a loss as she fell into a daze.


    Was that a dream? Or was it a memory? Did that really happen when she was kidnapped back then?


    But it wasn¡¯t in her previous statement record at all. Howe she didn¡¯t have any recollection of that?


    <i>"I won¡¯t let you remember meeting me, but I wille to you soon." </i>


    ....Perhaps he did something to make her not remember him?


    B-But how? How¡¯s that possible? Was it even possible?!


    <i>I wille to you soon.</i>


    Xiu Mei gasped. If that really happened, then was that he meant?!


    He came to her. If it was really him, then he really came to her.


    But he also said that she was his puzzle piece.


    Xiu Mei felt her head slightly aching from all her thoughts. His puzzle piece? How was that even possible?


    Another pang of pain shot up making her whimper. She stopped trying to force herself in remembering anymore. Maybe her body and mind were too exhausted with everything that happened today and her body even felt heavy that she could barely find the energy to stay awake.


    She¡¯ll just... think about it once she wakes up again.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t return home that night. The next day, Xiu Mei dragged herself out of the bed despite not feeling well at all. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she overexerted herself yesterday or if it was because of her dreams-- nightmare.


    She didn¡¯t have any appetite to eat her breakfast, making Lu Qiang look at her with worry. He tried to make her rest at home for today but she assured him that she¡¯ll be fine. Knowing that he won¡¯t win over his mom, he scolded his dad in his mind again before messaging him to inform him about his mother¡¯s state.


    Xiu Mei proved to be an invincible secretary of Lu Corporation. Despite feeling sick, she was still able to do her work with flying colors the entire morning that one wouldn¡¯t believe that she was not feeling well.


    "Ms.Xiu, why don¡¯t you take a rest? You look like you¡¯re going to fall over any moment now." Her assistant looked over to her worriedly as she supported her body when she stood up from her seat.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine."


    But as soon as she took a step forward, she immediately lost her bnce and almost dropped on the floor if it weren¡¯t for her assistant.


    "Ms. Xiu, please just go home for today! I really don¡¯t think you can continue working at this state."


    She assisted her back to her seat.


    "I¡¯ll be¡ªhchkkkk!!" Xiu Mei felt her stomach getting queasy as she felt some kind of liquid rising from within her that threatened to escape. She immediately covered her mouth and with a newly found energy, she dashed to the bathroom and vomited.

 Chapter 253 - In the Harbor

    <h4>Chapter 253 - In the Harbor</h4>


    The sound of the sea waves hitting the shores has always been very ther.a.p.eutic. The sound of crying seagulls echoing everywhere, the p of the bird¡¯s wings, the sound of the sh.i.p.s honking from the distance signaling their arrival, and those who are also preparing to depart ashore.


    Small chats could be heard from the workers alighting the sh.i.p.s with boxes in tow. One could even smell the saltiness from the sea if it weren¡¯t for the other stuff hidden behind those boxes.


    Everything here looked like any normal harbor, but Lee In knew better. She mixed among the crowd through disguise, acting as one of the workers. Nothing escaped from her sharp eyes as she subtly roamed her sight around the surroundings.


    Metal Containers and metal crates with unknown packages inside covered half of the entire harbor as they wait to be processed and be transferred to a hidden location.


    Lee In carried another box, closely inspected while alighting it from the ship, and remembered the type of lock and numbers used for the crates. She didn¡¯t need to open it to know what¡¯s inside. The metal container wasn¡¯t enough to suppress the smell oozing out from the inside.


    The box she was carrying most probably contains some rotten meat. On the other tightly locked metal boxes locked with tight pressure, she was guessing that it also contains some kind of organ, maybe human. Or maybe not.


    She silently surveyed the surroundings. Probing what¡¯s inside of all the containers here wasn¡¯t her job. What she was waiting for is if that person they¡¯re currently after will appear here just like the intelligence she received from someone.


    And it seems like the source was right.


    Yu Ming Xi appeared like a king in a procession in the harbor. In tow behind him were his men, whom she already investigated as well. He entered another ship with urgency so Lee In quickened her steps and tossed the box she was holding somewhere, disappeared among the crowd going to the direction of the ship he boarded. In one pull, her entire appearance changed as she followed behind them in the shadows.


    With one hand in her back, she pressed the keys with expertise swiftly sending a message to Ming Xuan.


    "....That wasn¡¯t our deal!" That was Yu Ming Xi¡¯s voice.


    "You ordered me to help her out and now that she¡¯s useless you¡¯re going to make me take the fall?!"


    A muffled unfamiliar voice responded, "Mr. Yu, it seems like you need to refresh your mind. It was you who owes debts and we¡¯re just simply making you pay us in a different way."


    Then what she heard next was the familiar sounds of racking the slide of the gun. She was on high alert in case sudden gunfire ensued.


    "I think you keep forgetting that I¡¯m the prime minister¡¯s brother."


    "I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll owe us a debt if he was already aware of everything you¡¯re doing."


    "..."


    "And it¡¯s Mr.Yu who should be careful. The head despises people who disobey orders the most."


    "But you didn¡¯t tell me that it would be so difficult to kill that woman!"


    "Did we have to brief you for that job? You¡¯re already aware of how scary that organization is and you expect an amateur to waltz in that easily inside and get out as if it was just a walk in the park?"


    "You¡¯re trying to have me killed!"


    "Oh, I assure you Mr.Yu, I¡¯m already giving you a choice in which hands to die. In the Legion¡¯s hands, or in our hands? Which would you prefer?"


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Get the job finished. Or else it would your head rolling in the middle of the city that would be on the headlines tomorrow."


    Lee In didn¡¯t move an inch from her spot especially when she heard the door opened.


    "A rat."


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    At the same time the person¡¯s voice stated that sentence, Lee In heard the sound of the gun slide being racked. Her intuition was sharp enough to realize that they noticed her presence so in a split second, she dropped on her knees while her hand pulled the trigger of the gun pointing it to the direction behind her.


    Multiple sounds of a gunshot echoed within the ship. Lee In easily took down a couple of men shooting at her. A man in a mask stood in the center without budging. He wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid to be hit by the bullet even when he turned around and walked away leisurely as if there was no gunfight happening.


    Lee In¡¯s mind was working fast.


    Her mission was to take in Yu Ming Xi, but it seems like the best person to take in was that man in a mask just now. She immediately weighed her options and instantly decided to shift her target from Yu Ming Xi into that man.


    Seeing the target walk away, she speeded up her movements.


    Three men dead. She unloaded and loaded her gun at an incredible speed and continued killing the men blocking her way. She shot and squeezed past them until she could see the back of the person with a mask. The two men with him immediately noticed her presence and shot her.


    Lee In quickly evaded and using her reflexes, she dodged steadily as she watched that man climb inside the car along with the two men shooting at her.


    Lee In grabbed the other gun at her hip that she often used for long-range and moving objects shots. However, instead of a bullet, she loaded a small tech disguised as a bullet. With her two hands holding two different guns, she fired both of them at the same time. The normal bullet went through the tire of the car, and the customized bullet dented the bullet-proof ss. The car sped away fast.


    She chased after them and jumped onto the motorcycle she hid in the harbor. With one of the tires punctured by her, surely they wouldn¡¯t be able to get away that far.


    And just as she expected, she found the abandoned vehicle in less than a minute. She followed the trace of the disturbed grass, a sign that some people just recently stepped on it. Next to the harbor is a forest, so she was confident that these were made by that masked man and the other people in that car.


    With her alertness on high, she immediately sensed and heard the sound of gunshot not far from her side. The bullet only caught her hair as she cleanly shot the two men who stood far from her left and right in their c.h.e.s.t and head without bothering to look at them. She dove deep into the forest, but in the short time she exchanged gunfire with the two men, it seems like the man with the mask vanished like a ghost.


    Lee In gave up chasing after that man and returned to the abandoned vehicle. After sending a short message to Ming Xuan about her current location, she started rummaging around the car. Five minutes in, she sensed something weird.


    There was a faint sounding from somewhere in the vehicle. Her movements paused as she listened to the sound closely, realizing that the sound was getting faster the more she listened to it. Lee In was quick to recognize that sound, so she jumped out of the vehicle, dug out the custom bullet that dented the ss at the back of the car. She didn¡¯t think twice and as soon as she jumped a few inches away from the car, the sound stopped and the entire vehicle exploded in an instant.


    Lee In was caught in the impact as her entire body was thrown back to the air until she hit the trunk of a tree.


    "Shit..." Lee In g.r.o.a.n.e.d in pain as she shifted her body slightly. Her whole body ached from the impact, and several wounds appeared on her body.


    She felt pain, but this level of pain wasn¡¯t that painful enough at all in her own standard. She managed to stand up with slight difficulty, as she walked back to where she left her motorcycle. Ignoring the physical pain, she drove back to the harbor, and there she saw a couple of her colleagues hoisting out Yu Ming Xi and his men out of the ship.


    Ming Xuan immediately noticed her and walked over to her.


    "Had fun?" That was what he said despite seeing her current appearance. Lee In was quite used to his antics as she passed the squashed customized bullet to him.


    "Barely. I can¡¯t stand the smell here anymore. Anyways, here¡¯s a surprise present I guess."


    After passing that, she walked past him leaving the rest to his hands. Ming Xuan didn¡¯t dy anymore and went back to the headquarters and started analyzing what was recorded in the customised recorder bullet that Lee In gave to him.

 Chapter 254 - 2% Chance?

    <h4>Chapter 254 - 2% Chance?</h4>


    The small tech disguised as a bullet was created by someone within the Legion for their intelligence-gathering purposes. It was designed to record sound as soon as it was activated by shooting it using a gun.


    Ming Xuan immediately sent it to theirboratory to have it analyzed and converted into an mp3 file. In less than half an hour, Ming Xuan immediately received the file and in that less than a minute recording, they were able to find a very important discovery.


    Lu Shao who received the report was also started when he read the report. The Boss and the Boss¡¯ brother-inw were still in a closed-door meeting so he could only dy in rying this information to Lu Chen.


    It was already past lunch when the two finished their meeting. As soon as the two of them boarded the car, Lu Shao immediately ryed Ming Xuan¡¯s findings to Lu Chen.


    "Since when did the Sy n bow to other people?" Lu Shao almost spat out as his eyes revealed a dangerous glint.


    The Sy n is an organization almost on par with The Legion, andpared to his means, theirs are more cruel and violent, and they are the ones bold enough to provoke their patience every time.


    The two organizations often shed, and with Lu Chen keeping everything under control in the underworld, it couldn¡¯t be avoided that he also has to do his job in keeping them in check considering how they are starting to be more and more impudent these days.


    What he didn¡¯t expect was that the Sy n would work with Albert this time. He hadn¡¯t gotten deeper on how much influence does Albert really has, but if he is working with the second leading organization in the underworld, then his influence shouldn¡¯t be easily underestimated.


    The Sy n doesn¡¯t work with people that easily no matter how much money you pay them. After all, they make a lot of money with their business in the ck market.


    So when Lu Chen heard this news, he realized that the more they dig deeper into the case, the more it getsplicated.


    Albert Chen¡¯s reach stretched into so many ces that he was getting seriously concerned with how far he had already actually reached.


    "Go to the headquarters." Lu Chenmanded Lu Shao who was driving the vehicle at the moment.


    Lu Shao replied affirmatively while ncing at the time shing on the led screen inside the car.


    It seems like it¡¯s going to be a long day and an all-nighter ahead.


    And so, Lu Chen along with the acting head of the legion delegated the tasks that he worked on with Xiu Min and had a separate meeting with the people he assigned long before to monitor the Sy n¡¯s movements.


    Just like how he works in the Lu Corporation, Lu Chen didn¡¯t notice that so much time had already passed before he realized that a day already had passed and that hepletely forgot to message his wife yesterday regarding his affairs.


    "Boss, at this rate you¡¯re going, I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ll be back to your single status by next year." Si Tu Yi said offhandedly on the side. Ming Xuan immediately kicked his ankles as a warning to shut him up.


    There are some things in the world that may be true but should be left unsaid ah! Is he asking to be abused by the big boss?


    At least say that when they¡¯re not around. He doubts the big boss will let them off easily if he gets provoked.


    Lu Chen who was just about to send a message to his wife froze.


    ... Xiu Mei wouldn¡¯t throw a divorce letter when he gets home, right?


    He, who was fully unaware of what was currently unfolding on Xiu Mei¡¯s side, was on the verge of running back home after thinking about that possibility.


    The wife he chased patiently for many months... how could he bear to let her go ah?


    So the big boss who missed sleep for one night decisively dropped his work in the headquarters and ran back to his wife¡¯s arms. Along the way, he was already thinking about how to exin the circ.u.mstances to her and knowing his wife very well, if she¡¯s not angry at him, then she will definitely ignore him at most.


    Both don¡¯t make him feel good so he had a stopover at a flower shop to buy his wife some flowers and bought her her favorite dessert as an attempt to appease her just in case she was really angry.


    She wasn¡¯t stupid. She was a woman who is well-versed in the topics of s.e.x, and what happens after if one is careless with doing the deed.


    ....Fudge, is she pregnant?!


    Xiu Mei was almost pulling her hair out at the thought. Her hand flew to her stomach, and without thinking twice, she pulled up her clothes revealing her n.a.k.e.d stomach. She shifted and stood sideways while watching her reflection in the mirror to see if her stomach changed in appearance.... Like maybe if it grew bigger?


    She lightly pinched her stomach and observed that nothing really changed. She didn¡¯t even get fat despitezing around like a neet at home for quite some time.


    Maybe she was just thinking too much?


    Wait, when did she have her first time with Lu Chen again?


    Xiu Mei calcted the days in her head and tried to exclude the possibility of pregnancy by counting the weeks in which morning sickness usually appears during pregnancy.


    Her period... she definitely had itst month. Just... it was lighter than usual but she thought it was just stress so she didn¡¯t get too bothered by it.


    But what if...?


    Nah, she was probably being too paranoid. She and Lu Chen has always been very careful every time, and the only time he forgot to wear a c.o.n.d.o.m was during their first time which waspletely understandable since it happened too abruptly.


    The c.o.n.d.o.ms did say that there¡¯s still a 2% chance of getting pregnant even when wearing one so... it would be too impossible that they belong on that 2% ah?


    Before she could continue thinking about that 2% possibility, she suddenly heard a knock.


    "Ms.Xiu, are you alright there? I¡¯ve already called up thepany nurse." Her assistant¡¯s worried voice sounded behind the door.


    Xiu Mei finally realized that she stayed too long in the restroom already and quickly fixed her attire. She opened the door and acted fine in front of her assistant.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a bit of a fever and probably I ate something bad at breakfast so..." Before she could finish her sentence, her assistant immediately held her arm and pulled her over to her seat. Thepany nurse was already beside her table so she immediately started to check her up.


    "Oh my god! 39 degrees?!" Her assistant almost screamed when she saw the number that shed on the thermal scanner. Thepany nurse left her some generic medicine for fever before leaving their floor.


    She was just about to drink the medicine when her assistant immediately stopped her. She fearlessly nagged her to take it after eating, then after she ate she reminded her to take it. And then when she was just about to resume working, she told her to rest for another hour.


    "But I already took a break when I ate my lunch."


    "Ms.Xiu, you¡¯re sick and resting is a must right now. I know you want to work but still, why don¡¯t you take a rest for another hour just in case?"


    "I¡¯ll be fine."


    "The President will surely not be happy if he finds out you pushed yourself too much again."


    "But I¡¯m his secretary ah. So it¡¯s reasonable that I work hard especially at times like this. We have too much on our te, and it¡¯s not like we can assign to other departments as well."


    "I¡¯ve already informed Secretary Lu to hurry back ah."


    "...WHAT?!"


    Xiu Mei almost jumped from her seat.


    She already informed Lu Shao about her situation?!


    Then... then... Lu Chen already knew that she¡¯s sick?!


    She gasped as she recalled how strict Lu Chen was during the first week she returned to work. Now that he knows that she got sick because of overworking... oh my god. She could already imagine how he¡¯s going to take away a lot of her work just to force her to rest.


    ...If worstes to worst, should she push the fault to him ah?


    Well, the reason she overworked too much yesterday was because he wasn¡¯t around ah in the first ce ah....

 Chapter 255 - Chef Lu

    <h4>Chapter 255 - Chef Lu</h4>


    Under her assistant¡¯s insistence, Xiu Mei was forced to rest for another hour. She felt bored then eventually fell asleep while waiting for an hour to pass by.


    After snoozing for a little bit, Xiu Mei noticed that she did indeed feel better than before. Even the fever medicine she took seemed to be working good as well since her forehead doesn¡¯t feel as hot as before.


    Xiu Mei was more convinced.


    Mhm. So it was really just because she pushed herself too hard andck of rest ah. That¡¯s why she was so under the weather this morning.


    So with a lighter heart and body, Xiu Mei jumped back to her work and the pregnancy scare was quickly forgotten as if she never thought of it before.


    The stock trade suspension didn¡¯tst very long yesterday, so Xiu Mei was quite busy checking on the impact it caused on their side. She was also wary if there were any hiddenplications left by this incident.


    She was in the middle of replying to an email when Lu Shao suddenly appeared. Her body tensed as she felt a sweat form on her back.


    Is the President with him?!


    She tried to act calm and collected, contrary to the panic she was having in her heart. At the corner of her eye, she sneakily took a peek to see if Lu Chen was with him.


    It was only after seeing that Lu Shao was alone in the elevator that she breathed out a sigh of relief. She nced at her assistant and quickly realized that she must¡¯ve lied to her when she said that she told Lu Shao about her being sick.


    Because if she really had told Lu Shao about it, then there¡¯s no way Lu Chen wouldn¡¯te to the office right now. He would¡¯ve surely be dragging her home at the moment instead of working.


    "How was your business trip?" She joked as soon as Lu Shao walked over to his table.


    "It went well." Lu Shao replied. "I thought you two might drown from all the work because of the incident yesterday so I was nning to be the knight and shining armor for thedies today."


    The two womenughed at his remark and acted magnanimously.


    "Then who are we to decline your enticing offer?" Her assistant then stood up, grabbed the stack of folders from Xiu Mei¡¯s table, and fearlessly transferred the work to Lu Shao¡¯s table.


    "Our wee back gift, specially dedicated to ourpassionate knight whom we have missed the presence so much especially yesterday."


    The three people burst intoughter at their ridiculous y.


    With the addition of Lu Shao, their work visibly got lighter. The two women didn¡¯t have to pull another overtime, and Xiu Mei now had someone to split her work with during the meeting.


    "What about the president?" Xiu Mei asked in passing to Lu Shao while they were waiting for the elevator.


    Lu Shao immediately answered her, "the President went home directly."


    "?"


    She looked at Lu Shao puzzledly. Howe Lu Chen was at home?


    She initially thought that the reason why he wasn¡¯t able toe today was that he was probably working on his other job. Like probably in their headquarters or something?


    But to think that he went straight home... ah. Maybe he was catching up on his sleep, she guessed.


    She was familiar with Lu Chen¡¯s working habits and knew that he usually pulled all-nighters for a few days and went on some business trips without sleep.


    Should she cook something for him for dinner?


    While Xiu Mei pondered about the dinner menu for tonight, Lu Chen was preparing for his apology and romantic dinner for his wife.


    He stood in the kitchen, wearing an apron with a knife in his other hand. He was chopping up the mushrooms at the moment.


    The main chef, other helpers, and the butler stood at the side with frightened expressions. They rarely saw their master cook, and madame was always at the master¡¯s side whenever they prepare the food. They had actually never seen the master cook directly, just merely doing the simple preparations like cutting the food and other ingredients.


    As soon as Lu Chen finished chopping up the mushroom, he stared at the bowl of shrimp that is still to be deshelled. He frowned, thinking how he was supposed to clean it.


    The audience at the side let out a sigh of relief.


    Phew... it seems like they had nothing to worry about. And so, they stopped prying on their master¡¯s cooking and spread out to do their job. Since the master told the chef that he can get off early today, he immediatelyplied and returned to his quarters.


    "Ah, I should have cooked the pasta first." Lu Chen murmured under his breath as he picked up a pot, filled it with water, poured a pinch of salt, and waited to let it boil.


    Lu Chen stayed in the kitchen for almost two hours cooking creamy shrimp pasta. He did his best to do the ting beautifully and brought it outside where he had someone put a small table and two chairs.


    The two pets staying outside smell the scent of food and excitedly ran towards Lu Chen. But before they could jump onto the table to sniff the food out, Lu Chen quickly caught the lion and tiger and stopped them from destroying his work.


    The two animals whimpered,ining at the unfair treatment.


    "No." Lu Chen said sternly. He signaled the two to return to their own pet house and so, the two could only stare at the food longingly and walked back to their own space with lowered heads.


    Lu Chen finished his preparation for his wife. So he finally moved to the next step which is ordering another set of food.


    Of course, it¡¯s not for him and Xiu Mei. It was for Lu Qiang.


    Lu Chen sneered. He still hasn¡¯t forgotten how he made some trouble with hisptop before, so the kid would have to eat dinner alone today while he kidnaps his mother for a romantic dinner tonight.


    Lu Qiang arrived home early that day. Lu Chen and Xiu Mei had to give up in personally picking him up from school since they would often get off toote and they didn¡¯t want him to wait for them so long in school.


    Lu Qiang immediately saw his father¡¯s shoes on the cab.


    "Did father and mother get home early?" Lu Qiang asked the butler.


    "No, Young Master. It¡¯s only the Master who came home. The Madame is still at work." The butler politely answered.


    Lu Qiang hummed in reply and shrugged. Since it was just his father... then he doesn¡¯t care so much. Lu Qiang was originally not close with his father in the first ce even before he married his mother so he doesn¡¯t usually get that excited when hees home. It¡¯s a different story though every time he brings him to the private resort for training.


    He was about to go back to his room to change when he saw his father in the garden. He saw him doing something on the table, but since he wasn¡¯t tall enough to see what he was doing. Curious, he walked closer while tiptoeing and took a peek.


    "You need more practice." Lu Chen suddenly spoke in a serious tone.


    Lu Qiang tensed for a second before rxing.


    "I¡¯ll work on it." He admitted. His father was criticizing him when he tried to secretly peek behind him yet he was caught and he clearly revealed his presence.


    His father¡¯s subordinate had been training him with this kind of technique, but since he wasn¡¯t fully good at physical training yet, he failed to hide his presence when he tried to sneak on his father.


    Since he was already found out, he confidently walked over to where his father was and finally saw the food on the table.


    He saw the two tes of pasta on the table and a bottle of wine but as soon as he saw it, a different concern came to his mind.


    "Dad, you cooked that?"


    "Mhm."


    "...."


    Lu Qiang remembered her mother¡¯s weird expression before when they stayed over at his mother¡¯s old home. It was an expression that clearly showed that his father failed the egg that morning.


    "Did you taste it?"


    What he really wanted to ask was, are you trying to poison mom with our food?


    But thinking about their rtionship, he was still polite and rephrased his question.


    Thinking about it.... Hepletely forgot to taste it ah.


    Lu Chen:...


    Lu Qiang:...


    "I¡¯m home~"


    The filial son turned to look behind him in horror.


    Oh my god, his mother¡¯s home!!


    And his father hasn¡¯t tasted the food yet!!!

 Chapter 256 - Dinner Surprise

    <h4>Chapter 256 - Dinner Surprise</h4>


    "I¡¯m home~" Xiu Mei greeted as soon as she got home. It wasn¡¯t actually her habit to do that but somehow, she just felt like doing it today.


    Unfortunately, though, she couldn¡¯t see the shadow of her son and her husband at all. She roamed her sight around the room and only saw the helpers.


    Where were they? Did they go out?


    But their shoes are here ah.


    Xiu Mei was on her way upstairs to change her clothes when she suddenly saw something strange outside.


    She was halfway upstairs when she saw the backs of the two people she was looking for a second ago.


    So they were outside all this time?


    She walked over to the window to see what the father and son were doing but since their position is a bit hidden from where she¡¯s looking from, she couldn¡¯t see Lu Chen¡¯s romantic dinner preparation.


    Her footsteps paused when she suddenly saw Lu Qiang appear in front of her.


    "Wee home, mommy!" Lu Qiang happily greeted her as he immediately jumped into her arms.


    "I¡¯m home, baby." She hugged her son and kissed him on the cheek as usual.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t seem to notice anything strange as she cuddled with her son. Unbeknownst to her, Lu Qiang was sent by Lu Chen to temporarily stop his mother from finding out his surprise yet. Behind them, Lu Chen stealthily sneaked upstairs and changed into a better attire. He was nimble and was immediately back downstairs again.


    Lu Qiang was immediately relieved of his position as Lu Chen¡¯s temporary assistant. Even though he often fights with his father, just remembering how pale and stressed her mother was this morning, he was very generous and let his father spend more time with her.


    Isn¡¯t he a very filial son ah?


    "Mom, can you close your eyes for a bit?"


    "Hm?"


    Xiu Mei was puzzled by her son¡¯s weird request, but she still listened to him anyway and closed her eyes. Lu Qiang¡¯s small hand held his mother¡¯s, and carefully pulled her to the garden.


    "Where are we going?" Xiu Mei was very curious about what they were suddenly doing. Was this some kind of new game he was ying?


    "Don¡¯t open your eyes mom. Not yet." Lu Qiang repeated. He slowly walked to make sure that her mother won¡¯t bump into or something or trip. He opened the door to the garden and pulled her to where his father set the table.


    After finishing his final job, Lu Qiang released his mother¡¯s hand and ran back to the house.


    "Baby?" Xiu Mei was stunned when she sensed that her son let go of her hand. She was about to open her eyes when she sensed another presence in front of her.


    She didn¡¯t feel scared, because she knew she was within the safety of her home, and she smelled the familiar scent that she always liked to hug every night.


    "Chenchen?" She uttered softly. She heard a light chuckle then felt something warm on her forehead.


    After pressing a kiss on her forehead, she heard him whisper softly.


    "Open your eyes."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyshes quivered, then she slowly opened her eyes. It was already a bit dark, and only the garden lights were lit up. But strangely, it had some kind of filter effect when she saw Lu Chen holding a bouquet of camellia.


    The garden lights served as some kind of backdrop that made the atmosphere different.


    Xiu Mei was taken aback when she saw her husband surprising her like this. He was smiling at her so gently, looking at her as if she was the only one in his eyes in this world. She didn¡¯t miss the twinkle and gentleness in his eyes as he stared only at her.


    Even though he was only holding her by her shoulders, it was as if she was being embraced by him through his gaze. She felt her heart race and the butterflies in her stomach.


    "For you, my one and only Mrs.Lu." Lu Chen sweetly uttered as he gave the flowers to her. Xiu Mei dly epted it, hugged the bouquet, and raised her head to look at her husband again.


    His smile reflected hers as the two looked at each other¡¯s eyes.


    "What¡¯s this so suddenly?"


    Xiu Mei was honesty touched by Lu Chen¡¯s surprise. But she also fell into a slight panic because she thought that today was something special for Lu Chen to suddenly prepare like this. It wasn¡¯t her birthday nor his. Their anniversary isn¡¯t until next year, and it¡¯s not even a national holiday of some sort.


    Lu Chen stroked her hair and answered her truthfully, "I wanted to apologize for not doing a great job as your husband."


    "Huh?"


    "I didn¡¯t contact you at all since yesterday. That was my failure. I¡¯m sorry, my wife."


    Lu Chen c.a.r.e.s.sed her cheeks while he continued to apologize.


    "Forgive me?"


    Xiu Mei blinked in confusion.


    ...did he probably think that she was angry?


    But she wasn¡¯t ah.


    ....well, okay maybe a little bit.


    But she knew that his other work is moreplicated than being a president of a bigpany so she only sulked for a little but got over it quickly. She was very understanding and forgiving when ites to that kind of thing since she has a lot of rtives from her mother¡¯s side that she rarely gets to meet because they all have their own missions in the military that forces them to be away for months or years.


    She only sulked a little bit though because Lu Chen didn¡¯t give her a heads up that he won¡¯t return at all yesterday. She only knew that he would go meet someone in the military but she wasn¡¯t sure about the specifics.


    Anyways, she¡¯s straying from the topic again.


    "I¡¯m not angry."


    Xiu Mei covered Lu Chen¡¯s hand that was cupping her cheeks with hers and leaned on itfortably.


    She wasn¡¯t really angry. Rather, she was more worried because she knew that Lu Chen was pushing himself more and getting himself in even more danger than he already is because of her family situation.


    Now that she knew that everything that was happening was because it¡¯s a grudge against her family, she felt guilty getting Lu Chen entangled with her problems. Ever since they got together, it was as if everything took a turn for the worst with all kinds of problems suddenly popping out of nowhere.


    She¡¯s the one who was supposed to be sorry ah. Not him.


    Lu Chen looked at his wife closely to see if she was really not angry with him. Realizing that his wife wasn¡¯t really angry, he let out a sigh of relief.


    He cupped her face again with both his hands and lowered his head.


    Xiu Mei knew what he was nning to do the moment Lu Chen¡¯s face magnified in front of her. She closed her eyes and epted his kiss. It was a different kiss than usual.


    He kissed her light and slow. He didn¡¯t pull her into a deep kiss, but he was more careful and attentive this time. This kiss of his made her feel warm and sweet which she enjoyed very much.


    The two didn¡¯t kiss that long and Lu Chen immediately showed her the romantic dinner he carefully prepared.


    He held her hand while they walked to the table, then like a gentleman, pulled her chair and helped her sit on the chair. He took the bouquet from her hands and ced it on a different table before sitting across her.


    Xiu Mei was pretty amazed at the setup. There was even a couple of candles on the side that somehow made it more romantic and another stem of camellia in the middle.


    "Let¡¯s eat." Lu Chen said.


    Xiu Mei was already slightly hungry so she immediately picked up the fork and twirled it on the pasta. After putting it on her mouth, she hasn¡¯t chewed the pasta yet when she tasted the slight saltiness on her tastebuds.


    She stiffened at first with the strange vor but she didn¡¯t stop and chewed it carefully.


    Xiu Mei: Mhm.... the pasta was a bit overcooked but I guess that¡¯s better than eating it uncooked.


    Xiu Mei: The sauce tastes a bit salty and the cream tastes a little burnt...


    Xiu Mei whose hobby is cooking subconsciously evaluated the food she was eating. But she made sure not to voice out her thoughts as she continued eating it happily.


    The instant she tasted it, she immediately knew who cooked this. It was the fruit of thebor of her husband, of course, it was definitely yummy.


    And unlike how she easily revealed her thoughts back when she ate his egg with shells in it, she shed a big smile as she happily ate it as if it¡¯s the most delicious thing in the world.


    Lu Chen watched his wife enjoy the food he made and instantly felt happy.


    "Did you like it?"


    "I love it!" She wasn¡¯t lying.


    Loving the food doesn¡¯t mean it always has to taste good. And ignoring the technicalities aside, she definitely finds this pasta delicious.


    "You¡¯ll have to cook this more often for me, mm?"

 Chapter 257 - Nausea

    <h4>Chapter 257 - Nausea</h4>


    After sending his mother to his father¡¯s arm, Lu Qiang obediently stayed inside without peeking or getting curious as to what¡¯s happening outside. First and foremost, he wasn¡¯t interested in watching his parents¡¯ public disy of affection, and second, he¡¯s not a dog to suddenly be fed with dog food.


    So like the obedient son that he is, Lu Qiang stayed put inside. He sat alone at the dining table and without caring whatever the food on the table was, he started eating his dinner. He randomly picked up a vegetable and as soon as he chewed it, he immediately recognized the familiar taste.


    His brows furrowed as he stared at the foods in front of him with incredulity.


    "Was this from XXX restaurant?"


    "Yes, Young Master. The Master said that he ordered it for you." The butler calmly exined.


    "..."


    What father!!!


    He didn¡¯t even save a share for him.


    Lu Qiang started sulking but he immediately remembered for a second his father¡¯s talent in cooking.


    ....wait, wasn¡¯t restaurant food better than eating his masterpiece? He doesn¡¯t want to get a stomachache in the middle of the night ah.


    He silently prayed for his mother¡¯s stomach while he quietly enjoyed his own dinner.


    In the garden, the couple was taking their time in eating dinner.


    When Lu Chen first took a bite of the pasta that he made, his first thought was to spit it out.


    Lu Chen:....should have tasted it first before ting.


    But his wife noticed his stiff expression and looked at him with questioning eyes. So the pasta that was about to exit his mouth immediately went down his throat.


    That salty aftertaste in his tongue made him feel apologetic again to his wife. She was eating it so happily as if it was the most delicious pasta in the world,... he didn¡¯t know if he should feel touched by his wife¡¯s thoughtfulness or should he cry because he was letting his wife eat this kind of food.


    "Should we..." He opened his mouth making Xiu Mei look straight at him. His original next sentence was instantly swallowed and rephrased, "...add some more food?"


    Xiu Mei shook her head with a smile on her face.


    "I¡¯m good with just this." She sounded so sincere when she said that so Lu Chen didn¡¯t doubt her words.


    He looked at his food again and continued eating it.


    Well, if his wife could eat it, why can¡¯t he?


    And so, the romantic dinner ended sessfully that night.


    Lu Qiang went to bed early, not intending to disturb their couple time so Lu Chen was able to hog Xiu Mei throughout the whole night forgetting all the work he set aside that day.


    The next day.


    Xiu Mei felt like her entire body was falling apart. She could barely move her fingers with all that night exercise she did with Lu Chen. Stinky hooligan!


    The hooligan in question was currently in the bathroom. Xiu Mei pushed herself up as she tried to get up from the bed, but as soon as she rose, a wave of dizziness immediately attacked her. She fell back weakly as she shut her eyes with her arm over it hoping that when she opens it again, she won¡¯t be as dizzy anymore.


    "Wife, is something wrong?" He was by her side in an instant and touched her forehead to check her temperature.


    Xiu Mei lifted her arm slightly and threw a side re at the hooligan fromst night.


    Wasn¡¯t this his fault that she was like this right now ah?!


    She barely has the energy to scold him at the moment since she was still feeling dizzy and nauseous so she just kept her mouth shut and let her eyes intimidate him.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t see her re when he felt her forehead slightly warmer than normal.


    "I think you have a fever." He uttered.


    He sat up and opened the drawer of their side table. Taking out the medicine box, he grabbed a medicine and then stood up to pour his wife a ss of water.


    "Take this first." He supported her back when he helped her rise from the bed. But before he could bring the pill to her mouth, Xiu Mei felt another wave of nausea and some kind of acid at the back of her mouth. She immediately got off the bed and rushed to the bathroom to vomit it out.


    The sound of her retching in the bathroom scared Lu Chen. He quickly followed his wife to the bathroom and saw her crouching in front of the toilet bowl as she continued to spit out something.


    "I¡¯ll call Tang Li."


    He pulled out his phone and was about to call him when Xiu Mei stopped him.


    "No, I¡¯m fine."


    "How are you fine? You should see yourself in the mirror to see how pale you are right now."


    "I¡¯m really alright. It¡¯s just a mild fever ah, a simple fever medicine would do."


    "But you¡¯re already vomiting like this, how can that be a simple fever?"


    "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not that serious."


    Xiu Mei was just about to say an excuse like she probably ate something bad but she remembered that the dinner she ate was cooked by Lu Chen so she swallowed her words.


    Lu Chen saw her firm expression that she didn¡¯t want him to call their personal doctor and gave in. He helped her up and supported her back to the bed.


    "Then at least take the day off today."


    "I¡¯ll be fine."


    "Xiu Mei." He pressed.


    "I promise, I¡¯m alright. It¡¯s just a mild fever. I¡¯ve even survived going to work sick with something worse than just a mild fever before. I¡¯ll live."


    Lu Chen sighed as he looked at his stubborn wife. With her pleading like this, he felt his head ache.


    He knelt in front of her and cupped her face, "But that¡¯s before. You¡¯re my wife now, my priority is your wellbeing before work, that¡¯s why."


    "I know. But I really can¡¯t skip work today no matter what."


    She thought of the reports that she had to read today from the aftermath of that stock trading suspension. And she¡¯s still not yet done coordinating with the securitymission. She was in a rush in digging deeper how big the effect was because of Albert¡¯s interference---wait.


    Shepletely forgot about him!!


    "Ipletely forgot to say to you ah! Albert emailed me two days ago about his resignation letter."


    Lu Chen raised his eyebrows. What¡¯s he up to now? What kind of enemy writes a formal resignation to his enemy after getting found out?


    "I¡¯ll get Lu Shao to handle it." Lu Chen simply said. "Just rest today."


    "Chenchen!"


    "Wife."


    The two continued staring at each other for a long while until a knock broke their staringpetition.


    "Mom, Dad, aren¡¯t you going to have your breakfast?" Lu Qiang¡¯s small head appeared between the door.


    He looked at his parents who were by the edge of the bed and immediately noticed his mother¡¯s paleness. His eyelids jumped as he rushed over to her side.


    "Mom, you still don¡¯t feel well?" Howe his mother was still pale ah?


    She already looked better yesterday when she came home so he thought she was already fine and she was already with his father. But why does her mother somehow looked worse than yesterday?


    Lu Chen immediately caught on to his son¡¯s words and twisted his neck to look sharply at his wife.


    "You were also sick yesterday?"


    Xiu Mei gulped nervously at the sudden fierce look on her husband. She didn¡¯t dare to nod her head nor lie to him. But she didn¡¯t need to worry, because her lovable son answered it in her stead.


    "Mom looked sick yesterday morning. She looked fine when she came home yesterday so I thought..." Lu Qiang haven¡¯t finished his sentence when Lu Chen firmly decided to call Tang Li this time.


    "Drop by here."


    "Yeah, as soon as possible."


    "Okay."


    Everything happened too fast for Xiu Mei to stop him from calling the doctor. So as soon as Lu Chen finished the call, he didn¡¯t listen to her pleading again this time.


    "You¡¯re not going to work until Tang Li says you¡¯repletely better." His tone says that it¡¯s already final and there¡¯s nothing Xiu Mei could say to change his mind.


    "....Fine."


    She pouted at him and shifted her body to stretch her legs on the bed. She rolled her eyes at him and talked to her son instead.


    "I¡¯m sorry, mom couldn¡¯t prepare your lunch today."


    "I¡¯ll be fine Mom. I want you to get better."


    "Mhm. I can¡¯t kiss or hug you since Mom is sick. I¡¯ll just give you a flying kiss ah!" Then she blew her son a kiss.


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t shy away and also did the same. The two of them was suddenly in their own world leaving out the ice cube isted on the side.


    Lu Chen:.....

 Chapter 258 - Wife is Pregnant!

    <h4>Chapter 258 - Wife is Pregnant!</h4>


    "It¡¯s a slippery pulse." Tang Li said out of the blue while his fingers pressed upon Xiu Mei¡¯s wrist.


    Instantly, the room fell into a silence that only the sound of the humidifier could be heard within.


    Xiu Mei stiffened at Tang Li¡¯s sudden diagnosis, while Lu Chen¡¯s knitted eyebrows loosened as he froze, stupified at the words he heard.


    Xiu Mei was the first to get over her shock as she quickly retracted her hand and held it to her c.h.e.s.t.


    "That¡¯s impossible!" Her brain was malfunctioning from shock and before she could even understand her words, it already escaped from her mouth.


    Tang Li¡¯s eyebrows raised as if he couldn¡¯t understand why she thought it was impossible for her to get pregnant.


    Xiu Mei immediately rephrased her words, "I mean, isn¡¯t that too early to say?"


    She bit on her inner cheek while waiting for the doctor¡¯s response. In her mind, she was stupefied beyond belief.


    Fudge! Did they really belong to that 2% ah!? That 98% effectiveness of using a c.o.n.d.o.m, were they really so unlucky to fall within the 2% possibility of getting pregnant?!


    Xiu Mei was furious as her eyes fell to where they kept those colorful boxes.


    Bad review! One star!!


    She resolutely decided to add that brand to her cklist and switch to a different brand next time.


    Tang Li put a hand on his chin while looking like he was pondering about it too, "Indeed. Your slippery pulse is still light and it was a bit difficult to read. Most probably you¡¯re still in the earliest stage of your pregnancy. I guess that would be around 3 to 4 weeks?"


    Then he turned to the frozen giant ice cube who was still in disbelief, "I don¡¯t have any pregnancy test kit prepared so you¡¯d have to go buy one if you want immediate results. Still, just to make sure, I¡¯d take your blood for testing to confirm if you¡¯re really pregnant."


    Xiu Mei understood his words. "So that means there¡¯s a possibility that I¡¯m not pregnant?"


    "There¡¯s a very small possibility. But based on reading your pulse and your symptoms, I¡¯m more than 80% positive that you¡¯re pregnant."


    "...."


    Fudge.


    As soon as Tang Li finished drawing her blood, he prescribed her some fever medicine that¡¯s rmended to use for pregnant women. Then he added the nutritional supplements and other stuff that they need to be careful with because she¡¯s still in her early stages of pregnancy.


    Even when their doctor already left the room, Lu Chen was still standing like a statue beside her bed. However, Xiu Mei was focused on her stomach instead of worrying about his stunned husband.


    She lowered her head, staring at her stomach in wonder and amazement as she couldn¡¯t believe that there was now a life growing inside her stomach. She carefully and slowly ced her trembling hand on her stomach, scared to put any pressure on it at all.


    Xiu Mei felt marvelous after touching her stomach. She couldn¡¯t find any signs of any life growing in there, and if it weren¡¯t for Tang Li¡¯s diagnosis, she wouldn¡¯t believe that her symptoms were actually pointing towards pregnancy.


    But now that Tang Li said that it¡¯s almost positive that she¡¯s pregnant then....


    While she looked dazed while touching her stomach, a big and warm hand suddenly covered hers. Like her, he gently touched her hand without putting any pressure on it and only lightly stroked her fingers.


    She raised her head and instantly met Lu Chen¡¯s gaze. There was no trace of worry and anger that she saw an hour ago. Instead, it was reced by the small smile on his lips, and his gentle gaze on her as if he was prepared to dote and pamper her for the rest of her life.


    "Scared?" His voice has never sounded so soft and gentle until now.


    "A bit."


    ¡¯A bit¡¯ was actually cutting it too lightly but she didn¡¯t want Lu Chen to put too much pressure on Lu Chen.


    If it were others, they would have surely jumped in joy after learning the fact that they¡¯re pregnant with their lover¡¯s child. However, Xiu Mei felt nervous and worried at first.


    Their current situation is too dangerous, considering that her life had been put in danger multiple times. Before she only has herself to worry about if something happens but now, she has to be even more careful because of the little one she was carrying.


    Being pregnant puts her in even more danger than it already was, so Xiu Mei didn¡¯t have time to celebrate at all. All she wanted to do was to protect this little seedling so their enemies wouldn¡¯t take advantage of her current situation.


    Xiu Mei was confused about what to feel exactly in this situation.


    It wasn¡¯t in her n to get pregnant this early, and now she had another life to protect again.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t need to ask her what she was thinking about because just looking at her face alone, it was already crystal clear for him what her thoughts were at the moment.


    He pulled her into his embrace and buried her head in his c.h.e.s.t while stroking her hair.


    "I¡¯m sorry, I know you¡¯re not prepared for this yet." He whispered in her ears. In an instant, he took all the me so that Xiu Mei wouldn¡¯t me herself for putting herself in this situation while they are in the middle of uncovering something dangerous.


    "It¡¯s not your fault." Xiu Mei retorted. "No one¡¯s at fault at all. And don¡¯t apologize, because it¡¯s making me feel as if we did something wrong by having this child when it¡¯s not."


    Lu Chen chuckled inside while dropping a kiss on his wife¡¯s cheek.


    "Okay. I won¡¯t say anything anymore."


    "Mhm."


    The two parted again while Lu Chen¡¯s hand nowid directly on her stomach.


    His wife¡¯s stomach was so small and t that Lu Chen could hardly believe that he and Xiu Mei were now having their own little one. That in the next few months, there would be another addition in their small family of three.


    "I hope it¡¯s a girl..." Lu Chen randomly mumbled softly but Xiu Mei heard him.


    "You don¡¯t want a boy?"


    Was it because they already have Lu Qiang?


    Lu Chen nodded. "We already have a stinky brat that always steals you away from me. And boys are typically naughty so a daughter would be better."


    Xiu Mei raised her eyebrow. Doesn¡¯t he know that daughters are what they call their father¡¯s little lover?


    "I don¡¯t mind if it¡¯s a daughter or a son. I¡¯m just worried if there¡¯s two of them instead of just one ah."


    Lu Chen looked at her with a puzzled expression.


    "My older brothers are twins. So you know, there might be a possibility that you¡¯ll have to feed two more mouths instead of just one."


    Finally understanding it, the two of themughed.


    "Well, my wife. You won¡¯t have to worry about that because we have enough money to feed an entire basketball team, pay for college, and even betrothal gifts ah."


    "...."


    Who¡¯s going to have that many children with you ah? Does he think it¡¯s that easy to carry and give birth ah?


    Xiu Mei wanted to smack his head.


    "Oh, let¡¯s keep it first from the kid."


    "Hm? From little Qiang? Why?"


    Xiu Mei was pretty sure that Lu Qiang would definitely be delighted to know that he¡¯s going to have siblings. After all, he once told her that he wanted to have a little sibling before.


    Is he probably worried that Lu Qiang would sulk and be jealous?


    After all, Lu Qiang knows that Lu Chen is actually his biological uncle and not his father. So was he worried that the child was going to think that now the two of them are going to have their own biological children, he¡¯s worried that Lu Qiang might feel sad and jealous?


    But Xiu Mei proved to be overthinking Lu Chen¡¯s intentions when she heard his answer.


    "Just to get back at him for messing up with me the other night when he tried to hack myptop."


    "..."


    Childish.


    "Anyways, don¡¯t tell him yet. Let him be surprised and discover it on his own."


    "Chenchen, are you seriously being mean to your son?" Her voice slightly raised this time.


    Gosh, what kind of father he is ah. Is he seriously asking her to keep him from knowing something this important because of some childish revenge?


    Lu Chen immediately sensed his wife¡¯s mood immediately removed his hand on her stomach and quickly tried to run away.


    "I¡¯ll go buy the pregnancy test now." He pecked her on the lips then he reminded her again.


    "Don¡¯t tell him for me, okay? Just this once."


    He was hell-bent on messing with Lu Qiang that hepletely forgot who assisted himst night during his romantic dinner surprise.


    Then he was gone.


    "....."


    Tsk, fine.

 Chapter 259 - Smiling President Lu

    <h4>Chapter 259 - Smiling President Lu</h4>


    Of course, no matter how much Lu Chen desperately wants to stay beside his wife from now on, he was still kicked out by Xiu Mei forcing him to attend work today. It was a deal in exchange that she would properly rest at home withoutint if he goes to work today.


    Lu Chen informed the butler about the current situation, along with calling back Lee In to be her bodyguard again even at home. Since he still wasn¡¯t assured whether one of Albert¡¯s men was able to slip without their knowledge.


    Because of her mild fever, Xiu Mei had no choice but to rest on her bed today. Before fully investing herself into resting, she quicklypiled all the work she was supposed to do today and sent it over to her assistant and Lu Shao. She had even forwarded the resignation letter email to Lu Shao, which she somehow felt strange considering that they should be firing him instead of letting him resign on her own.


    Anyways, it¡¯s a weird picture overall and she couldn¡¯t exactly pinpoint which of the two was stranger given the circ.u.mstances.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t stay long in front of herputer, worried that the radiation will affect the fetus in her stomach.


    She picked up the pregnancy test box that was delivered to her by the butler, which she received with a flushed face in embarrassment.


    Skimming through the instructions, she went to the bathroom and found herself staying there longer than she intended.


    Almost an hourter, Xiu Mei stood in front of the sink. The pregnancy stick in one hand while staring at it in a trance.


    Xiu Mei staring wide-eyed at the two lines on the stick: ....


    Now only her blood result was left before she could finally register it in her hand that now, she¡¯s already on her journey to nine months of hell. After making sure that she wasn¡¯t hallucinating, she let out a deep breath while looking at her reflection in the mirror.


    She pulled up her shirt and stared at her t stomach. In less than a few monthster, this t stomach would be no more. And the cramps, cravings, and mood swings will peak. Aaaahhhh!


    If awhile ago she was still in the state of disbelief, then right now she was in the state of panic as reality finally dawned upon her.


    Getting pregnant is no joke, and thebor pain and giving birth are the things she never imagined that she would face so soon at this age. Heck, she wasn¡¯t even sure if she was already doing a proper job in being Lu Qiang¡¯s mother yet now she has another child to take care of and worry about?!


    While Xiu Mei was having a mental breakdown in the bathroom, the department directors of Lu Corporation are currently experiencing a weird phenomenon during their meeting with their mighty president sh emperor Lu.


    "And the sales went down by 1.67%...." The person in front spoke in a low voice as he cautiously continued the status report that was supposed to be presented to Xiu Mei instead of the President.


    It was during this kind of times that they thought they were lucky to present to the Secretary instead of the cold President but what terrible luck to have when the person who entered the conference room wasn¡¯t their strict yet kind Secretary Xiu but the cold and sharp mouthed President Lu.


    They were crying in their hearts. They were also cursing the person behind the stock trading suspension incident. Because of that person, their workload increased and now they have to present it to the fire-breathing dragon in front of them.


    An hour into the meeting, all the directors have relieved expression at the same time, they were all puzzled with the strange peace within the room. Though the President is actually a very reasonable person that wouldn¡¯t punish someone just because he didn¡¯t like their performance, the president was always cold and would rarely open his mouth either to praise or criticize someone.


    They were all used to this kind of setup for so many years that it was so strange seeing President Lu with his lips slightly curled up and he didn¡¯t frown even after listening to the negative impact brought by the stock trading suspension days ago.


    It wasn¡¯t their fault so it was a valid reason that the President wasn¡¯t angry at them, but he was smiling so strangely that they were scared that he was going to say something ominous by the end of the meeting but surprisingly, he didn¡¯t.


    After spending almost 2 hours listening to all their reports, he casually voiced out hisments and instructions before walking out in a seemingly very good mood.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant who attended on behalf of Secretary Xiu was stopped by the Directors.


    "What¡¯s wrong with the President ah?" the Finance Director asked with a strange look on his face.


    Of course, Secretary Xiu¡¯s assistant didn¡¯t have a clue at all. "Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening with the President as well ah. He camete in the morning already like that."


    PR Director: "I don¡¯t know if I should feel relieved that we avoided the eye of the storm but I¡¯m having goosebumps right now."


    Operations Director: "Same here. I almost thought that it was some kind of evil grin as if he was about to throw another project at us but he didn¡¯t say anything at all ah. Rather, was it probably a smile that means we would have a bonus this month?"


    Finance Director: "A bonus for what? For not messing up the report awhile ago?"


    And so, the mystery as to why the President was in a good mood appeared in thepany forum with all the employeesmenting their guesses as to why the President was like that.


    At the President¡¯s office, Lu Chen called over Lu Shao.


    "Purchase the best brands of this stuff on this list. Keep it discreet and don¡¯t let anyone know." Lu Chen simply ordered handing over a piece of paper.


    Lu Shao quickly skimmed on the list but was instantly stupefied on the spot.


    Radiation Shield for Desktop


    Prenatal Vitamins


    Clothes with Radiation protection


    Lu Shao wasn¡¯t stupid. This.... Are things that a pregnant person would need.


    His mind malfunction for a second before he quickly caught understood something.


    This list came from the President.


    Secretary Xiu is currently on sick leave.


    The President is in a good mood even after the meeting.


    .....fudge.


    It took almost all Lu Shao¡¯s self-control to suppress his excitement.


    Oh my god! Secretary Xiu is pregnant!!!


    This was such a piece of big news!!!


    Who would have thought that it was because Secretary Xiu is pregnant ah!!!


    He¡¯s pretty sure that everyone¡¯s jaws will drop in shock if they learned about this.


    "I understand." After carefully folding and cing the list on his b.r.e.a.s.t pocket, he left the president¡¯s office almost skipping from excitement. He immediately controlled his expression so that Xiu Mei¡¯s assistant won¡¯t notice anything strange at all.


    Since the President instructed him regarding this, then it must mean that no one can¡¯t know about the situation yet. And since the boss was ordering him to purchase all this stuff, Secretary Xiu doesn¡¯t intend to stoping to work anytime soon.


    While Lu Shao was now updating his timetable for the nth time again, Xiu Mei was on a call with her parents and brothers.


    "Come again?" Xiu Mo Ruo blurted out, his voice raised.


    Xiu Mei cleared her throat again and repeated, "I said I might be pregnant."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    The other three Xiu¡¯s was silent for a whole three seconds.


    It was almost like they were screaming crazily on the other end of the line on the fourth second.


    Xiu Min: "I¡¯m gonna beat up that bastard! Is he insane?"


    Xiu Mo Ruo: "What the hell! Does he have no sense of cautiousness with the current situation?!"


    Xiu Gu Ren: "I¡¯m going to be a grandfather again. (O_O)"


    Yu Shi Huang: "Another thing to brag again to my friends!"


    Xiu Mei: "...." Can she say that it wasn¡¯t Lu Chen¡¯s fault but rather, their luck was just so terrible that they didn¡¯t even fall into that 98% protection?


    And Mom, did she forget that they shouldn¡¯t publicize it yet until the first three months are over?


    Putting aside their ns of ambushing their brother-inw, her older brother immediately said their congrattions, and her father telling her that he could send their previous maternity nanny on their side so she could take care of her during her pregnancy.


    "My adorable grandson must be so excited to meet his sibling ah." Her mother said in passing that made Xiu Mei fall silent.


    Xiu Mei: ...


    How she wishes that was the case ah. But her son doesn¡¯t even know yet because of her father¡¯s childish revenge.

 Chapter 260 - Meeting of the two organizations

    <h4>Chapter 260 - Meeting of the two organizations</h4>


    That night, Lu Chen received a message from Tang Li. And just as he concluded, even her blood results turned out positive for pregnancy.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s sudden pregnancy was a piece of good news that no one had expected to happen. It was a very much weed surprise, at the same time, it also increased the anxiety of Lu Chen and her family.


    To not alert Albert and their enemies who are constantly targeting Xiu Mei, she chose to continue going to work acting as normal as possible. She even carefully chose her work attire because she usually wears high-heeled shoes at work, she exchanged them into inch-high kitten heels. Lu Chen was against her insistence on wearing shoes with heels but Xiu Mei didn¡¯t want to give her a chance in alerting their enemies about her pregnancy.


    The fact that she changed to wearing kitten heels was already a bit giveaway that she already had something.


    Lee In will be following her in the shadows, along with her usual bodyguards assigned by her second eldest brother. If it were Lu Chen¡¯s choice, he would have assigned more bodyguards to her, however, just like what his wife said, that would indeed alert their enemies and they will eventually discover about his wife¡¯s pregnancy.


    So the very next day, Xiu Mei who already recovered from her mild fever went to work with mixed emotions. That morning, her assistant pulled her to the side and asked her if she was really okay now and even gossiped about the strange event that happened yesterday.


    Xiu Mei nced at the door of Lu Chen¡¯s office with wide eyes while listening to the gossip. Of course, she lied by saying that she didn¡¯t know why he was like that yesterday.


    She was lowkey scolding her husband in her mind.


    My gosh! Lu Chen almost screwed up yesterday. Thank goodness that he only attended the meeting and didn¡¯t meet others ah.


    She immediately shifted their conversations to a different topic. An hourter, she stalked that article and breathed in relief because it seems no one was suspicious about his sudden good mood. At most, all the colleagues assumed that they¡¯ll be receiving some wedding invitations and some wedding candies.


    Yep, the majority of thements assumed that the boss was in a good mood because the two of them are finally going to get married. They were already lucky enough that this topic didn¡¯t make the headlines today ah.


    Xiu Mei was especially careful in working that day. Of course with the help of Lu Shao who purchased a bunch of things that is very helpful for her, she was able to workfortably with less to worry about. Though her work habits did change subconsciously. For example, she would take at least a ten-minute break every hour, and she would always stop when she feels like she was already getting stressed or tired from what she was doing.


    On the other hand, Lu Chen¡¯s mood was theplete opposite of yesterday¡¯s. His hand continuously signing the doc.u.ments before him but his thoughts were not entirely devoted to the work in front of him.


    All he wished was to constantly stay by Xiu Mei¡¯s side from now on, but God was too harsh on him.


    A lot of people think that being a President and CEO is a very great position because they can freely do whatever they want, but Lu Chen thought it was a very ridiculous thought process.


    He can¡¯t even stay all the time to personally protect Xiu Mei during this most s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e time. Because he was bound by his responsibility as the Lu Corporation President and as the Leader of The Legion.


    And so, he could only follow through with his schedule to meet with the head of the Sy n this afternoon.


    After assuring Xiu Mei¡¯s security details are all good, and that his wife wasn¡¯t pushing herself too hard at work, he finally left with a heavy heart.


    Their meeting point was in a restaurant somewhere in the ck market.


    Lu Chen¡¯s aurapletely changed. If before he was simply a stone-cold-faced person, then in the underworld, hepletely revealed his intimidating aura and mercilessness to those who dare to overstep the rules and boundaries he had set.


    He entered a dimly lit room. At the other end of the room was a half table connected to the other side of the wall. The hole was only big enough to pass food on the other side but not enough to see the person on the other side of the wall.


    It might be a strange setup for other people but this was how the organization leaders do their meetings with each other.


    No, it¡¯s not because they don¡¯t know each other¡¯s appearance. They actually know each other¡¯s appearances and even their identities in public.


    This is a setup to avoid any conflict to breakout whilst in the middle of their meeting. Since each person within the room is dangerous and could easily kill each other in a heartbeat, all major organizations created this practice to avoid those needless bloodbaths.


    "It¡¯s been a long time since, Mr.Lu." The Sy n head, Lao Mao said as a greeting in such aidback tone.


    "You know I¡¯m not interested in exchanging pleasantries, Lao Mao." Lu Chen coldly replied. He roamed his gaze on the food on the table.


    Lao Mao didn¡¯t mind Lu Chen¡¯s heartless response andughed it off instead.


    "I hope you like everything I¡¯ve ordered for you."


    Lu Chen only hummed in response.


    All the ingredients used on the food on this table were all illegal and strictly banned for selling by the government. But of course, there¡¯s no such thing as ¡¯illegal¡¯ in the ck market.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t touch the food at all and directly started their discussion, "I have been informed of your recent movements, Lao Mao."


    His voice turned colder as he continued, "It seems like you and your men have too much time in your hands."


    Lao Mao didn¡¯t back down and fearlessly answered the allegations, "How heartless, Mr.Lu. All we did was change our toys ah."


    He was pertaining about the firearms that they smuggled within the country.


    Lu Chen: "I think you¡¯ve gone too senile to forget the surprise you were nning for us."


    Lu Chen: "Firearms that came from the Millers, did you think I¡¯ll simply overlook it? Lao Mao is being too ambitious ah. Daring to think that you could overpower us after partnering with a notorious mafia from the west."


    "You¡¯re using us too much, Mr.Lu. We don¡¯t dare overstep you nor your organization ah." Lao Mao¡¯s tone sounded as if he was wrongly used yet in Lu Chen¡¯s ears, it sounded very sarcastic.


    "Lao Mao." Lu Chen angrily mouthed. "This is a warning. The moment I find evidence of treason, then you should erase your hopes in living as well."


    Lao Mao chucked. "Is Mr.Lu threatening me?"


    His tone and voice still sounded soidback showing that he wasn¡¯t the least intimidated by Lu Chen¡¯s warning. Rather, it was as if he was enjoying their exchange as if it was some kind of aedic conversation that made no sense.


    "Yes." Lu Chen acknowledged. "After all, that¡¯s not all that we found on you."


    Lu Chen slipped the USB through the hole containing the recording in the car that Lee In gathered during the ambush in the harbor.


    Lu Chen: "You¡¯ve been working with another person from the west aside from the Millers. You¡¯ve really worked hard in building and developing your connections for the past year, Lao Mao. I¡¯m actually impressed."


    Lu Chen: "Albert Chen, or so how he goes by that name."


    The other side was silent so Lu Chen continued his words.


    "Aside from Albert Chen, you¡¯remunicating with him through his other representative, Xiu Su Yi. The conversations I heard from that brief recording were really interesting ah."


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyes glinted sharply in the dark as he stared at the wall as if he could drill a hole through the wall by simply ring at it. It was as if he could see the face of the person on the other side as he continued his words.


    "Lao Mao is interested in expanding your organization to the west?"


    "It seems Mr.Lu must be mistaken? How would I dare expand to the west without your permission ah?" Lao Mao responded.


    "Ah, there was even a talk of gold in the conversation. I wonder how much gold did Albert pay you to voluntarily move on his behalf in setting up the Prime Minister¡¯s brother?" Lu Chen ignored his words and continued pressing Lao Mao.


    "Why would we waste our time in offending the Prime Minister¡¯s sibling in exchange for gold? Mr.Lu, you¡¯re usations are rather offending the dignity of the entire Sy n. We never work for others even to you."

 Chapter 261 - Lu Chen, the City Leader

    <h4>Chapter 261 - Lu Chen, the City Leader</h4>


    Even if the two rooms were separated by the wall, almost everyone within the room could sense the drop in temperature and the tension rising between the two n heads.


    Lu Chen ignored the rising tension and continued pressing further on the topic. He casually picked up the tea cup, swirled it in his hand and watched the swirling liquid inside. He smelled it and immediately sensed that there was a poison mixed in the tea.


    He didn¡¯t seem to mind it that much. He was quite used with being ¡¯gifted¡¯ by poisons by his enemies, and the other organizations who are after his authority. Besides, he was already trained to intake quite a number of poisons and eventually got immuned to a lot of them so this much poison in the tea wouldn¡¯t affect him very much.


    Lu Chen drank the tea gracefully and continued, "Lao Mao should know how much I despise rats. It seems like I¡¯ve been too generoustely for you to start coborating with the mafia from the west." He said in a t tone as if he wasn¡¯t saying important but each word from his statement was full of threat that if the Sy n continues to overstep their bounds, then he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to wipe them out in a blink of an eye.


    Lao Mao, of course, wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated. "Mr.Lu is quite fierce today ah. Was it because of the politician¡¯s daughter you are currently seeing?"


    His words made Lu Chen¡¯s action halt for a moment but he quickly acted as if he wasn¡¯t shaken at all.


    "Is that what Lao Mao thinks? However, even if it¡¯s true or not, I don¡¯t like it when people try to touch what¡¯s mine."


    Lu Chen put down the cup in his hand, patted his mouth with his handkerchief and spoke again, "Lao Mao, have you forgotten the consequences of what the previous head of your n did that made his head fly away? It¡¯s truly a sad thing that he wasn¡¯t able to see the sunrise the next day ah."


    Of course, Lu Chen didn¡¯t back down with Lao Mao¡¯s provokation and reminded him of the previous punishment bestowed upon the previous Sy n leader who also dared to cooperate with an assassin organization in the Middle East.


    Back then, the previous Sy n head was too bold with his actions. He worked with them in smuggling firearms all over the world in exchange of assistance in killing the previous Legion leader which was his master.


    Lao Mao, who was still a sessor that time, personally witness how Lu Chen¡¯s master beheaded the Sy n leader after defeating him. After that, the entire Sy n was forced to go under for a year under the suppression of The Legion organization along with the other major organizations.


    But of course, the Sy n¡¯s power was still there so they were able to get back on their feet less than three years after Lao Mao¡¯s session.


    Recalling that memory, Lao Mao¡¯s hand trembled slightly and instead of getting frightened, it became more of a source of anger that motivated his current actions today.


    "That was still during the reign of the previous Legion head. Does Mr.Lu imply that he will do the same as the previous city leader?" Lao Mao spat out venemously.


    "No." Lu Chen refuted, "I¡¯ll do worst than what my Master did."


    He tilted the teapot spilling the remaining poisoned tea on the ground. "I¡¯d rather cut off the root directly than let if fester like an infection. So I¡¯m giving you my first andst warning as my generosity."


    Lu Chen stood up from his seat, the sound of his chair screeching against the floor echoed within the room. He turned his back but he didn¡¯t leave immediately.


    He turned his head slightly, "Return to your senses unless you want to wake up with no one working under you anymore." Lu Chen said coldly with his deep voice. He lowered his eyelids as he look at the narrow hole on the well, gave it a one final look before striding towards the room.


    As soon as Lu Chen¡¯s figure left the room, the sound of things shattering could be heard from the opposite side.


    Lu Chen returned to the headquarters and talked with the Legion representative head, Vin, who usually takes care of his other work when he¡¯s not around.


    "Put the Sy n under close observation from now on. If he tries to make a move again, i give permission to annihte all his men in sight." Lu Chen firmly instructed.


    "What about the opinion of the other organizations? I¡¯m pretty sure they will protest against it once we make a move." Vin voiced out his opinion.


    "Then let them know all the things Lao Mao did and make them choose whose side they will take. Remind them that they signed a deal that they will follow all the rules we enforced for so many years and if they dare to break the contract, I¡¯m afraid they will suffer the consequences of their actions."


    Lu Chen¡¯s decision was final. Even if the other organization leaders are against with his actions, they could only put down their guns and cower in front of him. It was the result of how he suppress all the major organization¡¯s businesses in the underground city and in other ces back then. It was like a one-man show that made most of the mafias and organizations bow down before him.


    Back then, people was belittling his existence since he didn¡¯t have many achievemens when he was entitled as the sessor of the City Leader. During college, his life was constantly targeted. Even during the time when he was still building the Lu Corporation from the ground. But it all paid off because not only was he a genius in business but he was well versed in strategies. He knows all the weak points of his opponent, and he used it to his advantage by shooting them all in their sources of power and money.


    It was a one-sided attack leaving the others to s.u.mb to his authority in no time. That¡¯s why even if Lu Chen wasn¡¯t always around in the Underground City, no one dared to challenge his authority or snatch his position as the main leader. Even the members of the Legion was given proper respect since each member was individually strong and frightening as well.


    After realizing that he wouldn¡¯t be able to change Lu Chen¡¯s decision anymore, Vin sighed in frustration but eventually gave in. He wasining how much work he has to do again and that he needs a raise before he stormed out Lu Chen¡¯s office.


    On the other hand, Albert was just starting to get serious. The strange event during the stock trading a few days ago was caused by him. Not only did it signify the start of his n but he unted that manipting the stocks was a child¡¯s game for him and that he didn¡¯t fear thew at all.


    As he expected, he didn¡¯t receive any response from Xiu Mei at all after that day. He chuckled at this naive chess piece that he used for years against the Xiu family.


    His ns originally kickstarted the day he kidnapped the precious princess of the Xiu family. Of course, choosing her as the chess piece wasn¡¯t his own decision. He was still choosing who to target when Xiu Su Yi came voluntarily to his door saying he wanted revenge for the death of his lover.


    He wasn¡¯t moved by the tragic love story, but Xiu Su Yi was a useful piece since he has wide connectionsing from a family of politicians.


    It was him who suggested to put a crack on the inside first. And Xiu Mei, whose mother hails from a military family and her father who belongs to a literary family mixed in politics, was the perfect choice to target.


    And they were sessful.


    Kidnapping the precious princess did alert quite a number of people, but Xiu Mei¡¯s performancepletely stole the spotlight. She became broken, and the focus became entirely hers the moment she tried tomit suicide.


    Later on, her situation didn¡¯t get any better making them focus all their energy to hers instead. Even though they wanted to find the culprit behind the kidnapping, the precious princess was too broken to cooperate with the investigation thus no further leads was found.


    It was the most perfect time to build his power within the military and the government. And so in just a few years, he seeded in cementing his power in the two vital powers within the country. That was a major feat.


    But then, he who didn¡¯t expect that the precious Xiu princess would get entangled with the most feared person in the underground city. Lu Chen¡¯s involvement made the situation a bitplicated, and since he was interested in ying around a bit more, he sneaked into the Lu Corporation on his own.


    Provoking Xiu Mei from the inside was easy, from the kidnapping in the garage, approaching Ying Wan Wan and acted as her underling but actually using her, and his personal approach to Xiu Mei with the excuse of work and the secret presents he gave her.


    Oh, the joy it brought to him really.


    Now, he was wondering. What about making Xiu Mei his woman?

 Chapter 262 - Mascarante

    <h4>Chapter 262 - Mascarante</h4>


    The final warning that Lu Chen said to Lao Mao was thest mercy he would be bestowing upon the Sy n. The people who are involved in the underground city and the one he¡¯s usually involved in for business in the general public are vastly different people. The so-called ¡¯general public¡¯ was more fearful of thew, and they don¡¯t randomly kill people at the height of their emotions. He guessed he¡¯d rather call it ¡¯civilized¡¯?


    On the contrary, just like how the public perceives those people who are involved in the ck market and underground city, it was filled with violence and all sorts of crimes. Murder, Illegal Trading, Drugs, and many more things would immediately get them in jail.


    It is a ce in which kindness doesn¡¯t exist nor it is for weakhearted people. That¡¯s why he pledged to not bring Xiu Mei here at all.


    His son?


    Of course, he¡¯s not fit to see this ce yet. However, that was why he was training him carefully. He ns to choose him as his sessor, and to be one, that kid must first learn the basics, most especially on how he can defend himself. If you leave yourself open to your enemies, there¡¯s no doubt you would be killed.


    That¡¯s why he would only bring his child once he¡¯s really ready. Besides, this position will further help him in investigating his parents¡¯ death¡ªwhich was Lu Chen¡¯s cousin and cousin-inw.


    This position may be dangerous, but it was also the best protection he could give to him.


    That¡¯s why he couldn¡¯t let other people do what they want to trample his authority and take it for themselves. His master dedicated his entire life to making sure that all these dangerous people wouldn¡¯t go harm the normal citizens by keeping all of them under control through a contract. Of course, it wasn¡¯t easily done, but he was able to do it and decades had already passed so much and the contract is still effective.


    If the Sy n was nning to move to the west, of course, he wouldn¡¯t say no to that. The Sy n migrating would equate to fewer people to worry about. But he knew the true intention of the Sy n especially the previous head and the current head.


    Both of which who have tried to expand their authority, constantly challenging histe Master and now, his authority. The previous head was very ambitious. Too ambitious that he was so blinded by greed, and was caught on the act which made histe Master behead him in front of his vassals. That man sold government intelligence to the enemy country, then got in touch with many high profile mafia organizations while taking part in their massacre of innocent people, and the sudden jump of human trafficking within the country. He was on the verge of gaining strong support from those mafias and almost kicked histe Master from his position if it weren¡¯t for the dissatisfaction by the other organizations as well.


    His actions caused not only serious trouble for the government but also within the illegal trades as well. He was dominating all trades and ie that the other underground organization was more offended than frightened so using their protest to his advantage, Lu Chen¡¯s master did public persecution to remind all the others that their actions simr to thete Sy n head wouldn¡¯t be condoned. It was such a big move considering that the Sy n¡¯s power back then was already on par with the Legion, yet histe Master was able to subdue the Sy n¡¯s protest and killed their highest superior without difficulty.


    And it seems like Lao Mao intends to walk on that same path as well.


    Lu Chen sneered. Was he thinking that because histe Master is gone, he can now achieve what thete Sy n head failed to do?


    Directly ignoring his existence and challenging his authority, it seems like he¡¯s been so softened by his wife that it now affects even his other identity.


    Lu Chen nced at the summary report of the Sy n¡¯s movements for the past five years, included in it were the reports he already received ever since he ordered monitoring them early on for the past two years.


    He tapped his fingers on the table as he pondered about something.


    He was more interested in how the Sy n got involved with Albert. Was it Albert who approached them first or was it the other way around?


    Hmm....


    On the other hand, Xiu Min and Xu Mo Ruo were also having their own separate meeting in regard to their investigation progress.


    "It was so hard to dig that info ah. Whoever was manipting all these men and putting them in their positions, he sure hides like a ghost. That took me a lot of people to find." Xiu Mo Ruo slumped on the sofa and tossed a USB to his twin. Xiu Min caught it easily with his reflexes and inserted it on his own securedptop to analyze the files.


    "You didn¡¯t even group the files, you dimwit." Xiu Min almost cursed seeing the messy files reflected on the screen. He kicked his twin¡¯s ankle in frustration.


    "Don¡¯t you have something like a brief report or something? Are you expecting me to read all of this today?" He grabbed anything within his reach and threw it straight to his head with great precision.


    "Do you think I have that much free time?" Xiu Min added as he continued scolding his useless twin.


    "Did you think I have that much free time either?!" Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s eyes twitched as he refuted, "I could barely visit you when you were in the hospital because of this you know! I was running back and forth between two different countries with a distance of many miles and this is how you treat me!"


    Xiu Min ignored hisints. "Then at least be useful for thest time. I can only read all of these tomorrow since I still have to go somewhere so at least tell me all the most important points I need to remember from here."


    Xiu Mo Ruo was still rubbing his head that was hit by his twin. His brows furrowed as he tried to recall the conversation he had with someone in America who provided him a piece of really vital information in their investigation.


    "The man said that he was there when two Chinese men made the deal. He said he heard from his colleagues that one of the men was connected to an underground organization with great connection in politics."


    "What about the other one?"


    "He didn¡¯t know. His position was low so he didn¡¯t know what kind of bigshot made a deal with the underground organization."


    "Did he say what was the premise of the exchange?"


    "No, he couldn¡¯t understand thenguage. They were speaking in Chinese so he couldn¡¯t understand what they were talking about."


    Xiu Min was confused. "Then how sure are we that the other man was really from an underground organization if he didn¡¯t understand what they were talking about?"


    Xiu Mo Ruo leaned back on the sofa with his arms behind his head as he calmly answered the question, "One of his colleagues was a Chinese and he heard it in passing when the guy nonchntlymented how scary the other man was."


    "Then wouldn¡¯t it be useful if you talked to the other man instead?"


    Xiu Mo Ruo scoffed as he shed a fake smile and spoke sarcastically, "Oh, then you go dig that person from the ground to interview him."


    "..."


    Ah. Makes sense.


    "I was already lucky enough to find an informant that was willing to speak ah. Shouldn¡¯t you be thankful instead?"


    Xiu Min¡¯s mouth twitched as he rolled his eyes at his twin. "Then what group does he belong to?"


    "What?"


    "You said the man told you that his position was too low to know the bigshot they were working under was. What group did he belong to?"


    "Ah. I remember asking that too. It¡¯s definitely in a file somewhere there."


    "Then what is it?"


    "Can¡¯t you just find it there?"


    "I told you I won¡¯t be able to read this until over the weekend. Are you deaf?"


    Xiu Mo Ruo scratched his head as he tried to squeeze his brain for the nth time. He originally has a very great memory, ah, but that five hours sleep within fifty hours was making his brain malfunction and fail himpletely.


    "What was it again? Uh... it was some kind of Italian or french something. Ma....Masiarcante? I think that¡¯s the name? Wait, lemme think about it some more." Xiu Mo Ruo lowered his head to think failing to notice his other twin¡¯s reaction.


    Xiu Min¡¯s expression dimmed as he recognized the name.


    Not Masiarcante.


    Mascarante.


    It¡¯s one of the deep-rooted mafia families in the west.

 Chapter 263 - Unwarranted

    <h4>Chapter 263 - Unwarranted</h4>


    "Mascarante." Xiu Min asserted.


    "Ah!" The other twin cried out in realization. "Yeah, that¡¯s it. That¡¯s the name."


    He paused and looked at his twin in confusion. "You know them?"


    Xiu Min looked at Xiu Mo Ruo with squinted eyes and nodded depressingly as he let out a deep sigh.


    Not only does he know their existence but he encountered one of their members before during his mission in the West. Their nasty operations are scattered all over the country and what¡¯s worst is that because of their long history, they have quite a rich amount of capital and connections not only limited in America but also in Europe.


    They are a very notorious group and the military is also very cautious in their attempts to sneak into China and start their operations here in the country.


    Xiu Min¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. He was confused.


    Why was an Italian American Mafia interfering with Chinese politics? Could they possibly be nning on expanding their power here in the East and they¡¯re starting it out here in China?


    But no matter what their reason is, if they¡¯re really coborating with someone to nt their own people within the government, then it¡¯s urgent to inform his superiors regarding this.


    This could possibly escte into a national issue that can threaten the entire country¡¯s security and intelligence if not immediately resolved.


    His mind was already going through thousand possible reasons why the Mascarante Mafia was doing this when Xiu Mo Ruo spoke again.


    "I¡¯ll try and see what I can do inside the government. It would be a bit difficult to do it on my own since I only have influence within the foreign affairs department, so I¡¯ll have to discuss with Father and Grandfather first before I do anything." He held his chin as heid out his n to his twin.


    "Maybe I can ask our other rtives who have influence in the other departments. But it will take a while." Xiu Mo Ruo shrugged as he leaned his back on the sofa again. "Interfering with politics is a bitplicated than just shooting with a gun ah."


    Xiu Min narrowed his eyes and threw a sharp re at him. "Are you asking to be shot in the head by me? Speak well."


    Xiu Mo Ruo quickly defended himself. "Stupid. You misinterpreted my words. I¡¯m just saying that unlike you who can directly resolve the issue throughbat and stuff, I, on the other hand, can only use my words and influence as my weapon."


    He stood up from the sofa and stretched his limbs. "So if you¡¯re nning to ask me to finish the job quickly then I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to disappoint you instead."


    The military twin didn¡¯t seem to be bothered that it won¡¯t be resolved quickly. Somehow, he already expected that answer.


    "En. Then at least make sure to keep them from doing anything funny whilst I do the clean-up on our side." Xiu Min uttered as he folded hisptop back.


    "Do you think I¡¯m a god?!" He grabbed a pillow and threw it to his twin. "Do you want to exchange ces with me so you can try and see if you can keep them from doing strange things?"


    Xiu Min smoothly dodged the iing pillow. "Not interested."


    He firmly turned him down while speaking to him with a nk expression, "I¡¯m a person who fights with strength. Being eloquent is your job, not mine."


    After patting his twin¡¯s shoulder, he immediately strode towards the door without giving any chance for Xiu Mo Ruo toin anymore.


    Xiu Min returned to the base with a grim expression and reported Xiu Mo Ruo¡¯s findings to his superior. Since it wasn¡¯t rted to his other investigation, he didn¡¯t directly report Sr. Lieutenant Yu, his mother, and instead reported it to his other superior.


    He thought it over. Since there¡¯s also involvement from an organization in the underground city, he was contemting whether to contact his brother-inw regarding the incident. But after pondering about it for a little longer, he shook his head and erased that idea.


    This is bad. Since they¡¯ve started to cooperate with the main leader of the underground city, he started relying a bit too much on Lu Chen. He had been controlling himself from telling him too much confidential information since Lu Chen¡¯s position is a bitplicated.


    He¡¯s still a person that the military is very cautious with, despite being his brother-inw.


    Nevermind then. He¡¯ll find someone to thread on the underground city in his stead and find out whom exactly did that person from Mascarante had a deal with.


    While waiting for his superior¡¯s instructions, Xiu Min returned to digging and reading the case files rted to his other investigation. He went to the record room and essed the files through the specialputer which is the only way to ess the casefiles, the old ones included.


    They¡¯ve already tracked the Zhao family member who received the bribe. Just as he suspected, the other side didn¡¯t pay them by wiring the money but instead gave them assets. Sgt. Zhao¡¯s parents bought a vi in the same year that Sgt. Fang died. There was also a sudden increase in deposits in Sgt. Zhao¡¯s wife¡¯s side of the family, which he assumes must be the hard cash they received.


    The other side was too cautious and made sure not to leave any paper trail in the bank so he focused on the purchase of thend instead. Thend was purchase through a real estate agency, and it seems the person who sold thend hired a proxy. He was beyond frustrated with how cautious the other person is but he wasn¡¯t going to give up.


    He alsopiled all Sgt. Zhao¡¯s actions throughout his entire stay in the military. All of his unwarranted actions looked simple and small at a nce maybe that¡¯s why the others turned a blind eye to it, but Xiu Min didn¡¯t think so.


    At that time, it was really something that could be easily overlooked. But after a few years, the effect it brought became something big.


    It was like you¡¯re robbing someone of a handful of puzzle pieces out of the 1000 pieces. It didn¡¯t look that serious, but once you¡¯ve almostpleted building and matching all those other pieces left, that handful of puzzle pieces that were missing instantly became a big issue.


    And now, all of Sgt. Zhao¡¯s unwarranted actions had the same results.


    He didn¡¯t only falsify Sgt. Fang¡¯s death. He did the same to his other colleagues, especially those who died during the mission.


    Xiu Min suspected that someone leaked the details of the mission and Sgt. Zhao must have gotten his hands over it and sold it to someone. He traced back Sgt. Zhao¡¯s actions again and it seems like he was in a huge debt for gambling and somehow paid his millions of debt a weekter after the third soldier¡¯s death during the mission.


    He also did some petty things like messing up with the case file of the people he is enemies with. He was also especially rude to other lower soldiers during his duty and he liked to kiss up to his superiors which probably made it possible for his actions to be easily overlooked.


    Xiu Min felt his head ache from all he was reading. He pushed hisptop for a moment and squeezed his forehead with his other hand.


    F.u.c.k. To think that a sergeant like this one created so much mess and it was overlooked because it wasn¡¯t that serious?


    He was seriously considering changing the training regimen now. Maybe, make their recruitment even stricter and conduct a yearly check on each soldier to see if they¡¯re doing something funny behind their backs?


    Xiu Min was silent for a whole five minutes before he continued reading the files. He was rushing on reading all of it since he has a scheduled flight to America tonight. He would personally go abroad along with his other men to check on the details behind Sgt. Fang¡¯s death. Investigating would be easier with more hands and they might get more clues if they dig more if Sgt. Fang¡¯s death was really rted to Albert Chen.


    Afterpleting and noting down all the important details, Xiu Min and his team left for America that night. What they did not expect was that a few hours after their arrival in America, someone was already alerted with their movements and is already nning to ambush them.

 Chapter 264 - Shenzhen - Arrival

    <h4>Chapter 264 - Shenzhen - Arrival</h4>


    Xiu Mei grunted in frustration as soon as she saw CSRC¡¯s email. It was the full report she had been waiting for a full week regarding their investigation on the sudden spike and dip of stocksst week that caused a lot of problems and also made them halt some of their operations temporarily.


    She carefully read the report, and the conclusion was that they haven¡¯t apprehended the culprit behind it. Her lips pressed into a line as she recalled Albert¡¯s email before it all went crazy. She exited the CSRC¡¯s email and read Albert¡¯sst email to her.


    <i><strong>It all officially starts now.</strong></i>


    That was a brief and strong statement.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s brows knitted as she took a second look at that sentence.


    All starts now...?


    Does he mean about the stocks? Or does he mean something else?


    Xiu Mei contemted on it for a little longer. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was but there¡¯s something in this sentence that was really bugging her. It was like she was missing something but she couldn¡¯t identify what it was.


    Hmm...


    Her thoughts were immediately cut off when her assistant suddenly brought to her another pile of folders.


    "What are those?" She frowned as she nced at those thick pile of papers.


    She wasn¡¯t expecting to receive any reports at all today. So what were these?


    "ounting report from our branches in Shenzhen."


    "And?"


    "The ounting department reported that they have suspicions of embezzlement in three of our branches there."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s face ckened.


    Her voice subconsciously rose as she replied in frustration, "Then they have to do something about that. Send a team to investigate there. Aren¡¯t our protocol is they have to submit evidence of embezzlement first before escting it to our side?"


    Her assistant was taken aback with her boss. Why was she suddenly so angry ah?


    Since Xiu Mei rarely gets angry, she was almost scared but still answered her. She pushed the folders towards her and replied in a small voice, "They already did... that¡¯s why they sent this report."


    "...."


    There was a brief awkward silence between the two.


    Xiu Mei almost choked on her saliva.


    She suddenly realized that she got worked up too early and almost wronged her innocent assistant. She cleared her throat and awkwardly epted the folders.


    "Sorry." She uttered. "Did you already verify it?"


    "En. I worked on it this morning and had a meeting with the investigation team to get their statements."


    "Good job. Then I¡¯ll prioritize this now so I could revert back to you what you need to afterward."


    "Okay."


    "Book me a flight to Shenzhen for tomorrow afternoon and forward the flight details on my inbox."


    "Absolutely."


    By 5 o¡¯ clock, Xiu Mei was still cleaning up her deks when Lu Shao approached her table. He briefly nced at the other assistant¡¯s figure in the pantry before speaking to Xiu Mei in a low voice.


    "Madame, I have a question."


    "What is it?"


    "I heard you¡¯re flying to Shenzhen tomorrow?"


    Xiu Mei nodded and looked at Lu Shao in confusion.


    "Yeah. Why? Is there a problem?"


    She tried to remember her schedule tomorrow and knew that there were nothing too important to be reminded of.


    Lu Shao¡¯s eyes quicklynded on her stomach before he looked back to her face again and cleared his throat.


    "Will your body be okay to fly tomorrow?"


    "Huh? What do you-- Oh."


    Her hand flew to her mouth as she covered her gasp. She almost forgot. Now that she¡¯s pregnant, there are a lot of things that she couldn¡¯t do anymore and some that she needs to be careful with.


    Even though she already adjusted her work habits, she still couldn¡¯t change all of them.


    She nced at her phone. Maybe she should ask Tang Li first if it¡¯s safe for her to fly? Will it negatively affect the fetus in her stomach? She won¡¯t have a miscarriage, won¡¯t she?


    Xiu Mei suddenly grew anxious.


    She thanked Lu Shao for reminding her and quickly got back to the car. Lee In was already inside the car when she arrived. She briefly greeted her and immediately called Tang Li.


    "It¡¯s me." Xiu Mei spoke as soon as the call connected.


    "Madame? Is there anything wrong?" Tang Li was surprised to receive Mrs.Lu¡¯s call for the first time. So he immediately assumed that something went wrong when she called.


    "Nothing. I¡¯m currently fine. I just wanted to consult with you about something."


    "Sure, no problem."


    "Uhm... I need to go to Shenzhen tomorrow morning and I¡¯ll be flying there tomorrow afternoon. I¡¯m just a bit worried so... is it safe for me to go air traveling while pregnant?"


    Tang Lo thought for a moment before he said his advice, "Air Traveling during the first trimester is usually okay. However, you know very well that the greatest risk during the pregnancy is usually the first trimester so you have to be mindful when you travel. Not only during air travel but every time you¡¯re traveling as well."


    Xiu Mei was silent before she finally replied, "So as long as I¡¯m careful, it should be fine right?"


    "Yes. Extremely careful is better."


    Because if something happens to the Madame, he will surely feel guilty ah. It would feel like he was indirectly responsible then the big boss will beat him to death before throwing her to the training floor again to mope around.


    Feeling assured, she thanked Tang Li and hung up the call.


    Well, at least that¡¯s now rified. She can go tomorrow. After forwarding her flight details to Lee In so she could apany her tomorrow, she immediately started packing her stuff.


    Lu Qiang was helping her fold some of her clothes. He was staring at her for so long that she couldn¡¯t help but finally ask him about it.


    "Why are you looking at Mom like that? Do you have a special request for souvenirs?" She ruffled his hair before putting her stuff in the small suitcase again.


    Lu Qiang shook his head and raised his head to look at her again with his curious gaze.


    "Mom, is there something happening again?"


    Xiu Mei paused. She tilted her head as she asked him why he thought that way.


    "Lee In has been hanging around you for days. I see her sometimes roaming around the house and she was often with you everytime youe home from work except when you¡¯re with Dad."


    "...."


    "There¡¯s something, isn¡¯t it?"


    "...."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s gaze subtly trembled.


    Goddamnit. Why is her son so perceptive when ites to this kind of thing ah?


    She did her best not to avoid his gaze as she thought of an excuse.


    Well darling, it¡¯s because there¡¯s a baby brother or sister in your mom¡¯s tummy ah. But Xiu Mei can¡¯t tell him that.


    Dang it! Ugly Lu Chen, where are you when I need you ah? This is all his fault.


    She can¡¯t tell the truth to her son because of her husband¡¯s request. And now that her son was asking her like this, she felt like her heart was being stabbed by guilt ah.


    "Nothing. It¡¯s just the usual. Dad just wanted someone to always be with me just in case."


    She tried her best to look calm and collected so that he won¡¯t notice her lying through her teeth.


    Lu Qiang frowned. "That means that there¡¯s really something. Dad didn¡¯t do it like that before."


    "It¡¯s nothing really." She immediately thought of a lie using her family¡¯s situation. "You know that Mom¡¯s family is a bit high profile right? Your father is just worried that someone might try to use me against your grandparents so he assigned Lee In to me. Do you get it?"


    The kid looked at her with squinted eyes as if he was trying to see if she was telling the truth. Xiu Mei was still for the whole three seconds.


    "Really?"


    "En."


    "...okay."


    Phew!


    She wiped off the nonexistent sweat on her forehead.


    Gosh. Lu Chen, when are youing home ah? She really can¡¯t keep it from his son any longer if he keeps getting curious like this.


    The next day, after finishing up some of her work in the office that morning, she went straight to the airport for her scheduled flight.


    Tang Li¡¯s reminder to be very careful echoed in her mind as she sat on the first ss seat. Since she didn¡¯t want to give away that she was pregnant, she can only buy the most expensive ticket despite the short flight so she could be prioritized in boarding the ne.


    She was slightly anxious throughout the flight and almost bowed to the heavens when she was able to safelynd on Shenzhen an hourter.


    Lee In followed her in the shadows again while she checked to the hotel. Of course, Lee In checked the entire room first before she cleared that it was safe. She was being very strict and careful, not only because of her pregnancy but also because she was kidnapped under Lee In¡¯s eyes when she stayed in a hotel back in City S.

 Chapter 265 - Shenzhen - Meeting Again

    <h4>Chapter 265 - Shenzhen - Meeting Again</h4>


    Initially, Xiu Mei¡¯s n was to condense everything in one day. But now, she has her future baby to consider so she scheduled everything in two days instead.


    She immediarely started firing the involved employees who embezzled the money and warned them herself, and passed them along to the legal representative from thepany that also came with her. Embezzlement of funds is a big thing that¡¯s why she was personally handling it instead of passing it to just the legal department.


    Lee In kept her presence hidden the entire time, so Xiu Mei was able tofortably do her thing.


    She was taking a break and just finished her lunch in a famous five star restaurant when she saw Mr. Ying¡¯s figure at the corner of her eye.


    Her action of wiping her mouth passed as she nced briefly on her left before quickly lowering her slightly and shifted her face to the right.


    Thankfully she was sitting by the window so there¡¯s hope that she won¡¯t be seen by Ying Yue¡¯s father and the other female politician she¡¯d seen on television before.


    Compared to Mrs.Ying who scolded her in public, she was more intimidated with Mr.Ying even when Ying Yue was still alive. He was a very strict man, and just remembering how coldly he looked at her back in that funeral years ago, the more she didn¡¯t want to get noticed by him at all.


    She quickly paid, picked up her bag and was already by the door when she suddenly felt the urge to look back. And before she could stop herself from doing so, she already did.


    Her eyes widened.


    Oh my god.


    Oh my god.


    Oh my god.


    What was that? Whata the heck did she witness? What the...


    Oh my god.


    Mr. Ying was having an affair.


    Oh my god.


    He was having an affair with that female politician. Ohmyfudginggod. Mrs.Ying would tear them apart.


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t usually shocked with such things since she witnessed a lot of affairs in their circle before. But she couldn¡¯t help but still be shocked at this one since she was very familiar with Mrs.Ying¡¯s personality.


    She already experienced how she got angry and shamed her back when she bumped onto each other a couple of times, and she was pretty sure that Mrs. Ying would never tolerate her husband cheating on her. She was too fierce of a woman to swallow this kind of shame.


    Fudge.


    Will she one day hear a murder case from the Ying household? To think that they were openly revealing their affair in this kind of ce, are they both not scared?


    My god. Don¡¯t they not want their face anymore?


    Of course, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t stay at that ce any longer. She hastily strode to the garage with hurried footsteps when Lee In abruptly appeared in front her when she was about to open the car door.


    "Don¡¯t move." Lee In suddenly said. Xiu Mei was taken aback and she froze thinking that she was talking to her but as soon as she raised her head and saw where Lee In was actually looking at, she gasped for the second time that day.


    Lee In firmly hid the female master behind her while pointing the gun at the man a few meters away in front of them.


    Before them stood a familiar man, and a cute looking Old English Sheepdog sat by his feet with its tongue hanging from his mouth. The man stood with his back straight, his one hand on his pocket while the other was rxedly holding the dog¡¯s leash.


    The man was Albert Chen. And he brazenly appeared in front of Xiu Mei, along with his dog and didn¡¯t look afraid at all from Lee In¡¯s gun that was pointing straight at him.


    "You..." Xiu Mei was at a loss as she wentpletely speechless with the current development. She wasn¡¯t expecting to see Albert, more so, to meet him this soon.


    She was actually expecting to see him already apprehended by her husband and her brothers.


    She shook her head.


    She thought he was hiding from them. Look, he resigned the moment he realized his cover was going to be discovered. And the resignation petter he sent was just something he did to provoke them. But now he was suddenly appearing in front of her, looking soid-back as if he wasn¡¯t doing anything illegal?


    "Hello, Ms. Xiu." Albert greeted her in such aidback tone that she almost subconsciously replied but Lee In was quick to cut him off before she could open her mouth.


    "Stay away." Lee In said firmly. "Or the bullet in this gun will find its way on your head." She said in a threatening tone.


    The dog suddenly stood up and turned fierce as he looked at Lee In. He was growling under his breath and baring his teeth, even lowering his body slightly as if he was preparing to pounce on her right away.


    Albert tugged on his leash that made the dog look at him again, then nced at Lee In before looking at his owner. He w.h.i.n.ed before returning to his previous sitting position like a good little boy.


    "I heard that you wereing, so I wanted to drop by and say hi." Albert said while beaming.


    Xiu Mei frowned when she heard his words. What the hell? He heard that she wasing? Wait, are their floor still bugged? Only her assistant and Lu Shao knew that she wasing to Shenzhen. Even the legal representative didn¡¯t know until they bumped into the airport ah.


    But now he was saying that he already knew beforehand the she wasing? Was her schedule somehow leaked and sent to him?


    Both the women¡¯s guards were up while Xiu Mei¡¯s other bodyguards sent by her brother surrounded Albert. He still looked unbothered by the situation because he even crouched to pat his dog¡¯s head and cooed him with words.


    Xiu Mei who stood closely behind Lee In whispered.


    "Why don¡¯t you catch him?" She curiously asked.


    Lee In didn¡¯t look away at the person in front while answering the Madame¡¯s questions.


    "Mr. Lu warned us not to act rashly if we ever meet him. He said that this man wasn¡¯t actually simple and he was right."


    Xiu Mei did not understand.


    "It looks like he¡¯s alone. But he¡¯s not."


    "How do you say so?" Xiu Mei nced in front again and saw that he was really alone. What was she talking about ah?


    "I can sense another person looking at us from somewhere. I think it¡¯sing from one from inside the cars."


    What?!


    Xiu Mei twisted her neck and looked at all her sides. They were all the parking lot, and there¡¯s a loooot of cars. So if Lee In was telling the truth the she sensed someone, fudge! They won¡¯t be able to find which car that person is on when they are in a ce called parking lot that is packed with various kinds of vehicle.


    Xiu Mei was very anxious. Was she gonna get kidnapped again?


    She stopped herself from touching her stomach else Albert might notice her actions so she tried to act as normal as possible.


    "What are you truly doing here?" She overcame her fear and courageously spoke out loud. She narrowed her eyes at him while ring.


    Albert eyebrow raised as he let out a chuckle while mumbling ¡¯Feisty¡¯.


    "I just wanted to ask you if you liked my gifts. Didn¡¯t I mention in the letter that I wanted to see your reaction personally? So let me hear it."


    "...."


    Fudge. Does he have a loose screw in the head?


    He brazenly walked in front of them just so he could see her reaction for all the mess he did?!


    Xiu Mei kept her fierce expression on her face as she looked sharply at him.


    "I doubt you really came for a stupid reason such as that. What are you truly aiming for, Mr. Albert Chen?" She retorted while crossing her arms in front of her. Albert showed on ¡¯oh¡¯-ed expression before smirking.


    "Don¡¯t Ms.Xiu clearly know the answer? I told you years ago didn¡¯t I? The night I chose you as my chess piece, I told you my intentions in doing all of this things." Albert suddenly stopped and suddenly pped as if he remembered something.


    "Ah! I forgot. Right, I erased your memory of me of that night. Sorry, my mistake. Ipletely forgot about that." He said he was apologizing bur somehow it felt like he was being sarcastic instead.


    "...."

 Chapter 266 - Shenzhen - Explosion

    <h4>Chapter 266 - Shenzhen - Explosion</h4>


    "Ah! I forgot. Right, I erased your memory of me of that night. Sorry, my mistake. Ipletely forgot about that."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s face ckened in anger.


    Her mind was in aplete mess as she switched back and forth from smashing his face to the ground or wondering how the fudge did he erase her memory?


    Was their world already at the level where a person can now manipte someone¡¯s memories just like erasing it?!


    Her hands fisted tightly. If it weren¡¯t for Lee In keeping her behind her, she would¡¯ve impulsively gone to punch Albert in the face because of his continued provocations. She didn¡¯t enjoy being toyed with and used by people. Most especially as a ¡¯chess piece¡¯ just like he mentioned.


    The entire time, Albert ignored the presence of all Xiu Mei¡¯s bodyguards and could even care less with the number of guns pointed at him. He was watching the change in Xiu Mei¡¯s expression and was filled with tion as he saw her expressions change every minute.


    The corner of his lips curled up as he threw a knowing smile at Xiu Mei and her female bodyguard¡ªno. That¡¯s Lu Chen¡¯sckey assassin now babysitting Xiu Mei.


    Albert Chen didn¡¯t n on staying any longer. After achieving two of his purpose in meeting his chess piece, of course, he wouldn¡¯t forget to bring his gift to Xiu Mei this time. And now, he was going to give it personally.


    His other hand in his pocket moved, Lee In and the other bodyguards were immediately on alert with their pointed fingers on the trigger of the guns. Albert Chen only chuckled and revealed the small box in his hand.


    He looked at Xiu Mei, "Another gift, for you."


    Xiu Mei¡¯s frown deepened. She was growing to despise receiving presents because of Albert, and now he was going to give her another one after that creepy letter?!


    He tugged on his dog¡¯s leash, unsped the buckle and the dog immediately jumped to take the box in his hand as if he was already trained to do so. The Old English Sheep Dog walked gracefully towards Xiu Mei¡¯s directions.


    Lee In was momentarily stuck. She didn¡¯t know whether to stop the dog froming over or keep pointing her gun at the criminal in front of her. She looked closely at the box and examined it at an amazing speed.


    Seeing that the dog was casually biting it and there¡¯s nothing happening, she can at least rule out that it¡¯s not a bomb inside that box. The Old English Sheep Dog was very carefree and stopped in front of the two women, raised his head while showing the box with his mouth.


    Its eyes were sparkling as if it was waiting to be praised.


    Of course, Lee In and Xiu Mei weren¡¯t in the mood to praise or y with the dog. Xiu Mei nced at Lee In and nodded, signaling that she can take the box on the dog¡¯s mouth.


    The dog w.h.i.n.ed a little, then he dropped the box on the approaching hand then turned back to walk back to its owner¡¯s side.


    Lee In was just about to open the box with her other hand when Albert Chen suddenly moved making her focus shift back to him again.


    "Don¡¯t move!" She angrily warned again. Albert Chen bent over and sped back the dog leash on his dog, and turned sideways.


    "Ms.Xiu." Albert called her once again.


    "I¡¯ll see you again... soon." He uttered the final word like a whisper. But Xiu Mei understood what he was saying because she could read the words he mouthed.


    Xiu Mei trembled.


    Soon?


    I¡¯ll see you again soon?


    What¡¯s he going to do again?


    BLANG! WEE WOO WEE WOO!!


    Before Xiu Mei could even react, she found herself being surrounded by Lee In and the others. Her hands flew on her ears as she felt her ears ring from the loud explosion. A strong gust of wind swept past them, and in a split second, the entire parking lot was filled with the smell of smoke and gasoline.


    Because of the strong impact, almost all the car rms were triggered making a lot of noise disturbing the whole street for the next ten minutes.


    Xiu Mei was doubling over along with the others who were covering her with all their might. Her ears were covered, and she felt suffocated with the smell of gasoline and smoke filling the ce. She was coughing and she felt like her lungs were on fire because of all the smoke she was inhaling. She knew that she shouldn¡¯t breathe it because that will make it worst for her but somehow, her body and mind won¡¯t cooperate with each other as she continuously took deep breaths as she desperately tried to inhale some oxygen which she couldn¡¯t.


    Everything was in chaos and she didn¡¯t even know what exploded and how near it is from them.


    She could faintly hear the sound of people screaming from afar, but the car rms were all too loud that the screams were being drowned by it.


    They stayed like that for over 5 seconds before Lee In immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her up.


    "Let¡¯s move!" Lee In shouted at the top of her lungs so the others could hear her because of all the deafening noise around them. Lee In¡¯s priority was to keep Xiu Mei safe so they immediately moved to a safe distance just in case there¡¯s going to be a second explosion.


    They surrounded Xiu Mei¡¯s body while moving, even blocking the other people who were also running in panic as they squeezed around them.


    "Three cars will be here in five minutes. Keep all your guard up." Lee In looked angry and frustrated at the moment. Xiu Mei could even read the words she was mouthing silently and they were all curses to Albert Chen, to the bomber and etcetera etcetera.


    It was truly a very colorfulnguage ah.


    Xiu Mei: ....


    Her bodyguards were all still cautious and kept blocking her view so she couldn¡¯t see what was happening at all after the explosion. It was only until she was inside the car and found the chance to check her phone to see the news.


    The sudden explosion of a car in the parking lot was at the top of the hot search. She even saw a lot of live videos being taken, pictures, andments saying their own version of what they witnessed during the explosion.


    Xiu Mei could finallyprehend everything that happened. So it was a car that exploded that¡¯s why she could smell the scent of gasoline in the air. And that¡¯s why Lee In was rushing to move to a different ce since there might be a second explosion considering that there were a lot of cars surrounding the area and if the fire was not put out in time, then there¡¯s going to be some kind of Chinese New Year Fireworks in the parking lot.


    She recalled Lee In¡¯s words to her minutes ago. There was another person who were watching them with Albert Chen and she suspected that it was Albert¡¯s men.


    She frowned. Then this explosion should be caused by that person?


    Because of the car explosion, Lee In and her other bodyguards were immediately distracted for a moment giving Albert Chen time to slip away amidst all the chaos without being tracked by them.


    Albert Chen outsmarted them again this time. The moment he appeared before them so brazenly, he already nned how he would escape from their clutches.


    Xiu Mei angrily turned off her phone in anger and threw it face down on the seat. It identallynded beside Lee In, who was sitting beside her.


    "Sorry." Xiu Mei immediately picked up the phone but her actions paused when she saw that Lee In¡¯s arm was bleeding.


    "You¡¯re hurt!" Xiu Mei cried out.


    "It¡¯s nothing. Just got caught by a shrapnel a while ago. Madame, you need to take a rest first."


    Xiu Mei retorted, "Let¡¯s stop by at the hospital first to get it treated. Otherwise, you¡¯ll bleed to death inside the car!"


    Lee In was wearing a ck fitted long sleeve attire, and it wasn¡¯t usually easy to see if it was stained but Xiu Mei saw the drops of blood dripping from her sleeves that she was quickly rmed of her cut.


    Since her sleeves were now dripping with blood, she didn¡¯t even need to imagine how deep the cut must be and how much blood she was bleeding at the moment.


    Lee In was used to getting hurt like this and she already knows how to stop the bleeding herself.


    "No need for that." She replied. Lee In pulled back the back seat and took out a medical box. Since the Madame seemed that she won¡¯t take a rest unless she takes care of her cut first, then she¡¯ll temporarily do some first aid at the moment.


    She was about to tear apart her sleeves when her movements paused as she remembered what she was holding in her other hand.


    The two women nced at the box for a moment and looked at each other.

 Chapter 267 - Shenzhen - Five Images

    <h4>Chapter 267 - Shenzhen - Five Images</h4>


    The two women looked at each other in tacit understanding. Xiu Mei nodded at her.


    "I¡¯ll open it." She volunteered. With Lee In¡¯s other arm still bleeding, she reached out to grab the box from her hand.


    Her hand trembled a little bit the moment she ced her other hand on top of the box to lift it open. All Albert¡¯s previous present were full of entricity and creepiness. She was even suspecting that maybe this was a bottle of blood since he had been continuously sending her stuff dyed with blood which was super scary and creepy.


    She lifted it open and saw multiple proids inside.


    Pictures?


    She looked at it puzzledly and reached out to check all the images. Because it was all faced upside down, she grabbed and turned it over to see what was on the other side.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened as her breath hitched. She gasped, stunned to see the pictures she saw in front of her.


    There were five photos in her hand.


    It was her, her mother in her military uniform, Lu Chen, her eldest brother and.... Lu Qiang.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s hand trembled that she almost dropped the proids. She sensed a foreboding approaching.


    How... when did he became aware of her son¡¯s existence?


    All the photos weren¡¯t of high quality and looks like it was taken with an old camera. And each photo were captured in their daily activities.


    Hers was taken when she she was returning home. It was a picture of her climbing off the car after it was parked in their home garage.


    Her mom¡¯s was a side view photo of her in a military uniform and it looks like she was in a military base.


    Lu Chen¡¯s was a bit darker and scary. It was a picture of him walking out in some kind of dark narrow alley. She couldn¡¯t recognize where it was so she assumed it may be somewhere in the underground city.


    Her eldest brother¡¯s picture were taken somewhere crowded. He was carrying something like a bag, and Xiu Mei thought that it looked somehow familiar.


    Andstly, her son¡¯s.


    It was a picture of him ying basketball with his friends at school.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s heart tightened in fear as soon as she saw Lu Qiang¡¯s picture. She even felt dizzy and almost fainted on the spot just by thinking if something terrible happens to her son.


    She halted her train of thoughts as she panicked and immediately contacted a teacher in Ku Qiang¡¯s school. After confirming that Lu Qiang was in ss and doing some drawing along with his ssmates, Xiu Mei felt her heart that was hanging by a thread and was relieved when she knew that her son was fine.


    But not for so long.


    Lee In also saw the five images as well and messaged Lu Shao. She immedistely informed him to tighten Young Master Lu Qiang¡¯s security as his existence have now been known by Albert Chen.


    That person was too bold that he even dared to explode a car to create a means of escape for him.


    Other than the Madame and the Young Master, Lee In deemed the rest to be capable of handling themselves.


    Putting back the phone down, her eyes caught on something as she peeked at the photos again.


    "Isn¡¯t this yesterday?" Lee In blurted out.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s sight followed the picture she was pointing at. It was the date stamped on the photos indicating the exact date and time when the photo was captured.


    All of the dates on the photos were fairly recent but her eldest brother¡¯s. The date indicated was yesterday¡¯s date.


    Xiu Mei frowned. Yesterday?


    She wasn¡¯t usually aware of her older brothers¡¯ schedule, most especially the eldest one since his travels are usually work rted so his locations are usually ssified.


    She tried to contact her brother through his phone but it says it was unavable. After trying for a couple more times, she switched to contacting her other brother instead. He was also useless and replied that he didn¡¯t know where he was.


    Xiu Mei stared at her phone again before dialing her husband¡¯s number this time. Thest time she remembered, he was meeting his eldest brother recently for their investigations. So maybe there¡¯s a chance that he knows where her eldest brother was at the moment.


    She was just about to press the call button when Lu Chen¡¯s name suddenly shed on her mobile screen. She quickly slid the ept call button and ced her mobile on her ear.


    "Wife, are you okay?!" His voice sounded very worried.


    "I¡¯m fine. We¡¯re all fine since we were able to get out there quickly." She said straightforwardly and even assured him that they aren¡¯t around that area anymore.


    She heard him sigh in relief on the other side of the call. Xiu Mei would usually felt moved by his worry, but she was more upied with other important stuff to worry about and had no time to chat with her husband.


    "Chen Chen, do you know where my brother went to yesterday? He¡¯s not answering his phone." She asked.


    Lu Chen stopped. He found her question strange even though it sounded as if she was just a normal question about a younger sibling looking for her brother.


    But this was Xiu Mei. And she was asking about Xiu Min whom she knew so well. And she was asking him about Xiu Min¡¯s whereabouts?


    Why was she suddenly asking him that? And of all people, she was asking him?


    Is there another thing going on?


    So instead of answering her, he returned a question.


    "Why are you looking for him?"


    Xiu Mei knew Lu Chen was suspicipus and immediately caught that something was going on. She could only sigh and started exining her side.


    "I received another gift from Albert. We met him at the parking lot here in Shenzhen."


    As soon as she finished her words, the sound of something falling echoed on the other side. Before she could ask what that was all about, Lu Chen spoke first.


    "That bastard appeared there?!" Lu Chen said in between his gritted teeth. He almost ordered someone to book him a flight ticket to Shenzhen right at this moment if it weren¡¯t for the fact that he remembered thay Xiu Mei mentioned that they already got out of that ce.


    Still, knowing that pyscho was in the same city with his wife, he really wanted to fly to her side right now to personally protect her.


    He was already nning multiple ways to torture that psychotic bastard in his mind when the sound of her wife cut off his thoughts.


    "Yeah. But that¡¯s not the focus here so listen to me. He gave me another present, and I opened it just now. There¡¯s five pictures inside -- mine, mom¡¯s, elder brother¡¯s, yours and Qiang Qiang¡¯s."


    Lu Chen nked out for a split second when he heard her say that a picture of Lu Qiang was included in it.


    "All of it are stamped with dates that are fairly recent but eldest brother¡¯s was thetest one. It was just taken yesterday. I can¡¯t figure out where he is based from the photo and I can¡¯t contact him at all.


    I doubt that Albert sent me these photos without any reason behind it. Mom is still in the military barracks and Lee In already contacted Lu Shao for Qiang Qiang. I know you¡¯re at your work and I have Lee In with me. I¡¯m worried about my elder brother and that something might happen to him. Since he just got out of the hospital after getting badly wounded, I wanted to at least warn him just in case.


    So tell me, do you know where my eldest brother is now?"


    Lu Chen listened carefully at his wife¡¯s lengthy exnation. And the two have the same opinions that Albert was surely up to something again by giving them this images.


    "Last time before the stock trading incident, he said he was going to start now. Then the stock trade suspension happened after that so he must have another n in mind again." Xiu Mei continued.


    "I¡¯ll contact Xiu Min." He dodged her question. Xiu Mei was hesitant in asking him any further where her elder brother was since he usually travels for work. So she dropped the question and let Lu Chen contact him instead.


    "Okay. Thank you." She entrusted her husband since for sure, he knowd a different way to contact him.


    "Give Lee In the box and the photos. She¡¯ll know what to do." Lu Chen said.


    "Okay."


    "Don¡¯t stray from Lee In¡¯s side from now on. Since that bastard is in that same city with you, who knows what he¡¯ll do. I can send Lu Shao there to take over for you instead so you can quickly return here."


    "No! No! No! I can do it. I can handle it. No need to have Lu Shao fly over here."


    " But wife, remember your current situation there. There¡¯s Albert and... you have another little one to worry about in your tummy. What if something happens to you?"


    I might not be able to take it, were the words he left unsaid.

 Chapter 268 - Shenzhen - Sweet Whispers

    <h4>Chapter 268 - Shenzhen - Sweet Whispers</h4>


    Silence fell between the couple.


    Xiu Mei was very moved by her husband¡¯s words, her hand subconsciously moved towards her abdomen and c.a.r.e.s.sed it. She didn¡¯t retort to his words because she understood clearly that he was both worried for the well-being of her and the baby. And that they are in the midst of danger so being away like this makes Lu Chen more worried and the fact that Albert appeared in front of her was like a provocation to Lu Chen that meant if Albert wants to move her, he really can if he tries to.


    "Wife,..." Lu Chen¡¯s voice lingered in her ears. She heard him sigh deeply before speaking again, "I understand. I won¡¯t convince you toe back immediately. I know you have Lee In and the other bodyguards there, but I still want you to double your cautiousness and alertness, okay?"


    "Mm."


    "I miss you."


    With her phone on her ears, his voice sounded so close, and coupled with the intimate tone in his voice, it was as if he was directly whispering in her ears. Her heart felt ticklish all over.


    "Me too."


    She replied in a low voice, just loud enough for Lu Chen to hear it on the other side as she felt her cheeks turn hot like a teenager who was confessing to her high school crush.


    "I love you."


    His sweet whispers were making her feel all ticklish and moved that she was almost forgetting her current situation. A smile appeared on her lips as she shyly replied to him.


    "And I, too."


    They didn¡¯t extend their conversation any further and after Lu Chen reminded her for thest time again to be careful, Xiu Mei hung up the call.


    Her heart seemed lighter. It felt like her worry and anxiety were all instantly washed away just by her brief conversation with Lu Chen. She found it strange to feel soforted and safe just because of a person¡¯s words. Is this what love is all about?


    Of course, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t forget to hand over the box to Lee In who just finished bandaging her wound. She said in a cool tone that she¡¯ll take care of it then she startedmunicating with her other colleagues for the next step.


    Xiu Mei returned to the hotel before the sky went dark. Because of the events early that day, she thought they would be moving to a different hotel for safety but Lee In exined that the hotel was actually owned by one of the members of the Legion so it was better for them to stay here for safety instead of moving to a different hotel.


    They can move with ease in this hotel without needing to ask for permission as well.


    Xiu Mei was surprised.


    Wow, the owner of this luxurious hotel is also an assassin like Lee In?


    She was in disbelief for a few seconds. She stupidly thought that all of them are working purely as an assassin ah. Who would have thought that one of them felt like being an entrepreneur and became an owner of one of the luxurious hotels in Shenzhen City?


    Well, by listening to Lee In¡¯s exnation, she felt moreforted and safe from being abducted for the nth time again inside the hotel. Thest abduction truly left a great impression on her aside from the fact that she lost her voice, but also because she was awake for a few seconds when they covered her vision before knocking her out.


    Xiu Mei was watching the television. The car explosion today was all over the news and even on social media. They showed footage of the aftermath of the explosion and even interviewed a couple of people who were on the scene. Strange enough, but luckily, no one seemed to have seen their confrontation with Albert. She would really feel guilty and terrible if someone innocent got caught up in the middle and died.


    At least up to now, she hadn¡¯t seen a singlement saying that they saw a group of people pointing their guns at a man and a dog or something along those lines.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyelids jumped. That¡¯s really strange. She hadn¡¯t noticed it back then but it was a weird coincidence that no one else but them was in the parking lot at that time. And they stayed there for like a full ten minutes and she didn¡¯t see any shadow of other people at all.


    She put her hand on her chin to think.


    Did Albert Chen perhaps make it happen so that no one would see them?


    Xiu Mei suddenly felt that it was a good thing that she also chose to get involved in the situation and made sure that no one would know that she and the others came out of that garage during that car explosion. Otherwise, the others who¡¯d seen them would surely point at them to be the prime suspects behind the car explosion as they are the ones the only people there before the car exploded.


    She watched the news and stalked in social media for almost two hours to make sure that no news about them will connect with the explosion. After she was satisfied with how things are developing, she went early to bed after reading a couple of pages of the All About Pregnancy book.


    Ever since she learned that she was pregnant, and knowing that the first three months of pregnancy have the highest risk of miscarriage, she started researching and knowing which to avoid so that she won¡¯t have any idents because of her own stupidity.


    The next day, she got up early and continued with firing the culprit behind the embezzlements in the other branches in Shenzhen. And it even looks like that some people had gotten wind that the Lu Corporation¡¯s Secretary was doing rounds in Shenzhen because Xiu Mei noticed that some of the people involved weren¡¯t around that day.


    Ah, well. Too bad for a surprise visit, huh.


    After Albert Chen¡¯s appearance yesterday, he didn¡¯t contact her again at all. She was alert the entire day and she didn¡¯t find anything strange at all. Unknownst to Xiu Mei, his ns after her meeting schedule with her yesterday were now focused on a different person.


    "How are their investigation going?" Albert stood in front of her LP shelf and started choosing which song to y next.


    Xiu Su Yi already knew who he was talking about.


    "Their investigation in America is smoothly going. Yesterday, they already found evidence of the foul y behind the soldier¡¯s death and they opened the case for reinvestigation of his death including the man we bribed to fake the evidence for the case."


    "Hn."


    Albert remained unbothered even after hearing that.


    "And the others?"


    "They are on standby, waiting for your orders."


    Albert did not immediately reply and finally chose which song to y. A minuteter, another ssical tune could be heard within the room.


    He walked back to his desk and picked up the old film camera he had been keeping for quite some time. He had lent it to some of his men to capture the images and sent all the original proids to Xiu Mei as a gift.


    "Kill them." Albert blurted out as he continued to y with the old camera.


    Xiu Su Yi received the order and quickly passed it on to their men on standby in America. Despite the stiff and scary expression on his face due to the scar, he waspletely ted. Killing the Xiu descendants one by one has always been his dream, and now his master was finally giving out the order to kill Xiu Min and his team who was investigating in America. He touched his b.r.e.a.s.t pocket lightly. Inside, he hid a picture of a woman whom he loved very dearly years ago and still does today.


    One day, he will follow after her and their child.


    But today, he must live to continue his revenge on the family who pushed his beloved to her death!


    In America.


    He received an encrypted message from Lu Chen in the middle of the night that awoke him from his slumber. He knew that it was an important message so he quickly decoded it and read the message. Of course, what he read caused him to forgo sleeping and disturbed his other team members who were soundly sleeping as well.


    Xiu Min and his team pushed through with their original schedule, but not as exactly as they originally nned after they strategizedst night.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    "Cover!"


    "Go there! F.u.c.k!"


    "I¡¯ll distract them!"


    BANG! BANG!


    "Shit, I only have 4 mags left!"


    "Are you stupid?!"


    "F.u.c.k! Left turn! Left! Left! Don¡¯t you know how to drive shortie!?"


    "How do you expect me to see what¡¯s in front with a shattered windshield!? Punch it for me!"


    "Noisy."


    BANG! BANG!


    That¡¯s right. Thirty minutes after they left their hotel, Xiu Min and his team were stopped by mysterious men in the middle of the road.

 Chapter 269 - The Other Side of Lu Qiang

    <h4>Chapter 269 - The Other Side of Lu Qiang</h4>


    It was a tight battle between the special ops and the mysterious men. Thanks to Lu Chen¡¯s messagest night, Xiu Min and his team were able to prepare beforehand for the ambush. Xiu Min contacted his friends in the federal government, and with their interference, they were able to suppress the group of men and apprehended them.


    Of course, in exchange for their help, Xiu Min turned them over to the federal agents afterward. He continued cooperating with them while continuing their other investigation, and one of the federal agents messaged him to confirm the identities of those men.


    Xiu Min gripped his mobile tightly after he read the message.


    Mascarante. It was them.


    They¡¯re working with Albert Chen?


    Xiu Min was furious and confused. They¡¯ve yet to finish investigating Albert Chen¡¯s background, and now he was surprising them that he¡¯s working with a notorious mafia group here in the west?


    His reach is undeniably scary and mysterious. An orphan who was powerless before suddenly became so powerful to be daring enough to kill a soldier and civilians.


    Wait....., no.


    He paused. There¡¯s still another angle. Albert Chen may not be working with the mafia group, but he is a member of the mafia group as well?


    Was it possible?


    It seems like it would be faster if they dig into the members of the organization than checking Albert Chen¡¯s background.


    Xiu Min contacted the best person in finding intelligence within the mafia organizations then shifted his attention back to their investigation about Sgt. Fang¡¯s death that they¡¯ve now proved as not suicide.


    Meanwhile in China.


    Lu Qiang was in the court along with his ssmates. His actions were the same as usual, and to the other children¡¯s eyes, they don¡¯t notice anything wrong with Lu Qiang at all.


    However, Lu Qiang thought differently.


    He had been sensing that someone was eyeing him sincest week. At school and at home. He was doubting himself at first, but it continued for days and knew that it wasn¡¯t a hallucination.


    Lu Qiang trusted his guts, and just like how he learned from training, he did subtle movements to find where that person was watching him from. He wasn¡¯t close, else the other shadow bodyguards that were guarding him would have surely already caught him.


    But since he was able to keep up for a whole week without getting caught, then Lu Qiang knew that this person was different.


    He mapped the entire school in his head and the surroundings outside.


    His entire school is surrounded by middle to high-ss houses and apartments. There are three twenty-story high apartments a few blocks away, and a ten-story high apartment just next to the school. Most of the houses are either have second floors and third floors since the people who live around here are above average in ie families and the wealthy.


    They have two tall buildings in their school connected by a bridge on the third and sixth floor. Lu Qiang removed the possibility of the person watching from the football field, the track field, and the gym. The basketball court they¡¯re currently ying in is pretty close to the main building still with quite a bit of distance, and since it is an outdoor court just next to the tennis court, their surroundings are surrounded by tall wired fences to prevent the balls from being used to fly over to the other side of the wall and hit the other students.


    Aside from the medium-sized trees, the only ce they could get a good look at from inside would be from the ground floor of the main building, and that ten-story apartment that could be seen from where they are ying.


    While Lu Qiang was shooting the ball, he was subtly moving his sight to the view of that ten-story apartment.


    He was calcting the numbers in his head.


    The rooftop?


    Based on the angle, he can only be seen here in the court if they¡¯re watching from the rooftop. Strangely, he can also see the rooftop of that apartment building if he stands at the far left from the window. Though, he doesn¡¯t think that they could watch him from there while he¡¯s in the ssroom since just like he said, his ssroom is pretty much out of the view from the rooftop of the building.


    What he could see from his ssroom were the twenty-story high building on the side, but even though it¡¯s just a few blocks away from the school, it is still pretty far in distance. He wouldn¡¯t be able to sense someone that far unless he¡¯s not human.


    Hmm...


    Lu Qiang continued ying and passed the ball to his teammate as he continued his assessment.


    Then I¡¯ll take it to a different angle. If he can¡¯t calcte based on the map, then he¡¯ll calcte using the opposite perspective.


    Because of his father¡¯s persistent training since he was little, Lu Qiang could clearly sense where most of his bodyguards are hiding. He has about six, four of those were pretty much circling his area at the moment. One was at a branch in one of the trees, the other hidden behind the pir in the main ground floor, the other was in disguise as a gardener, and the other was guarding the other side of the wall.


    The other two were assigned farther than where he is. The first one is continuously moving around the building, while the other one that he couldn¡¯t sense yet he knew where he was stationed is staying in one of the third-story high houses outside, a few blocks away from where the school is.


    They¡¯re both responsible for keeping an eye around the area instead of focusing their sights on Lu Qiang and it would be convenient for them to be in their current stations to alert the other four if there are suspicious persons approaching.


    Lu Qiang mapped their positions in his mind and looked at them from a different perspective.


    A perspective of the enemy.


    The court is too open, it would be too easy for someone to get spotted. Even hiding behind the wall is impossible because there¡¯s an eye watching from the outside.


    Hmm...


    Lu Qiang halted.


    There¡¯s a missing range.


    The one eyeing outside could only see the diameter of the area outside the school, meaning he can only see one side.


    Then the other one moving around is responsible for watching over the other side of the diameter.


    But there¡¯s a spot that they¡¯re missing.


    Since the other one is only looking from the inside, there¡¯s a blindspot in his range which could possibly be taken advantage of if it¡¯s someone who¡¯s too good.


    Lu Qiang turned his head towards the area where the other is usually stationed. Since the other side of the main building has the tennis and basketball outdoor courts, the other side was a garden.


    And that garden sits directly below the range of that one person who monitors from within the building. Half of that garden is a blind spot for that person since it was pretty much next to the main building. Unlike the outdoor courts which you still have to walk for like five minutes to reach from the main building, the garden gives the person enough view to the courts.


    But what about in the ssroom?


    Even in that position, it would be too impossible if they¡¯re watching from the gardens.


    "Lu Qiang, stop spacing out! I¡¯m passing the ball to you!!" He suddenly heard Bai Yi Yi¡¯s voice from behind him that immediately cut him off from his thoughts.


    Lu Qiang turned to look and saw the ball flying in his direction. Instincts took over and since he was already standing at the perfect spot to shoot the ball, he caught the ball easily and immediately shot it to the basket in a smooth transition.


    He continued pondering about the answer even until they finished the game. After changing, Xing Lu Yan and Bai Yi Yi dragged him to the arcade for the nth time. He would usually turn them down since he wanted to go home and see his mother as soon as possible, but since his mother was out for a business trip to a different city, and his father wasn¡¯t home as well, he chose to stay with them and yed a round of arcade.


    They were on their way to y the shooting game when he suddenly realized something.


    Ah! That¡¯s it!

 Chapter 270 - Shenzhen - Dilemma

    <h4>Chapter 270 - Shenzhen - Dilemma</h4>


    Ah! That¡¯s right!


    Lu Qiang suddenly had a realization.


    He looked at his two friends who were ying the shooting game by holding two toy rifles as a weapon. He totally missed that other possibility and realized it because of this.


    How can he overlook the possibility of it being done by two people? One could possibly be situated to spy on him in a closer range while the other one is responsible in eyeing him from the distance.


    Indeed.


    He did sense that he was being watched in the ssroom and everytime he¡¯s outside, and it did seem weird that he couldn¡¯t sense it so much while in the ssroom.


    But how did he know that he¡¯s being watched in the ssroom?


    Lu Qiang recalled that there is one of the twenty story high building apartment that could be seen from their ssroom window.


    Even though he couldn¡¯t sense the person¡¯s location, he¡¯s still very s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e of other people¡¯s stare. Apart from sensing the presence of the person, Lu Qiang was trained to be s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e if someone is watching him from a distance. It was a training so he knows how to move and avoid snipers in the future if he¡¯s going to be targeted and his life in danger. Since he hasn¡¯t fully properly trained and developed it yet, he couldn¡¯t identify in which direction it wasing from, but the probability of it being in that building from afar was high.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s forehead creased as he stopped watching how Bai Yi Yi and Xing Lu Yan was getting overtaken by the zombies they¡¯re shooting at on the screen.


    But is it possible that his bodyguard couldn¡¯t sense that person because of the distance?


    Even though he¡¯s being trained by his father¡¯s men, at this point, he¡¯s still unsure what his father really works as aside from being a CEO and President of Lu Corporation that his mother is also working at as the President¡¯s secretary.


    He even tried searching for answers when he hacked Lu Shao¡¯sptop once(but he got caught in the end) but still found no answers. All he knew was that it¡¯s something dangerous, that¡¯s one of the things he understood since he was little.


    Their house security is tight and guarded by his father¡¯s men, he was homeschooled until his mother married in and strongly advised for him to be enrolled in a normal school to develop sociability, and most of all, the trainings he had to learn and study including training his own pet, King.


    He may not have had the opportunity to interact with other kids his age back then, but he has inte ess. Of course, he knew that it wasn¡¯t exactly what other normal parents teach their children, not even including teaching them to remember all the parts of the gun, how to unload and load the gun, then firing ruately to the target.


    It is a fun training and hobby for an a.d.u.l.t but definitely not something a normal a.d.u.l.t would teach to normal kids.


    Well, putting that aside. What he should focus on are the <i>crows</i> that kept circling over him for the past week, right? At least, he should show his manners and take care of those <i>crows</i> properly.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s thought was reaching on the edge of darkening just like his father.


    "Ah! So stupid Yi Yi, look! We lost! Don¡¯t you knkw how to target ah?! Don¡¯te to my house to y call of duty this sloppily or else I¡¯ll never lend you my notes again."


    "Bah! It was your fault that we lost ah! Look, didn¡¯t I say to lift the rifle to load then shoot at the head. You¡¯re the one who kept shooting them at the c.h.e.s.t not me!"


    "You me me?!"


    Lu Qiang sighed silently. There were a lot of eyes on them already. He wasn¡¯t interested on being the center of attention even more for such ridiculous argument.


    He returnee to being the cool and calm friend of the two and stopped them from causing a scene in the arcade.


    While Lu Qiang was creating a n on how to warmly wee the crows circling around him, Xiu Mei finally received the long awaited call from her elder brother the night before her flight back home.


    It was a very brief call just to assure her that he was fine and she didn¡¯t need to worry about anything.


    Really, aside from meeting Albert Chen on the first day, everything went well on her schedule. If it wasn¡¯t for her current constitution, she would¡¯ve scheduled a flight back home tonight.


    But pregnant women did ample and proper rest. Something that she wouldn¡¯t be able to do in the airne. Of course, her nausea and morning sickness were slowly getting more frequent and she did her best to keep anyone from noticing something wrong especially now that she knew that Albert was watching their movements.


    Even her sense of smell and taste were slowly changing so she was afraid that people would notice her change even more because of that because she might not be able to stop her reaction if she smells or tastes something she particrly dislike from now on.


    She sighed deeply while c.a.r.e.s.sing her stomach gently.


    To think it still wasn¡¯t the most difficult part in hiding her pregnancy. What¡¯s she going to do once her stomach grows bigger ah? Wear some kind of belly shaper or something?


    The next morning, Xiu Mei almost had to rebook her flight to a different schedule after locking herself in the bathroom for almost half an hour.


    She knelt in front of that toilet bowl for half an hour because of her morning sickness, and her knees almost wobbled while she changed and prepared to leave the hotel.


    Damn. Thank goodness her work schedule was already over or else even she wasn¡¯t sure if she could attend her first schedule for the day ah.


    Xiu Mei cleaned herself up and waited in the first-ss only lounge before her flight. She was having some fruits for breakfast and was fetching some juice when coincidentally, she bumped with the person she had seen the other day.


    It was the female politician that Mr.Ying were having lunch with.


    Was Shenzhen this small? To be even in the same lounge... she¡¯s too speechless ah.


    Xiu Mei turned her back and was about to walk away to return to her table when the female politician suddenly called her name.


    "Ms.Xiu Mei, isn¡¯t it?" The female politician said in all smiles as she stopped her from walking away.


    This wasn¡¯t a new experience for Xiu Mei. Getting stopped by people with hidden intentions either to get connected to Lu Chen or in this case, she was sure it was to her father who is a politician like herself.


    Of course, her father is in no way simr to this female politician who chose to have an affair with a married man ah.


    Xiu Mei acted normally how she usually handles cases like this. Staying cold.


    She simply nodded without uttering a word.


    The female politician pped her hands as if she was delighted.


    "It is very nice to meet you! I once met your father in a banquet before and i listened to how he sang praises on how talented his daughter was." The female politician rambled continuously with her ttering words and showing her great talent and eloquency she uses during the campaign period. She was too focused on rambling on and ttery that shepletely forgot to even introduce herself since they¡¯re actually strangers to each other even though they knew each other¡¯s name.


    Oh, of course. Xiu Mei doesn¡¯t know what the other person¡¯s name really was.


    Xiu Mei stayed silent throughout. She even found the female politician to be so bold that she even clung to her arm and followed her to her table. She really wanted to fling away her hold on her arm if it weren¡¯t for the gazes of the other people in the lounge who seemed to already recognize the two of them.


    She was caught in a dilemma. The media were usually crazy and sometimes they can make absurd thoughts into news like right now for example, they might connect this female politician would perhaps soon be working with his father as she shows great rtionship with her. That¡¯s just one of the absurdity that mighte out from this situation. Plus, if Mrs.Ying discovers that she¡¯s her husband¡¯s mistress and she sees this picture of her in a good rtionship with this politician, she¡¯ll definitely explode from anger


    The other dilemma was if she walks away and ignores this woman, there¡¯s no doubt that she¡¯ll be sacked by people tomorrow online for being rude etcetera etcetera.


    Xiu Mei who was calmly weighing which option was better:......does she throw away her face or her father¡¯s?

 Chapter 271 - Shenzhen - Departure

    <h4>Chapter 271 - Shenzhen - Departure</h4>


    After weighing the two options, Xiu Mei finally decided not to throw her father under the bus and avoid Mrs.Ying¡¯s wrath that might befall upon her if she gets associated with Mr.Ying¡¯s mistress. However, though, she wasn¡¯t going to jump into the pit of criticism because of this female politician.


    Xiu Mei took a sip from her juice and roamed her gaze around discreetly.


    She already nned the scenario in her head, while cautiously watching the reaction of other people in the lounge.


    She nced briefly at the woman sitting in front of her who was giggling at her story that she wasn¡¯t even listening to. She carefully put down the ss in her hand and shed her professional smile that doesn¡¯t look too fake but isn¡¯t too sincere either.


    The woman was talking about the so-called ¡¯chat¡¯ that she had with her father before in a banquet, but knowing her father¡¯s attitude, that so-called chat was just definitely a polite greeting of hi and hello, then saying one sentence before ignoring a person¡¯s existence. She really doubts that her father has enough patience to deal with this kind of woman.


    Xiu Mei finally opened her mouth after acting cold to her the whole time.


    "It seems you¡¯re quite familiar with my father?"


    In all honesty, she couldn¡¯t remember the name of this politician at all. So Xiu Mei was very careful with her words so she doesn¡¯t find the need to use to call her name.


    "Yes!" The woman lied through her teeth while putting on a fake smile, "We had a short chat about some government projects that I proposed and was very much interested in his opinion about it."


    Xiu Mei kept her smile on her face as she nodded at her words.


    "I¡¯m pretty sure my father would be delighted to express his opinions about it." She saw the woman¡¯s face lightened up but before she could express her excitement, Xiu Mei ruthlessly cut her off first.


    "Why don¡¯t you bring him to the restaurant you went to the other day? I ate my lunch there before and it was all very delicious." She raised her head, shed a wide smile that was reaching her ears and her eyes turned into crescent moons.


    Xiu Mei watched as the woman¡¯s smile faltered and she chuckled inwardly at her reaction.


    "Which restaurant?" The woman was too caught off guard by her that she couldn¡¯t stop herself in time from speaking those words. She paused thenughed nervously before changing her tune in an attempt to hide her emotions.


    "Oh my! It seems like Ms.Xiu Mei and I have some fate to have crossed our paths in the restaurant. The food at the XXX restaurant is indeed very delicious. Did you try their braised turkey specialty there? It was so good, isn¡¯t it?" The female politicianughed nervously as she mentioned a different restaurant name apart from the restaurant that Xiu Mei was implying. She even asked a question to try to steer away from the topic, and she was looking straight at her as if stopping her from further continuing her initial topic.


    Xiu Mei sneered. Does she think she was a pushover?


    She picked up her fork and stabbed the leftover pieces of fruit on her small te.


    "Yes, their braised turkey is definitely a must-try there." Xiu Mei acted as if she was going to follow her tune and the woman suddenly beamed another smile. But of course, she cut her off again.


    "But the restaurant I was talking about was the XXX Restaurant ah. I had my lunch there the other day and what a coincidence that I also saw you eating there." Xiu Mei paused.


    Then she put the fruit in her mouth and slowly chewed it. After swallowing it, she continued her words.


    "Ah, how was the bird¡¯s nest that you ordered that day? I saw that you and your friend had one of each. Quite extravagant for lunch, aren¡¯t we?"


    Xiu Mei¡¯s words dropped like a bomb to that woman¡¯s ears. She raised her head and she immediately suppressed herself fromughing.


    Oh my gosh, look at that face.


    If they were in an anime, there¡¯s going to be a storm appearing behind her for sure to perfectly show her horror-stricken expression. To even think that she became a senator with such easy-to-read emotions on her face, wouldn¡¯t she need a career change very soon?


    The female politician who was dumbstruck momentarily eventually returned to her senses within seconds. She wiped off the stupefied expression on her face and gone was the fake smile she had earlier. She darted her eyes around nervously around her surroundings, hyper-aware and nervous if the people around them were listening in their conversation. She decided to lower her voice, aplete opposite of the loud voice she had been using while chatting with her earlier as if to show off that they have a good rtionship for appearance¡¯s sake.


    "What are you trying to do?" The female politician said while gritting her teeth,pletely contradictory to the smile she had on her face at the moment.


    Xiu Mei was thrilled. Finally, she¡¯s ying her game now.


    You¡¯re the one who came to me, so you y with me.


    "Shouldn¡¯t I be asking that to you? What are you trying to achieve?" Xiu Mei paused for a second and tilted her head. "Ah, yes. Isn¡¯t it to unt to the people that you have good graces with the Xiu Family to try to make connections not only with our family through me, but also grab the chance to make connections with our other allies and fool the public into voting you thinking we¡¯re on the same boat?"


    Xiu Mei ruthlessly revealed her intentions into the open.


    She was definitely good with her words if it¡¯s about business. But Xiu Mei could never be as good as her father and her second brother whose eloquence is way beyond hers. So when facing people who have bad intentions when trying to get close to her, plus she doesn¡¯t like wasting so much time with that kind of people, Xiu Mei was often ruthless and had a habit of taking off those masks in their faces by revealing their hidden intentions to her in their faces.


    The female politician was horrified for a split second. She wasn¡¯t expecting Xiu Mei to be this cold-blooded when she approached her. Normally, other people would have still given her face despite acting a little too close with them considering the image and reputation of both parties but Xiu Mei was an exception.


    Other people would ignore her as a response while the other would just go along with it. But she...pletely tore her face off!


    Xiu Mei watched as the woman¡¯s expression turned stiff before it distorted to anger as she red at her and threw her a warning look.


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t intimidated nor threatened at all but she was felt likeughing after being entertained by the continuous change of her expressions.


    It¡¯s really so fun to do this sometimes ah!


    Then let¡¯s push another button for more entertainment purposes.


    Xiu Mei picked up the juice ss again and with a lowered voice just loud enough for the two of them to hear, "Though I really admire you ah. To think that you have a good rtionship with Mr.Ying. I really didn¡¯t expect to see you two so courageously making out in that restaurant."


    Then she saw that woman¡¯s hand trembled but her reaction didn¡¯t reflect anything on her face.


    "Watch your mouth." The woman said venomously while keeping that smile on her face so professionally. Of course, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t lose out and fearlessly pushed her buttons.


    "Why should I?" Xiu Mei crossed her legs, ced her elbows on the armrest she was sitting on, and rested her chin on the palm of her hand.


    "Didn¡¯t youe to me in your own volition? Aren¡¯t you the one who approached me so bravely trying to get me to talk and now that I¡¯m willingly ying with your game, you¡¯re telling me to shut up?"


    She continued acting naive as she continued, "Oh, was I not supposed to tell anyone about you and Mr.Ying? Oh my god. I thought you weren¡¯t keeping it a secret so I already gossiped about it with my other friends yesterday when¡ª" Her voice was suddenly drowned by the flight announcement.


    Xiu Mei knew that the woman was going to try to run away first but she wouldn¡¯t let her steal that opportunity.


    She put on a show of looking at her watch and picked up her things before standing up.


    "That¡¯s the cue for my flight. Unfortunately, we¡¯ll have to postpone this conversation to another time. It was fun chatting with you." She shed a small smile her way and bid her goodbye.


    "See you, and Mr.Ying around." She said in a low voice. Chuckling, she strode to the door and left the lounge like a queen.


    Xiu Mei missed the best part when that female politician almost tripped when she was trying to run away from the lounge and avoiding the people there.

 Chapter 272 - The Legion Exclusive Subdivision

    <h4>Chapter 272 - The Legion Exclusive Subdivision</h4>


    Xiu Mei was surprised to see Lu Chen waiting for her as soon as her nended in the airport. She was swept with overwhelming happiness as soon she saw his figure.


    d in a royal blue button down top and slightly loose jeans, he stood there like a towering tree with his tall height amongst the crowd of people waiting in the arrival area. His hair swept up with wax and his hands inside his pockets, with his back straight, his eyes was looking forward towards her directions. So as soon as she exited the door, the two were able to see each other swiftly.


    Lu Chen ignored the looks that the people was throwing at him, simrly, Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t be bothered by the people who seemed to already recognize them and pulled out their phones to take a picture.


    It was quite weird really. They were simply a high-profile business people but somehow they were like a star once they starts to get recognized by people.


    With her baggage in tow, she excitedly ran towards her husband. Lu Chen also took a step forward and opened his arms perfectly catching her in a hug. She buried herself in his c.h.e.s.t and inhaled deeply his familiar scent while the man dropped a kiss on her hair and stroked her back.


    "Don¡¯t run." He whispered in her ears. Xiu Mei giggled at his reminder and knew that what he was talking about. She didn¡¯t say anything and simply nodded her head a little as she hugged him by his neck.


    Lu Chen lowered his head and cupped her face to kiss her on the cheek. "I¡¯lle to you no matter what, so just stand there and wait for me toe."


    She paused for a second before a smile crept up on her lips. Unfazed by the gazes surrounding them, the two stayed like that for an entire minute before walking away.


    Lu Chen took her baggage with his other hand while the other intertwined with hers tightly. Xiu Mei strangely felt giddy with his simple act of picking her up from the airport.


    She looked at her husband through the corner of her eyes and felt weirdly attracted to him at the moment. For some reason, it was like there was some kind of filter in her eyes that made her husband mysteriously so enchanting in her sight.


    Was it because of her moodswings that was strangely getting weirder and weirder by the day?


    While Xiu Mei was too engrossed in her thoughts, she failed to notice Lu Chen¡¯s subtle movements the moment she appeared in the arrival area.


    With Albert¡¯s appearance before Xiu Mei made Lu Chen anxious. Added to what Xiu Min messaged to him yesterday, he got more worried about his family¡¯s safety.


    When the car didn¡¯t turn to the right direction, Xiu Mei immediately noticed it and was surprised. She turned to look at the person driving on her left and asked.


    "Aren¡¯t we going to go home?"


    "We are." He replied while c.a.r.e.s.sing her hand with thumb.


    Her frows furrowed. "But this isn¡¯t the way to our house."


    The car halted temporarily because of the red light. Lu Chen looked directly into his wife¡¯s inquiring gaze and spoke, "We movedst night."


    "..."


    She blinked and looked at him puzzledly.


    Why does he make it sound so simple as if he was simply changing from a small bowl to a big bowl?


    Still, she continued to probe about this sudden decision. She wasn¡¯t even informed of it yesterday that they were nning to move. Xiu Mei felt irritated just by thinking about it but she didn¡¯t change her expression.


    "Why are we suddenly moving? And so fast?"


    They even talked over the phone the other day and he didn¡¯t mention about moving at all.


    Lu Chen¡¯s focus returned in front as he continued driving while his other hand yed with her hand. He didn¡¯t hide the true reason to her and exined.


    "We¡¯re moving to a more secured ce where no one could easily trespass into."


    Xiu Mei.thought for a moment and realized that he was probably talking about the photos that Albert gave her. Her photo there was taken when she got home meaning that he had someone monitoring them from their house.


    But... will Albert really not find them again if they move to a different ce?


    "You¡¯ll understand once we get there."


    "....?"


    An hourter, Xiu Mei almost couldn¡¯t believe her eyes.


    Her eyes wide open like saucers the moment their car entered... uh... some kind of forest or something?


    Aside from the one way cement road in front of them, Xiu Mei almost thought that Lu Chen was abducting her to have a vacation in the middle of a forest.


    Tall trees, vines hanging on the branches and full of greeneries filled her eyes. When she rolled down the windows, she was overwhelmed by the scent of soil and fresh air. She could faintly hear the sound of birds from afar even. It was very simr to the nature sounds that she liked listening to sometimes when she couldn¡¯t sleep before.


    It was also somehow simr to the forest Lu Chen and Lu Qiang brought her to before. Uh, right. That was more like a zoo rather than a forest, actually.


    She looked at her husband again with a questioning look but he simply smiled and continued driving forward. His actions were simply telling her that he won¡¯t open his mouth even if she ask him so Xiu Mei patiently waited for them to arrive in their ¡¯new¡¯ home.


    A few minutester, Xiu Mei was stunned for the second time.


    What the hell? Howe the inside looks some kind of exclusive subdivision or something?!


    It even has some big gates. She almost thought it was almost as grand as they have at her maternal home.


    The walls were made of thick concrete, proudly giving her the impression of how sturdy it was even if there¡¯s an earthquake. The car stopped in front of the gates, and Xiu Mei jumped when she suddenly heard an AI voice pop out from nowhere.


    "Scanning...... Car Identification ID L89G1087. Driver, Lu Chen H19847. Passenger, Xiu Mei H19848. Confirmed Permissions."


    As soon as the voice finished, the two metal gates slid open. Lu Chen drove forward again and there she was shown an amazing view of vis and unfamiliar buildings. The outside was too intimidating but the inside gives off a very simr feeling of an exclusive subdivision for the elite families. It was very simr to the Xiu Mansion of her grandparents.


    It was a short and smooth drive for the rest of the way. They stopped in front of a vi and Xiu Mei was genuinely attracted with the surrounding view at the front garden.


    At the moment, she was very overwhelmed with everything that she took a step back and grabbed Lu Chen¡¯s hands to ask for answers.


    "Where are we?" She didn¡¯t look at him while asking him that. She was like a kid who was twisting her neck tomit to memory the grandiose surroundings in front of her.


    Lu Chen had someone drive off the car to the garage. He watched his wife¡¯s eyes sparkle in curiosity as she roamed her eyes around the new ce.


    "This is our new home."


    "Here?"


    Is he serious?


    That too futuristic gate security and this big vi is their new ce? Is he deceiving her or something?


    Lu Chen pulled her into a nearby garden bench, sat down and pulled his wife to sit on his l.a.p. He held her waist firmly while stroking her back with his fingers. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t seem to notice yet that Lu Chen was secretly eating her tofu because she was still distracted with the new ce.


    "What is this ce?" Xiu Mei questioned.


    There was a small smile on Lu Chen¡¯s lips as he raised his hand to brush her hair.


    "This is a small area that my master built back when he was still alive."


    His master?


    "Initially, he nned to make it as his retirement ce but since there¡¯s still so much space left unused, it also became the living area of the other organization members when they¡¯re not staying in the headquarters. Well, mostly who can live here are those who are the top 20 assassin members."

 Chapter 273 - Lu Chen - Age 18

    <h4>Chapter 273 - Lu Chen - Age 18</h4>


    "Lu Chen, carry those boxes inside the storage. Then check all the items that needs to be restocked in the aisles before refilling all of it." The convenience store manager instructed before he got off work.


    "Yes, manager." Lu Chen, aged 18, replied. He was left all alone in the store and seeing that there¡¯s still no one around, he started transferring all the boxes and crossed off all the to-do on his list. He worked earnestly for the next four hours.


    The teenage Lu Chen wiped the sweat on his forehead after changing out of his work clothes. Using a slightly worn-out bike, he pedalled back to Tsinghua University dorms. His roommates were already on their beds, ying with games on their phones. He could hear them screaming and cursing from time to time even while he was in the shower.


    "Finishing the report this early?" Roommate A casually said to him. He was the one lying on the bed behind Lu Chen¡¯s desk.


    "I need to leave early for the restaurant shift tomorrow." Lu Chen simply replied.


    "Oh. Aren¡¯t you going to attend Professor Zhang¡¯s school-wide lecture tomorrow?" Roommate B said who was on the upper bunker at the opposite side.


    "What? You¡¯re gonna go?" Roommate C who was on the lower bunk kicked the upper bunker divider making a loud sound. "Who goes to Prof. Zhang¡¯s scary quarterly lectures?"


    "You shit! Look at what you did! You made me miss a minion ah!" Roommate B roared in anger. "I was just casually asking ah. Our top student here usually attends lectures like this for credits."


    "I attend those since I didn¡¯t join any clubs." Lu Chenmented without looking up from hisptop.


    "Eiiii, why can¡¯t they just allow elerated students to skip those things ah." Roommate A said on the side. "Hey, don¡¯t start the teamfight yet! Wait for me to level up!!"


    The banters within their room continued while Lu Chen finished smoothing down his report. An hourter, the other three were still energetic and continued ying with their phone. On the other hand, Lu Chen didn¡¯t waste any time and climbed onto his bed to rest. It had been another busy and difficult day for him, and more simr days like this were waiting ahead for him.


    Lu Chen was currently the youngest student to be ever admitted in Tsinghua. At age 18, he graduated high school after being elerated a few times and earned the highest score in the National Exam earning him a schrship in Tsinghua.


    His uncle and aunt reluctantly sent him off, worried that he would have difficulty living so far away from after staying in their family for a long time. But Lu Chen wasn¡¯t worried, rather, he didn¡¯t have time to feel sad at all because his cousin who were ahead of him by a few years were also studying in a key university just nearby his university.


    But Lu Chen knowing how expensive it is to stay in the city didn¡¯t want to depend on his rtives for money. So he saved his allowance, and worked multiple part-time jobs during his freetime. After discussing it with the school, he was allowed to not participate in any clubs. But in exchange, he has to find a different way to fill in those credits so Lu Chen usually attends different lectures within the university no matter if it was rted to his course or not.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t exactly have the best looks at school. But he was still considered quite handsome and popr, especially the fact that he was a genius who enrolled in such a prestigious university at such a young age. He still made a lot of girls turn their heads to him and was very popr in the university.


    But he wasn¡¯t concerned about that. Aside from prioritizing his studies, he bnced his time in working and studying wlessly. The money he earned from working everyday was divided for his savings, daily expenses and some was sent to his aunt and uncle who took him in for the past years.


    His cousin would oftene by to pull him for a meal, and he would always scold him for pushing himself so hard in working and to stop sending money at home passing on his aunt¡¯s words.


    Of course he was stubborn. The moment he lost his parents so early, his uncle¡¯s family took him in without any hesitation and loved him like their real son. He was always grateful for their kindness and at such an early age, this was the only way he could think of to repay them for all those years.


    It was his own way of repaying the grace he received.


    Halfway through his freshman year, a mysterious man suddenly appeared before him. He was stunned and he could sense that the vibe the man was giving off was dangerous so he wanted to run away but he was stopped and pulled into some kind of private room inside a high-end restaurant.


    There, the man introduced himself as Old Yang. He said he was a friend of his parents, and he have a lifesaving grace to histe parents but since they already passed, then he would repay it to their orphaned son instead.


    Lu Chen learned that he was going to be this man¡¯s heir. He turned him down, but Old Yang insisted that he listen to him first and give him sometime to see and convince him to ept his proposal.


    "Why me?" Lu Chen asked in a serious tone. He was like a cat, cautiously looking at this stranger who appeared before him dering that he would repay his parents¡¯ kindness through him.


    Old Yang saw the cautiousness in his eyes andughed. He thought that this guy will have a long journey ahead of him.


    "Because I know you can do it." Old Yang replied mysteriously that Lu Chen couldn¡¯t understand his words.


    Later on, he understood his words.


    Before he could exin his side, various rumors popped out like he was taking drugs, slept with his professor and cheated his way through the university.


    Back then, Lu Chen was just a normal, powerless student. His only capability was his genius brain and physicalbor. He dug through the forums to find the source and found out that the person who did it was the rival student that would often provoke him in front of the ss.


    He submitted this data to the school administration, hoping to clear the allegations that was used to him but because this rival student has some connections to an official, his findings were suppressed and the scandal about him continued.


    Lu Chen was a busy person who didn¡¯t have time to mingle andmunicate with other students. So the moment the issue spread like wildfire within the campus, the students who didn¡¯t know his personality believed in the rumors and from gazing at him with admiration, they now looked at him with disgust.


    Only the professors he often interacted with and his roommates believed in his innocence. But that wasn¡¯t enough to clear his conscience. Lu Chen kept this issue from being found out by his cousin.


    For the second time in his life, Lu Chen realized how little he was and how powerless he is. Just because the other side has connections with an official, he was being forced into a corner, and even his schrship was on the verge of being taken away.


    The first time he felt this way was the day when he stood in front of his parents¡¯ lifeless bodies. He felt so alone and everything in his future seemed dark that he was lost on what he can do in the future.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t give up and attempted multiple times to report to the police and the school but it was to no avail.


    Then Old Yang suddenly came in his school. Dragging him to the chairman¡¯s office, Old Yang sat and had a chat with the chairman along with Old Yang¡¯s legal adviser.


    The conversation he heard there was truly an eye-opener. He didn¡¯t say a word throughout the whole discussion but what he heard was enough to shock him to the bones.


    Old Yang¡¯s legal adviser showed multiple photos of the chairman, all with different woman. Lu Chen saw it as well and he blushed seeing the pictures.


    It was a very daring photos.


    The chairman was kissing with a woman, some pictures where the chairman was on top of a woman and looked like he was f.u.c.k.i.n.g her, the other images were him with multiple woman on the bed and many more photos that he wished he didn¡¯t see at all.

 Chapter 274 - Lu Chen - Becoming the City Leader(1)

    <h4>Chapter 274 - Lu Chen - Bing the City Leader(1)</h4>


    Lu Chen¡¯s life did aplete turnaround after that day.


    He silently watched Old Yang, along with his legal adviser reveal all the chairman¡¯s dirty secrets one by one with corresponding physical evidences. Old Yang didn¡¯t even try to argue and defend in a civil way with words, rather, he made the chairman cower in horror in front of him. He didn¡¯t even hear a word of threat from him because all the evidences before them was enough to show Old Yang¡¯s position.


    It wasn¡¯t just the chairman¡¯s. Old Yang suddenly mentioned a string of names, some of which Lu Chen knew belong in the school administration board and other employees. He didn¡¯t utter anything more than their names, but the chairman¡¯s face turned even paler, almost paper white.


    He watched how the chairman¡¯s hand trembled while picking up the tea cup. And how his voice quivered as he revealed the truth of the matter of the issue rting to him.


    Indeed, it was really because of his rival student and was suppressed because the board received a call from the congressman. The chairman revealed everything he knew, even the fact that they already knew that Lu Chen was innocent.


    Lu Chen got furious but he was holding himself back. Contrary to the raging fire in his c.h.e.s.t, his expression stayed nk, calm and collected as if what he was hearing about was unrted to him.


    Why?


    Probably because aside from rage, he felt humiliated. To be used by others and bullied into this point, like an ant that could easily be crushed by those who have authority. He finally, fully realized the truth that he was denying all along.


    He was saying this not because he is being pitiful for himself or depressed or anything. It was aplete factual statement.


    He was weak.


    Reality is, the world is harsher than he thinks. And power and money are truly the most powerful thing that could be used to help a person or destroy their life.


    As simple as that.


    Lu Chen¡¯s hunger to be better turned fiercer.


    At that time, he was at a loss.


    After leaving the chairman¡¯s office, Old Yang brought him back to the car and talked to him alone.


    He offered if he would like to turn stronger.


    Lu Chen said yes.


    Lu Chen honestly answered him.


    "I don¡¯t know."


    What the future holds for him is a mystery. People change overtime, and even if he has his own morals and principles to upholds, who knows what might change in the future.


    "But I hope, and I will strive to not be a monster. To not turn into someone who would take advantage of what I will have to destroy an innocent person¡¯s life." Lu Chen, who was still a teenager by then, answered with his all looking like a m.a.t.u.r.ed a.d.u.l.t who already went through a lot.


    Old Yang suddenlyughed. He was confused, watching Old Yang pping his knees andughing from the statement he said.


    Did he answer wrong?


    The man¡¯sugh abruptly stopped and with a lingering small smile on his face, he looked straight to his eyes and said in a serious tone, "Then do you have the guts?"


    Guts? For what?


    Old Yang didn¡¯t wait for him to answer. He pulled him along to a ce. It was a very unfamiliar road, and Lu Chen watched the car they were riding in enter deep into the forest.


    It was the sound of something hitting the soil. Old Yang silently signalled him to shush with his hand then pointed forward.


    Lu Chen followed where he was pointing at, and from afar, he saw three bulky men digging the soil. He couldn¡¯t see very well what were next to their foot since they were afar, but his mind worked on a lightning speed and it already made its conclusion even without looking at it closely.


    Dark.


    Digging the soil.


    Unidentifiable things.


    They¡¯re hiding a body. That was his scary conclusion.


    Lu Chen was naive still. He couldn¡¯t just stand there watching three men in the middle of a crime. He looked at Old Yang¡¯s rxed expression as if he was seeing something normal.


    For a moment, Lu Chen couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. It seems this mysterious man was more than what he thought he was.


    A minuteter, another person appeared behind the three bulky men. Everything happened too fast that the three men couldn¡¯t react in time. They were all instantly knocked out by a single person, and after kicking thest person away, he tied all their limbs.


    "Good job." Old Yangmented as he scratched his chin and looked at three passed out men with interest.


    Old Yang: "Which ones?"


    The man who knocked the three men: "The Seventh."


    Old Yang: "Send the notice."


    Man: "This is irritating. I could have easily slit their necks with my new knife. I was excited for nothing."


    Old Yang: "That¡¯s not your order."


    The man tsk-ed loudly as he scratched his head.


    Man: "Yeah, that¡¯s f.u.c.k.i.n.g why I just knocked them out cold. Seriously. Why am I called a f.u.c.k.i.n.g assassins if I¡¯m not allowed to erase this three dirty bags on the face of earth?"


    Lu Chen stiffened. Did he just hear something he wasn¡¯t supposed to know about?


    Old Yang: "Don¡¯t we still send you out for killing missions? It¡¯s just that these three didn¡¯t do something too big so instead of killing them, I¡¯ll make use of them as a warning. You know I still need to push them to sign the agreement."


    Man: "A lousy agreement. Old Man, you dream too big. I don¡¯t even understand why I promised to work for you back then. I must have been blind."


    Old Yang nustughed off his sentence when the man looked at Lu Chen¡¯s tiny figure next to him.


    Man: "Who is this frail looking little guy with you? Your grandson?"


    Old Yang looked at the man with a ridiculed expression, "Have you forgotten I didn¡¯t marry? Besides, didn¡¯t you hear thetest topic around the headquarters?"


    The man¡¯s face changed as if he finally had a realization."No shit! Are you talking this is the one?! He looks like he would faint at the sight of blood ah! That pretty face has more chances in those big screens, not leading a f.u.c.k.i.n.g assassin group."


    Old Yang already expected his reaction. "I haven¡¯t really convinced him yet. But once this one is toughened up, I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯ll be stronger than anyone of you here. Oh, not only physically."


    Old Yang patted Lu Chen¡¯s shoulder. "This one here is a genius. Top scorer."


    Man: "You kidnapping from schools now?!"


    Old Yang: "Did you think he¡¯ll be on his two feet in front of you if I kidnapped him?"


    Lu Chen, who was caught in between the two was dumbfounded and speechless. His dilemma didn¡¯t reflect on his face, but the two people could easily read his eyes.


    Lu Chen suddenly had an intuition that he shouldn¡¯t be listening in this conversation right now, or else, there¡¯s going to be no ce where he could run.


    And he was right.


    Old Yang formally introduced the man to be one of his too subordinates, and then he proceeded to exin that he was the head of an assassin organization and the city leader of the underground city.


    .....Lu Chen thought he was being pranked.


    Underground City? That ck market? That ce heaping with criminals?


    He almost didn¡¯t believe him if they weren¡¯t standing in the middle of nowhere at night, with three men knocked down and tied up, and two mysterious looking bags that has a silhouette of a human body.


    Yep, definitely bad news.


    But Old Yang casually dropped the bomb. He exined how he was going to repay his parents¡¯ good grace, which he briefly summed up into one sentence.


    "I¡¯m apppointing you as my heir, the next City Leader."


    Lu Chen : .......


    Of course, Lu Chen vehemently disagreed with Old Yang¡¯s offer.


    I mean, really? He spent his whole life following the rules andws. He didn¡¯t even steal the nearly expired lunchbox in the convenience store even if he was already starving and knowing that the manager wouldn¡¯t notice it.


    Then now they¡¯re expecting him to take over and be a leader of a ce bursting with crime and full of violent and scary people.


    Heck, he couldn¡¯t even defeat a mere rival student. How the hell are they expecting him to be the city leader of the underground city?!


    Doesn¡¯t that sound so ridiculous?!

 Chapter 275 - Lu Chen - Becoming the City Leader(2)

    <h4>Chapter 275 - Lu Chen - Bing the City Leader(2)</h4>


    Everything sounded so ridiculous in his ears as he continued listening to their conversation. Lu Chen wasn¡¯t interested in getting involved in crime or killing anyone.


    His goals were to start his ownpany and repay his uncle¡¯s and aunt¡¯s grace by giving them a good life. That was it.


    Simple. Peaceful.


    If what Old Yang said was true that he looked for him to repay his parents¡¯ grace(which he still doesn¡¯t know about), then if he was going to repay it this way, he¡¯d rather not ept it. And even if he owes Old Yang because of his help in resolving the scandal about him, he will pay him back in a different way that is within the eptable range of his morals and principles.


    He can bring Old Yang to his parents¡¯ grave and let him give his respects, but he would not ept such a high-profile and scary position.


    That was Lu Chen¡¯s thoughts.


    Old Yang was already expecting this kind of reaction, so he sent him back to his dorm in Tsinghua. Lu Chen thought everything was already over after that.


    The next day, news about the rival student who set him up was expelled from the university. The school even released an official announcement that Lu Chen was innocent and he did not get involved in scandalous activities.


    The entire school exploded because of the news and even though there were already rifications, there is still half of the poption who didn¡¯t believe Lu Chen¡¯s innocence. Rather, they questioned him in his capability to make the school speak out for him further encouraging the rumors. So the students were split into three opinions: those who believe Lu Chen was only framed, the neutral party, and those who believe that Lu Chen was exploiting his authority.


    Lu Chen stopped caring anymore. Eventually, the rumors died down so quickly since the school talked with those students who got too harsh, and also, the exams were fast approaching. Everything returned to normal as if that chaotic and eventful week didn¡¯t happen. It¡¯s quite normal for this kind of news to disappear so quickly in a university, especially in a prestigious university wherein most of the students are most often focused on preparing for their exams and earning credits. Gossiping is their only way of letting out their stress but they don¡¯t spend most of their energy on that kind of useless stuff.


    So after Lu Chen cleared up his name, he didn¡¯t do anything anymore and continued with his part-time jobs and attending the lectures for credits.


    Old Yang also didn¡¯t appear before him ever since he dropped him off back to the dorms. It was suspicious how he easily epted his decision that he won¡¯t be his heir, especially with how he directly revealed it to him carelessly.


    Other people would normally report what they¡¯ve witnessed and heard to the police. And Lu Chen was actually slightly worried that Old Yang or that other man would do something since he clearly heard their words and even became a witness as they abducted the three men from that night and how they took away that two dead bodies wrapped in vinyl.


    But surprisingly, that Old Yang didn¡¯t worry about him being a bbermouth.


    Lu Chen only wondered about that for a short time and quickly shrugged off his thoughts.


    A weekter, his peace vanished like a bubble.


    While he was throwing the trash outside the restaurant he was working in, Lu Chen was stopped by two men. The two stood behind him and he felt something pointed at his waist. The two men¡¯s appearance looked like the gangsters hanging out in the street alleys, but he could clearly sense that these two people were not that kind of men.


    Their actions were fast, and they didn¡¯t babble much. They were direct in pointing a gun at his waist and spoke briefly.


    "Come with us or we¡¯ll shoot you."


    But before they could do anything to him other than that, the man he sawst week suddenly appeared before him like a wind. He felt himself being pushed to the wall and his eyes widened as he watched the mysterious man fight against those two men.


    No, not beat up.


    In less than two minutes, the two men were already drowning in their own blood after being stabbed in their skulls by that mysterious man. He looked so at ease as if he didn¡¯t just finish killing two people. After wrapping up the bloodied knife with cloth, he hid it somewhere in his body and turned to directly look at Lu Chen.


    "What a waste. I still don¡¯t understand why that old man chose you to be the heir with you being such a wimp." That manmented with his hand on his chin as he scrutinized Lu Chen from head to toe.


    Lu Chen stood with his back straight and even if he was truly slightly scared after seeing two men die before his eyes, his eyes remained still and didn¡¯t cower in fear.


    A wimp?


    No. He wasn¡¯t a wimp. He was just using hismon sense.


    How could he, a person who doesn¡¯t even have a piece of knowledge about self-defense, fight off with two people with a gun?


    So rather than struggling, he would listen to them first, calmly strategize in his mind how he would escape without getting killed before putting it into action.


    Like an experiment. Hypothesize, then execute.


    "O-ho." the man reacted as soon as he saw Lu Chen¡¯s gaze looking at him so directly. "I domend that gaze."


    Pulling out a cigarette from his pocket, the man leaned on the wall disregarding the two dead men lying down on the floor, and lit his cigarette so rxedly.


    "Finish your shift. I¡¯ll take you with me after."


    Lu Chen stood there for a moment at a loss before walking back inside the restaurant. His thoughts weren¡¯t focused on his work because of what happened. He was confused why that man suddenly appeared before him again and why are their people suddenly want to hurt him.


    After his shift, that man pulled him in somece¡¯s rooftop. No, not the rooftop. Lu Chen was currently sitting on somece¡¯s roof.


    He was baffled why this man suddenly brought him here but he stayed quiet. This man was full of mystery but most of all, he was oozing with danger. He¡¯d rather not offend this man and talk to him without being careful.


    "Do you know how many people die from being involved in crimes?" The man lied down on the roof with his two arms behind his head.


    "...No." He does watch the news though.


    "Then do you have any idea the percentage of the crimes in this country is being contributed by criminal groups and underground organizations?"


    "...No."


    Why would he know about that?


    "At least tell me one thing that you know. Are you stupid?" The man said in an annoyed tone as he red at the person sitting beside him.


    Lu Chen was taken aback but he still answered his question.


    "I know... that you¡¯re a killer." He carefully responded.


    The man raised his eyebrow while looking at Lu Chen andughed.


    "Hahahaha! Yes, that¡¯s right. At least you know that."


    "...."


    "Yes, I¡¯m a killer. But they usually call me an assassin instead."


    "...En."


    "What do you think about assassins?"


    Lu Chen¡¯s forehead creased. He really couldn¡¯t follow through with their conversation. It didn¡¯t make any sense no matter how much he thinks about it but he still thought about what to answer him.


    "People who are paid to kill someone." Or at least that¡¯s what he learned from watching his roommates¡¯ Hollywood movies.


    "Mm... you¡¯re somehow half-right. Not all assassins kill for money though."


    "..."


    "Just like how we work under that old man. He doesn¡¯t pay us nor do we get paid for our missions. We kill people for a united cause, and not all assassins kill innocent people."


    They don¡¯t get money?


    "What do you think about the old man?"


    "....pardon?"


    Why did the topic suddenly jump to Old Yang? He really couldn¡¯t understand the flow of this conversation.


    "The old man who introduced you to me that night. Don¡¯t tell me you have forgotten?"


    "....Of course not."


    Does he think he has such a short-term memory or some kind of a stupid person? How can he forget that old man if he can remember this mysterious assassin man?


    "He said he was the City Leader of the Underground City."


    "And then?"


    Lu Chen recalled how intimidating Old Yang was back in the chairman¡¯s office.


    "...He seems to be reliable."


    His aura was so scary that the chairman almost peed in his pants ah.

 Chapter 276 - Lu Chen - Becoming the City Leader(3)

    <h4>Chapter 276 - Lu Chen - Bing the City Leader(3)</h4>


    Lu Chen sat there awkwardly while wondering why he was having this kind of conversation on the roof and with a dangerous man.


    When the man heard his answer, he nced at the teenager with raised eyebrow and chuckled.


    "You have a good eye there." He nodded his head approving with Lu Chen¡¯s answer. "That old man is always loud and energetic. But he is indeed a reliable person when the situation calls for it."


    Lu Chen stayed silent unsure of how to respond to that.


    "But I guess, amongst everything, his best redeeming quality is that he has a good eye for people."


    Lu Chen continued listening.


    "Sometimes, he would often make rash decisions that one would surely get nervous or doubt whether he was really sure about it. But always, at the end of the day, that old man always proves that it was the best decision that he made."


    The man suddenlt sat up and crossed his legs. Pulling out another stick of cigarette, he lit it with a lighter and started smoking. Lu Chen subconsciously distanced himself from him after getting a whiff of the smoke. He didn¡¯t like the smell of smoke ah.


    "So when that old man chose you to be an heir, I was full of doubts."


    Who wouldn¡¯t? Compared to the man beside him, he looked like a scrawny kid that would instantly be knocked out cold if he was punched using those bulky arms of his.


    "But looking back at that old man¡¯s confidence when he introduced you to me directly, then I guess he meant he has already seen something in you that made him assured that you could do the job."


    Lu Chen¡¯s brows furrowed. "Me?"


    Him? The job of being a City Leader of the Most Violent ce on earth wherews doesn¡¯t exist?


    "Afraid?"


    "Who wouldn¡¯t be?" Lu Chen honestly replied. It was useless to y cool and unbothered when they¡¯re talking about a life and death position.


    "Scared of the underworld? Well, it¡¯s natural. If you go there looking so weak, I could already imagine that you¡¯ll be dead within five minutes after stepping into that ce."


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t dare to imagine that scene at all.


    He felt more annoyed and frustrated. He was suspicious that the point of this conversation was to convince him to ept Old Yang¡¯s proposal.


    "Why does it have to be me? Why do you need to choose a normal person like me when Old Yang have you and his other men who are surely much stronger?"


    He was genuinely curious. Ever since Old Yang offered that City Leader position to him, he couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it after thinking about it for the past week. Wasn¡¯t it normal to offer that kind of big and dangerous position to someone who are stronger and more reliable than him who could be considered an ant ifpared to the people from that underworld city?


    It was like he was offering a cheese to actose intolerant person. It was too conflicting.


    Instead of answering him, the man threw back a question, "Do you think a person only needs to be strong to be the leader?"


    "Of course being strong isn¡¯t enough. A person should also be smart and wise enough to make decisions while considering the consequences. And definitely an ability to lead people."


    "Is that a textbook answer?"


    "No, that¡¯s what I learned from observing my superiors at work." Lu Chen replied.


    All his observations of what qualities a leader should have is based from his experiences after working with two different superiors for half a year. Their restaurant manager could be considered a terrible boss and leader who only knows how to scold and order people while his convenience store boss manager may not be smart enough, but he is definitely a model leader in some sense.


    "Then why don¡¯t you try out that old man¡¯s offer?" The man looked at Lu Chen as if he was going to give him some challenge.


    "Why wouldn¡¯t you?" Lu Chen didn¡¯t back down and threw the question back at him.


    The corner of the man¡¯s lips lifted when he heard Lu Chen¡¯s words. Oh, cheeky.


    "Because assassins never lead people. Don¡¯t you remember what I said before? We work if we get paid or because of a cause. But we never lead. Not part of the requirements."


    "..."


    He has a point.


    "Assassins work under someone. We work for Old Yang right now, but who knows. Why don¡¯t you be our future boss ah?"


    Lu Chen¡¯s forehead creased as he answered, "No, thank you."


    "Being strong can be developed. I heard you¡¯re a genius so that makes you smart, and probably wise enough since you think too m.a.t.u.r.e for your age. So why not give it a shot?"


    Lu Chen: "...."


    Why does he sound like he was tricking him into buying some insurance ah?


    No, rather than that. Why was he trying to convince someone like him to ept Old Yang¡¯s offer when they don¡¯t even know each other.


    But before Lu Chen could answer him back, the man suddenly stood up.


    "Time¡¯s up. I need to go to my next work now."


    Then without waiting for Lu Chen¡¯s opinion, he grabbed him by the cor, hoisted him up in the air before throwing him on his shoulders like a sack. He suddenly leapt off to the next roof with lower height and continued jumping here and there unt they¡¯ve reached the ground. He put him back on the ground.


    While Lu Chen was still a bit shaken and dizzy from that momentary wild adventure, the man gave him a final nce.


    "Give old man your answer after you¡¯ve seriously thought about it."


    Then he turned his back and started walking away. Lu Chen stood there for a few seconds watching him disappear into the darkness.


    He looked behind him and saw the exit of the alley. The lights from the busy street streaming in the gaps, brightening the dark alley he was in. Lu Chen silently stood in that ce as he thought deeply about something before walking out and returning to the dorms.


    After that, their conversation disturbed Lu Chen¡¯s thoughts for the next few days. He couldn¡¯t understand why he was suddenly considering the offer after that conversation, but somehow, at the back of his mind, there was a voice that was whispering to him to jump and leap into that fate.


    It was truly a mystery.


    The chairman only red at him before walking away. He was baffled at first but he recalled how Old Yang blockmailed him into rifying the issue the other week so he must have been very ufortable that a student knows his dirty secrets but he was not allowed to do anything to him.


    Lu Chen had a foreboding that his university life would be more difficult in the next few years.


    While walking, the images that he saw shed back in his mind. To think that such a high-profile person like the chairman was a very dirty person behind the scenes, it was truly disgusting.


    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder. The professors and staff that looked so kind and angelic in front of the students, truly, how much percentage of them have different faces when they turn their back?


    To think that world was this disgusting and dirty... it was truly an eye opener.


    The next day, Old Yang appeared before him again and took him out for a cup of tea.


    "Have you thought about it?" The old man asked in a knowing tone.


    Lu Chen immediately knew that it was he who sent that man to him the other day.


    He stared at the warm teacup in his grasp and rubbed his finger on the edge of the cup. He silently stared at it for a full minute before speaking.


    "Can I ask you a question?"


    Old Yang nodded.


    "Is it truly because of my parents¡¯ grace?"


    He knew that the old man would understand what he was talking about.


    "Partially, yes. But not entirely. I¡¯m not as reckless to entrust an assassin organization and the entire underground world to someone whom I knew who wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the position."


    "Then of all people, why pick me?"


    "Because you have it." The old man looked at him straight in the eyes. "Your d.e.s.i.r.e to grow and win, a straight back who wouldn¡¯t bend to anyone and a pride who holds onto his morals and principles no matter what pressurees before him."


    A very poetic but deeply meaningful answer. Lu Chen¡¯s breath hitched at the unexpected praise he received.


    He didn¡¯t know that Old Yang was holding him with such a high regard.


    "So are you ready to ept it?" Old Yang had a small smile om his face as he raised his teacup closer to him.


    "....Yes."


    The sound of two warm teacups clinked into each other, a small action that sealed the deal between the old man and the eighteen-year-old Lu Chen.

 Chapter 277 - Lu Chen - Becoming The City Leader(4)

    <h4>Chapter 277 - Lu Chen - Bing The City Leader(4)</h4>


    From then on, Lu Chen¡¯s life waspletely thrown into chaos. His horizons widened signficantly. No, ¡¯significantly¡¯ is cutting it too short. Maybe he should say that his perception to the reality of this world were distorted before under the safe of thew but now everything waspletely unveiled before his eyes b.a.r.e n.a.k.e.d.


    The dark and horrible truth hidden in the midst of this civilization. How much dirt a person hides from everyone and how heartless and ruthless a human can be.


    How thew isn¡¯t enough to suppress a person¡¯s evil impulses. The bloods spilt by other people due to greed.


    Lu Chen was disheartened and almost lost hope to all humanity after seeing all those dirt with his own eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe it. No, he refused to believe it. To think he was living so blindly all along, and how he wished to return to the days when he didn¡¯t know about it at all.


    Old Yangpletely made him open his eyes to this horrible reality. He was shaken, and he subconsciously wanted to run away after knowing all these things, but he realized it was already toote.


    Everything he¡¯d seen was already engraved in his mind, so running away would only be useless since he forever be haunted by the bloody truth.


    In simpler terms, he could never return to the past and Lu Chen¡¯s only choice is to take a step forward.


    Old Yang put Lu Chen under a harsh training. He was training him to be his apprentice and heir in a short period of time. Aside from his studies, he had to learn how to defend and protect himself. Most especially, he had to learn how to kill a person as an assassin.


    Of course how could he not learn it when he¡¯s going to be the main head of an assassin organization?


    Lu Chen¡¯s clean and rough hands from his previous part-time jobs became rougher and stained with blood in his journey.


    With the guidance of Old Yang¡¯s subordinates and his swift ability to pick-up things, Lu Chen¡¯s skills developed like a speed of light. Under the immense training to build his physical stamina and flexibility, his body slowly built muscles until it became perfectly fit to endure hours of physical training.


    His reflexes improved by leaps and bounds as well. He learned how to assemble different gun types in a short amount of time, shoot with great uracy may it be moving or still, and disassemble it in an instant. Aside from fighting barehanded and using a gun, he was also taught to use different weapons such as swords, long sticks and arrows just in case the situation calls for it.


    Old Yang personally taught him how to strategize and fight wars like a general. The Art of War wasn¡¯t simply enough to be studied, he needed to understand how ti works in different situations and put it into actions effecticely. Even thebat strategies of an assassin was taught closely by him.


    In summary, Lu Chen be became almost invincible before he graduated in the university. A genius who grew into a monster was now ready to be introduced as the heir of the Underground City.


    He had been through so much and he couldn¡¯t even remember how many people died from his hands after they were sent to him to kill him under the orders of their enemies.


    From being unable to stomach any food after seeing blood and killing a person for the first time, now he can even twist a person¡¯s neck without blinking and staying unbothered. It was truly a big jump from his lousy and weak self.


    He had grown to a point that Old Yang was already passing his other responsibilities to him, including the training of the new recruits. After getting the approval(albeit by force) of the other major organizations in the underworld, Lu Chen did his best to bnce his work as an heir and as the president of his newly startedpany. He truly became a person to be admired after reaching the pinnacle of both sides as the heir and apany president.


    Slowly, Old Yang withdrew from the scenes leaving Lu Chen alone to handle all his responsibilities. Years ago, he chose a new recruit as per Old Yang¡¯s orders. That person would be his right hand person, and it was up to him whether he chooses a strong person he can rely on or a person he couls grow with along the way.


    And that¡¯s how Lu Shao came to be as his assistant. The two grew and trained together building their trust along the way. So now that Old Yang already stepped down from his responsibilites, Lu Chen, with the help of Lu Shao, was able to quickly integrate in his two different positions.


    One day, Old Yang suddenly brought him to an isted ce. It was an area surrounded by tall walls and behind it was a big empty space filled with grass. If it weren¡¯t for the small vi that he could faintly see from where he was standing, he would have thought that the old man was bringing him somewhere to y and torture again.


    There, Old Yang dered that he would retire in this ce. Isted from the world and hidden behind the forest. It was very in line with his personality.


    Lu Chen was very supportive of his decision and even lent a hand in expanding the vi. Then the Old Yang thought that it was a waste not to use the other empty lots so he dragged some of his close subordinates and friends to live with him in this ce, including that man who he chatted with in the roof back then.


    But the people were still bored. So chose new recruits were brought there for training and that¡¯s how this ce became filled with noise and shouta of men in training daily. The walls were imroved and high-tec gates imbued with AI were installed for safety considering the identities of the people living within the walls.


    Old Yang who passed away from his long-term illness left silently under the eyes of his most trusted subordinates. And even them passed away one by one shortly after that as if they were loyally following behind Old Yang. It was very strange to see them all suddenly s.u.mb to an illness but what could Lu Chen do? They are assassins whose loyalty seeped through their bones and now that their original master is gone, maybe they chose to perish and follow him inti his next life.


    It may sound ridiculous but Lu Chen witnessed how close and how sturdy their rapport was.


    And so, this ce eventually became a ce where Lu Chen and his most trusted and best assassins stayed together. The new recruits are not allowed inside anymore, but even if majority of the houses here were empty, everything was well taken care of by the caretaker.


    That¡¯s why when Lu Chen decided to move, he didn¡¯t look at his other properties but directly chose to stay in this ce. It may be a bit far from their previous house but it was the only ce that he could be assured of his family¡¯s safety considering that Albert and his other enemies are looking at them so closely, finding opportunities to take a bite out of them.


    Xiu Mei carefully listened to her husband¡¯s story all throughout. She was surprised to learn about his story, most especially the fact that he was only a teenager when he started to train to bing the leader of the most violent ce on earth.


    "So we¡¯ll be living here from now on?" Xiu Mei raised her eyes and roamed the ce with her gaze. The garden was very exquisite and on par with the ones in her maternal home. Even the big mansion were bigger and wider than the ones they used to live in.


    Lu Chen held her hand, "Only temporarily. At least until I already have a grasp of what Albert intends to do. Right now, his reach is beyond from what we expected and you and Lu Qiang¡¯s safety is my priority."


    God knows how nervous he was when Lu Chen heard that Xiu Min was ambushed in America. He already had suspicions that the five images that Albert gave to Xiu Mei was like a warning, that he will do something to the people in these photos.


    And the ambush to Xiu Min¡¯s party basically confirmed it all. Thenst night, even his son who doesn¡¯t usually chat with him dropped by his office and reported about the people who were following after him. Of course, he had not told Xiu Mei about this yet.


    Without dying for another second, he decided to bring his family out and move to this ce for protection.


    Lu Chen tightened his hold on his wife¡¯s hand and started reporting everything he knew as promised, "About the images that you received...."

 Chapter 278 - New Place

    <h4>Chapter 278 - New ce</h4>


    Just as he promised to his wife, Lu Chen shared with his wife about the progress in his investigation about Albert and the ambush that happened to her elder brother in America.


    Xiu Mei got very worried about her elder brother and when she heard that the ambush was most likely rted to Albert. She recalled the her photo and the other three photos of hers including Lu Chen.


    She sighed in relief as shepletely understood Lu Chen¡¯s choice to move out of their previous ce. Albert was truly bolder than most people she met. He had the guts to appear before her while the military and Lu Chen¡¯s men is currently after him, and he gave her a gift like a warning that he intends to do somethimg again.


    She was baffled. Even from before they realized that his gifts were connected and had meanings, Albert kept giving them warnings that he¡¯s going to move. But he always kept his traces so clean just like how he erased his past record and his involvement to other people.


    It was very contradicting that she was confused.


    The couple finally stepped inside the vi. Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes automatically roamed around the unfamiliar ce and was extremely amazed by the sight before her.


    Her Grandfather Xiu was quite interested in pottery and paintings so Xiu Mei was exposed to various antique vases and expensive paintings.


    So the moment sheid eyes on that big wall of painting as soon as she opened the door entrance, she was genuinely attracted to it and even if she wasn¡¯t an expert, she knew that this type of wall painting was very expensive.


    The inside of the vi was abination of modern interior and oriental culture. It was a weird pairing but whoever did the interior design of this ce was extremely talented to make those two designs coexist in harmony in this home design.


    All in all, Xiu Mei was very happy to move into this beautiful space. The only difference that she noticed was theck of people roaming around the mansion. Everything was so quiet and serene as if only her and Lu Chen inside.


    "Where¡¯s little Qiang? And the others?"


    Did he leave the butler and the other helpers in the old house?


    Lu Chen walked over to her side and naturally grabbed her waist pulling her closer to his side.


    "Well, this ce is a bit special so I couldn¡¯t bring the others here. Lu Qiang was still sleeping upstairs before I left to pick you up. Must have been so tired when packing up his things so quicklyst night."


    "Oh."


    She initially wanted to kiss and hug her son as soon as she got home but since his tired, she could waitedter once he wakes up.


    Xiu Mei focused next on the first half of what he said about the fact that the others aren¡¯t allowed in this ce.


    She wasn¡¯t surprised but she pondered about the other problem, "So does that mean we¡¯ll be the ones to maintain this ce while we stay here?"


    Xiu Mei raised her eyes while scratching her cheek. This time, she gulped worriedly at the amount of cleaning that they¡¯ll need to do if only the three of them are really going to stay here.


    "Don¡¯t worry. A housekeeper will drop by here every morning to clean since we¡¯re not usually at home by that time." Lu Chen assured her.


    She raised one of her brow and asked again, "What about our meals?"


    "We can do it ourselves." He said confidently. Xiu Mei looked at him strangely.


    When she just got married to Lu Chen, the three of them would usually cook their own dinner as their family time together. Then in the morning, she would prepare Lu Qiang¡¯s lunch for school so that he won¡¯t need to eat so much unhealthy stuff at school.


    Well, she was actually fine with cooking dinner daily and prepare their breakfast and lunch as well. She didn¡¯t really mind waking up extra early to cook breakfast. But it¡¯s not like she has a consistent schedule ah.


    What happens if she suddenly needs to do overtime? What happens to their son who is still too young to cook his own food ah?


    While she was already thinking of a n on how to make her schedule work, Lu Chen spoke again.


    "We can take turns in cooking, wife." He stated proudly before kissing her on the cheek.


    "...."


    .....did he just say he was also going to cook?


    In a split second, her mind shbacked on the egg with egg shells he cooked for her before and the shrimp pasta that had a bit of a funny aftertaste.


    Well... ignoring the egg disaster, the pasta were definitely ptable but......no matter how much she loves him, she really wasn¡¯t confident about her husband¡¯s skills in cooking.


    Somehow, she understood why he only worked as a server in the restaurant.


    "Wife," Lu Chen turned Xiu Mei¡¯s body in front of him and lifted her chin, "what do you want to eat? Does the baby want to eat anything? I can cook it for you!"


    He looked so excited when he was saying it that made Xiu Mei speechless for a moment.


    .....oh my god, why is he so determined to cook for her again ah?!


    Mrs. Lu must have forgotten the endless praises she sang to Mr.Lu¡¯s creamy shrimp pasta during their dinner date.


    Speaking of the baby, Xiu Mei was reminded of something.


    "Chenchen, did you already tell Lu Qiang that he¡¯s going to be a big brother?" Her brows furrowed as she looked at him. The second Lu Chen avoided her gaze, she knew his answer.


    She pped his arm in annoyance when she realized that her husband were still not done in his childish revenge to their son. My gosh! How is he the a.d.u.l.t one here?!


    "Aren¡¯t you being too much?" She pinched him on yhe waist next and Lu Chen cried out softly as she pinched him harder.


    "Are you seriously going to keep a grudge to your own son ah?"


    Lu Chen immediately grabbed her wrist to stop her from pinching him and held her other hand to prevent her from moving as well. He pressed her body into his and w.h.i.n.ed.


    "But wife, you¡¯re mine. You married me, didn¡¯t you? So you¡¯re mine." Heined like a kid whose lollipop got stolen.


    Xiu Mei knew that this guy was trying to act cute in front of her but she heartlessly ignored it.


    "Didn¡¯t you originally propose to me to be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother ah? So Lu Qiang spending time is just right." She heartlessly stabbed him to a s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e spot.


    She felt his body froze for a second.


    "...but I didn¡¯t know that I¡¯ll be so possessive of you back then....." She heard him mutter under his breath.


    Right, who would have thought that the cold emperor was actually this childish ah? Getting jealous over their own son.


    "Wife," Lu Chen¡¯s face turned serious that she was suddenly confused. "Do you love him more than me now?"


    "..."


    How much vinegar did this guy really drink ah?


    Seeing that Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t responding to his question, Lu Chen pouted at his wife. Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. Seeing Lu Chen acting coy with her.... for a moment, she was suddenly confused whether it was her or Lu Chen who was pregnant and having moodswings ah.


    "Wife, you don¡¯t love me anymore?" He suddenly stated that made Xiu Mei raise her her and look at her husband in disbelief.


    She thought for a moment before answering, "What if I say that I love little Qiang more?"


    The moment those words left her mouth, Lu Chen¡¯s eyes changed. Xiu Mei suddenly found herself in the air, being carried by him upstairs. She hugged his neck in reflex and momentarily panicked at his actions.


    "Wai--"


    Xiu Mei sensed a foreboding.


    "Hey, I¡¯m pregnant! We can¡¯t---" Her words were cut off when Lu Chenid her down on the bed and climbed over her body.


    She raised her head and was met with a pair of eyes thatpletely revealed his rogue intentions.


    "The doctor said only pration is forbidden right?"


    "........."

 Chapter 279 - New Lessons

    <h4>Chapter 279 - New Lessons</h4>


    <i><strong>(Author¡¯s note: Smut warning! R18+!!)</strong></i>


    Rogue!


    His statement rendered Xiu Mei speechless.


    Lu Chen never failed to always refresh her perspective on his shamelessness ah.


    He lowered his head and caught her lip between his teeth. In an instant, he started to conquer and ravish her mouth.


    Her hand held his shoulders, as she quickly drowned to Lu Chen¡¯s c.a.r.e.s.s. The way his tongue caught hers, and how he explored every inch inside, it was all very hypnotizing to her. His familiar embrace that always made her feel safe, at the same time, he would make her feel so hot and warm like this.


    His every touch lingered and she could feel that the fire within her kept growing and growing as she s.u.mbed to this wonderful cold emperor of theirpany.


    Their lips parted, and he started raining kisses on her face.


    On the corner of her lips. Cheeks. Nose. Eyes. Forehead. Temple.


    Then he started going down and nibbled the skin behind her ear making her let out a soft cry.


    His movements halted and he suddenly distanced his face from hers. Xiu Mei almost w.h.i.n.ed at the sudden loss of tempting heat but her heart made another flip when she raised her head to meet his eyes.


    Xiu Mei subconsciously held her breath as she stared back at her husband¡¯s gaze. His darkened eyes seemingly looking at her with so much intensity made her nervous. It felt like he was going to swallow and gobble her up in one bite ah.


    He was looking at her so intensely that it was almost like a spell making her unable to pull away her gaze from him.


    He lowered his head to her neck, and he began leaving his traces in her skin. Creating new marks over the ones that already faded from theirst love making.


    Her half lidded eyes flew wide open in an instant.


    She returned to her senses when his warm hand slipped underneath her shirt, sending tingling on her spine. She felt his other hand unbuttoning the jeans she was wearing so she immediately stopped him from doing anything further.


    "Wait-wait!"


    Both of their breathing turned heavy as the temperature within the room rose.


    He removed his lips and lowered his mouth to her ears to start nibbling. He whispered in her ears while his hands got busy in undressing both their clothes.


    "I won¡¯t enter, I promise." He muttered with a hoarse voice.


    He knew that she was worried that he might forget about the doctor¡¯s advice that the two of them need to temporarily abstain from s.e.x for the first three months. At that time, he almost wanted to pounce on Tang Li but he controlled himself while trying to understand that it was just a normal advice for new parents.


    It was abination of happiness and frustration when he learned about his wife¡¯s pregnancy. That¡¯s why ever since he learned about Xiu Mei¡¯s current state, he stopped sneaking in her baths and touching her so boldly lest it would backfire on him.


    She was also quite ufortable due to her morning sickness for the past week so he was even more worried about his wife than worrying over his nightlife with his wife.


    But it seems like the fire that he kept suppressing for a long while couldn¡¯t be suppressed anymore. She was just too adorable and to tempting even when she wasn¡¯t trying to seduce him.


    He brought her to their new masters bedroom after firmly deciding that he would teach her a new way that the they could do to enjoy themselves without proceeding to the final step.


    "It¡¯s almost lunch and you still want to y around?" Xiu Mei replied while her hands flew to his b.a.r.e shoulders and ran her fingers over to his skin.


    Lu Chen chuckled at her words and nced at the sunlight streaming in between the curtains.


    "Of course, we still have an hour left." He looked at her with a knowing smile. Xiu Mei¡¯s lips twitched as she turned speechless with what he was implying.


    Without Xiu Mei¡¯sints, Lu Chen smoothly removed all their clothes and the two of them are nowpletely b.a.r.e to each other again under the nket.


    He held himself back for quite some time that he had almost gone crazy when he started exploring his wife¡¯s body for the nth time. Every touch and every c.a.r.e.s.s of his fingers unbelievably felt electrifying for Xiu Mei. Her m.o.a.ns and whimpers as he held and squeezed her c.h.e.s.t, then when he started leaving hickies on the inside of her t.h.i.g.hs and she almost shot up from the bed when she felt his warm tongue inside her most s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e part on the lower part of her body.


    She was going crazy and so was Lu Chen. Before they couldpletely s.u.mb to their primitive d.e.s.i.r.es, Lu Chen grabbed her wife¡¯s hand and pulled it towards his little member.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes flow open as she stared aghast at the hard thing that was on her hand.


    "New lesson, baby." Lu Chen said hoarsely while pecking her on the lips. "Hold it tight like this... oh... then move it up and down while doing that...."


    He patiently guided her clumsy hands on what she needs to do while groaning from her touch. Xiu Mei was indeed a pretty good student because a littleter, Xiu Mei quickly caught on as she recalled his words.


    Lu Chen heavy pants and groans resonated within the room as he buried his head in between Xiu Mei¡¯s neck and shoulders. Of course, he returned the favor and slid one of his fingers inside Xiu Mei increasing it one by er on. He didn¡¯t forget to be gentle and light so as to not hurt her body too much.


    The sound of the woman¡¯s soft and broken m.o.a.ns and the man¡¯s hoarse groans were the only thing that could be heard in their room. The two climaxed together and felt satisfied. It wasn¡¯t as pleasurable like before but it wasn¡¯t that bad either.


    Lu Chen¡¯s lips curled up as he pulled her wife to his embrace as they cuddled together on the bed. In his mind, he was already thinking of other positions that the two of them could do without hurting her body and tiring her out too much.


    An hourter, Xiu Mei who was surprisingly not exhausted from their short activity was scolding Lu Chen in the kitchen.


    The two were cooking their lunch, and when she was about to start chopping the vegetables for their side dishes, Lu Chen grabbed the knife and told her that he¡¯ll do the cooking so that she won¡¯t get tired.


    Of course she protested but with Lu Chen¡¯s insistence, she could only sigh and teach him what to do on the sides.


    God knows how his skills in cooking was. He wasn¡¯t a hopeless case, but Xiu Mei finally discovered why he, who strictly read the recipe, couldn¡¯t get the appropriate taste of the food.


    This man.... didn¡¯t even use the exact measurements for each ingredients. He was confidently throwing the spices and vegetables in their chronological order, but he was eyeballing everything and not even checking the time.


    Xiu Mei, "...."


    Eyeballing for beginners is truly a very wrong move ah!!!


    So this was the scene that Lu Qiang first saw as soon as he woke up and left his room.


    "Stop pouring more pepper!"


    "No, cut it this way!"


    "Hey, it says to boil it for five minutes! Don¡¯t put that yet!!"


    Lu Qiang, "..."


    Thank god that he didn¡¯t get his father¡¯s clumsy cooking skills.


    He was watching them with interest from upstairs. He could see the silhouette of his two parents in front of the stove and his dad¡¯s clumsy movements.


    "Wait, are you allowed to eat this? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s good for you." Lu Chen said as he held out a spice.


    "Then just put a little. We can¡¯t skip that part." Xiu Mei replied.


    Lu Qiang was puzzled. Why was her mother not allowed to eat it? Is she allergic or sick?


    The two a.d.u.l.ts downstairs continued their conversations, even Lu Chen who was too focused on his cooking didn¡¯t notice the other pair of eyes watching them from the second floor.


    "Let¡¯s just put it away and use a different one. You¡¯re pregnant so you can¡¯t eat heavy foods yet. I¡¯ll make it lighter." Lu Chen mumbled while he put down the small bottle on the side.


    Lu Qiang on the other hand stood frozen upstairs.


    What did his father just say....??

 Chapter 280 - Feud

    <h4>Chapter 280 - Feud</h4>


    "Let¡¯s just put it away and use a different one. You¡¯re pregnant so you can¡¯t eat heavy foods yet. I¡¯ll make it lighter." Lu Chen mumbled while he put down the small bottle on the side.


    Xiu Mei nced at that pale looking soup boiling on the pot and felt so heartbroken seeing it almost transparent. Her inner chef is itching to pour in a bunch of chilis in there.


    It looks so unappetizing right now ah.


    "Let¡¯s add just a little." Shemented while moving.


    Xiu Mei reached over and was about to grab that small bottle when Lu Chen grabbed her by the wrist and firmly scolded her back.


    "Wife, you really can¡¯t eat that."


    His other hand grabbed the small bottle and quickly put it away at the highest part of the overheard cab.


    Xiu Mei pouted with her puffed cheeks and red at the annoying chef. She didn¡¯t retort like usual and angrily turned her back at him and crossed her arms.


    "Then eat it yourself." She grumbled under her breath but Lu Chen clearly heard what she said.


    He stopped himself fromughing and found her wife¡¯s moodswings so adorable. After making sure that the boiling soup was okay, he hugged her from behind and ced his hand on her still t stomach.


    "I know you don¡¯t really like light vored foods but you really can¡¯t eat it right now ah." He rubbed his hand on her stomach to remind her, "We have this little one here who is still restricted from eating heavy vored foods." He tried coaxing her.


    "But I ate just fine these past few days. Why am I suddenly not allowed to eat vorful foods right now?" Xiu Meiined. After rethinking her words again, she quickly realized how selfish she sounded and shook her head to take back what she said.


    Actually, the moment they learned that she was pregnant, the chef had been cooking light vored dishes for her. Everything tasted so perfect that she might have not really noticed that her meal n was switched into something lighter.


    Then when she flew to Shenzhen, she subconsciously craved for heavy vored dishes that¡¯s what she has been eating for the past few days.


    She realized how careless she was for forgetting about the baby in her stomach that she was too engrossed in satisfying her cravings for heavy dishes.


    "Nevermind. I¡¯ll.... remember next time." She gave in and added, "I¡¯m sorry for getting mad at you so suddenly."


    Damn this moodswings. Why was she getting angry over something trivial like this ah?


    She turned to face him and hugged him tightly. Lu Chen¡¯s hand brushed her hair and softly coaxed her.


    "You don¡¯t need to apologize when it¡¯s between us, alright?" Lu Chen soothed her back while Xiu Mei tried to get a grip of her emotions again.


    While the two a.d.u.l.ts were being so lovey dovey in the kitchen, their only son were still stunned in shock as he stood by the top of stairs.


    Lu Qiang was watching his parents with wide eyes while listening in on their conversation.


    What did his father just say....??


    ....Mommy¡¯s pregnant?!


    His genius brain crashed momentarily as the words barely registered in his mind. A barrage of questions suddenly appeared as he couldn¡¯t absorb the currently reality before him at the moment.


    His mommy is pregnant?


    Wait, his father also knows it?!


    Why didn¡¯t he know about it?!


    Why didn¡¯t he notice the clues that his mommy is pregnant ah?!


    Wait, when he jumped to hug his mommy before she left for her business trip, he didn¡¯t hit her tummy right?


    Should he rebuild all their appliances to lessen the radiation?


    Ah! He shouldpile some songs that the baby could listen to, right?!


    Wait.... why didn¡¯t his parents tell him about it?


    He was still frozen in his ce when Lu Qiang heard his name being called.


    "Qiang qiang? Baby, you¡¯re awake?" Xiu Mei was surprised when she raised her head and peeked to the second floor from where she was standing and saw their son standing like a statue.


    Oh my god, how long have he been standing there?


    The couple nced at each other. Did he hear their conversation?


    Xiu Mei wasn¡¯t sure if their son heard their conversation and worried with how he would react, she immediately nudged Lu Chen with her elbow.


    Lu Chen looked at his wife. "What?"


    With her head, she signalled him to go to Lu Qiang. "You¡¯re the one who wanted to keep it secret, so you go exin if he suddenly asks about it ah."


    She immediately pushed all the me to her childish husband. No matter if Lu Qiang heard them or not, her husband can handle it well. If he really heard it..... then it would be really very interesting to watch how the father and son will react.


    Lu Chen couldn¡¯t refute from his wife¡¯s words and sighed. After making sure that the chili bottle were high enough that Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t reach for it, he untied the apron he was wearing and left the kitchen.


    He raised his head and spoke to his son who was still at standing silly at the top of the stairs, "Come down."


    From the looks of it, Lu Chen knew that Lu Qiang heard their entire conversation about Xiu Mei being pregnant. His son spectacrly keptposed and smoothyl climbed down the stairs before stopping in front of him.


    The little and big ice cub stood face to face at the foot the stairs while the queen of the house were merrily watching the two from the kitchen.


    Aiyo, the clear ss half wall divider is really cool ah.


    "Did you have a good sleep?" Lu Chen started.


    "Pretty much." Lu Qiang ndly responded.


    "Oh."


    "...."


    "...."


    Xiu Mei, the only audience: "....." that¡¯s it? Her little baby probably didn¡¯t hear them then?


    Lu Chen raised his eyebrow, wondering why he wasn¡¯t asking anything. Well, since he didn¡¯t seem to be nning on asking then he won¡¯t bring it up either.


    "Then let¡¯s go have our lunch. You scoop the rice."


    "Okay."


    Then the two ice cubes walked back to the kitchen.


    Xiu Mei: "....." he really didn¡¯t?


    Xiu Mei transferred the stew and other side dishes on the bowls while Lu Chen was reponsible in setting up the table and bringing the already filled bowls. Lu Qiang scooped the rice and ced it down on the table.


    Xiu Mei was convinced that Lu Qiang didn¡¯t hear their conversation after seeing his reaction. But as soon as she sat on the table, she finally noticed something wrong.


    Xiu Mei nced at Lu Chen¡¯s barely filled rice bowl, "....."


    Even Lu Chen had the same reaction when he saw his almost empty bowl. He could probably only eat two or three spoonful of rice then it¡¯s empty.


    The two a.d.u.l.ts nced at the little guy who was staring at his father with a nk gaze.


    "Dad, Dr.Tang rmended that you hold back from eating carbohydrates from now on."


    "....."


    "....."


    Tang Li who was suddenly in the implicated at the family feud suddenly sneezed.


    "Oh, did he?" He questioned.


    "He did. Why don¡¯t you try calling him?" Lu Qiang nonchntly replied as if he wasn¡¯t throwing a pot at the innocent family doctor.


    Lu Chen pondered for a moment then made his attack.


    "Si Tu Yi said you need more physical training. Why don¡¯t we schedule 2 hour trainings during weekdays then another five hour trainings during the weekend?" Lu Chen sounded so casual when heid out his attack.


    Xiu Mei was still quietly listening at the war unfolding in front of her, at a loss on why were they suddenly fighting like this.


    Lu Qiang didn¡¯t get fazed and continued.


    "Dad, I remembered you said you need me to fix yourpanyptop the other day? Oh and the servers too. I¡¯ll take care of it tonight and finish as early as possible."


    "You also need sses for manners. Maybe I should hire a different teacher for that? No, I think I should do it instead. What do you think? It¡¯ll be strict but I¡¯m pretty sure you can do it."


    "....."


    The gunpowder between the two are so strong ah. They¡¯re acting like they¡¯re not father and son. They were arguing without shedding blood and they are not even getting faced with what they¡¯re saying to each other.


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t ignore it anymore and quickly stopped the two before it takes a turn for the worse.


    "Ehem!" She cleared her throat loudly, making the two ice cubes turn to her direction at the same time and react swiftly.


    "Wife, here¡¯s your water." A tall ss appeared before her.


    "Mom, here¡¯s an apple juice. Please drink." A little hand pushed another ss towards her.


    "..."

 Chapter 281 - The Little Balls Relationsh.i.p.s

    <h4>Chapter 281 - The Little Ball''s Rtionsh.i.p.s</h4>


    Lu Qiang¡¯s mind works quite differently amongst his peers.


    He¡¯s usually calm, cool and collected at school apart from being the boy genius. His teachers would sometimes sneakingly pinch his cheeks from out of nowhere but he always kept his cool and humbly epted their praises just like what his mommy told him.


    And when he is with his mother, Lu Qiang would always act adorable and childish in front of her. Lu Qiang learned that his mother loves it when he acts spoiled with her during the first time she brought him back to her home when his father came to drag him back.


    He would always be excited to tell her about his achievements, how many stars he received for his homework and quizzes, when he perfected the violin piece had been practicing for a week, and all his other activities.


    He wasn¡¯t quite used to being like that at first. Considering that he grew up quite strictly under his father¡¯s education. He didn¡¯t talk much to the butler or the other helpers. His father isn¡¯t a chatty person either so hismunication skills were truly terrible back then.


    Every change in him was because of his mother¡¯s dedication. So his adorable and spoiled side will always be shown in front of her mother, regardless of other people. He loves his mother the most in the world!


    To his father?


    Thinking about his father, Lu Qiang made a cold face. His rtionship with him originally was quite indifferent. He doesn¡¯t hate nor dislike him, but they weren¡¯t that close befor either. He does respect and look up to Lu Chen because he is indeed a very capable ceo and president but as a father, Lu Qiang doesn¡¯t feel that special at all. Maybe it¡¯s because the both of them are very aware of their true rtionship-- uncle and nephew.


    The instant his mother entered the picture, the father and son¡¯s rtionship changed for the better.... or did it really?


    His father¡¯s change was quite big, and Lu Qiang almost thought that the person he met before was like a stranger unlike the soft father who would always stick to his mother all the time.


    And because of that, they would alwayspete for Xiu Mei¡¯s attention every chance they get. The two startedmunicating more often than usual, and now they can even tantly argue and throw childish tricks with each other. It was a big leap from their indifference before.


    Besides, Lu Chen wasn¡¯t the only getting entertained in teasing Lu Qiang. The feeling goes both ways. Lu Qiang is also enjoying seeing his father unhappy after stealing away mommy from him. Their rtionship evolved into something they both couldn¡¯tprehend but it was fine.


    So the moment Lu Qiang learned that his mother was pregnant after eavesdropping in their conversation, his mind worked at a lightning speed and arrived at one conclusion.


    His father is surely behind the reason why he doesn¡¯t know about his mother¡¯s pregnancy yet.


    Lu Qiang firmly believed in his mother¡¯s innocence. She loves him so much, she would definitely keep such a big news from her. But mother also listens to father sometimes, so he was sure that his father said not tell it to him!!!


    The little Lu was angry.


    Just a mere hacking of hisptop or stealing away his mom¡¯s attention wouldn¡¯t be enough to vent his frustration.


    Hence the almost empty rice bowl for his father¡¯s lunch.


    The two childish people exchanged threats and fought with their mouths leaving no blood. Lu Qiang never backed down even when faced his father¡¯s threat of increasing his training time and applying to be his etiquette teacher.


    He scoffed. He¡¯s definitely not going to let this slide ah!!!


    HIS! MOM! IS! PREGNANT!


    How dare he keep this from him?!


    It was an unforgivable sin.


    So from that day onwards, stormed visited early in their new home.


    Xiu Mei helplessly watched the father and son bicker the whole day with cold faces. After that incident in their food table, their bickering never ceased.


    Lu Qiang would stick to her like a chick following the mother chicken. When they sat on the sofa, their little son squeezed himself in between the couple making Lu Chen annoyed.


    He grabbed him by his cor nning to throw him to somewhere but the little guy was swift and hugged his mother¡¯s waist. Of course, he didn¡¯t hug her tight so that he won¡¯t hurt his sibling in his mother¡¯s tummy.


    Lu Chen immediately caught on the sneaky little guy¡¯s tactic. Afraid that he¡¯ll pull too much and hurt his wife, Lu Chen could only helplessly let go of this kid¡¯s cor and re fiercely at him.


    Lu Qiang shed a triumphant smile before kissing his mother on her cheek.


    Xiu Mei sighed at their childish antics but didn¡¯t stop them. She assumed that they will soon return to their sensester on.


    An hourter, Lu Chen found the opportunity to drag Lu Qiang to a sparring area, a few walks away from their vi. The temperature outside wasn¡¯t suitable for her for staying out so she didn¡¯t stay too long in the training area and returned. Besides, Lu Chen and Lu Qiang¡¯s sparring wasn¡¯t that bad at all. It¡¯s not as intense than what she saw back in her uncle¡¯s ce years ago.


    Unbeknownst to Xiu Mei, the moment she left the sparring area, Lu Chen¡¯s movements started to get more intense. Lu Qiang didn¡¯t dy and quickly adapted to it perfectly. Albeit, it was indeed a very exhausting spar unlike the trainings he had with Si Tu Yi every weekend. Lu Qiang could clearly sense that father was using this sparring as an excuse to beat him up ah. Of course, he won¡¯t let him.


    And so, their training went on for the next three hours.


    Imagine Xiu Mei¡¯s shock when she saw their father ant son¡¯s appearance when they got home.


    "Oh my god, Chenchen are you crazy?!"


    Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t believe her eyes for a moment as soon as she saw the two people standing by the entrance. She identally dropped the book she was reading and quickly rushed off the sofa. She approached Lu Qiang¡¯s unkempt appearance, his sparring attire had gotten dirty most likely with how many times Lu Chen threw him over. Ignoring his messy hair, she could see a bruise on the corner of his lips and a cut on the side of his cheek.


    Xiu Mei was instantly angered.


    Ignoring the poor appearance of his husband, she raised her head and red fiercely at him.


    "LU! CHEN!" She mouthed angrily. With her hands on her waist and straightened back, she faced him with an angry expression, "Are you begging to be sued for child abuse?!"


    She stepped in between the two, separating Lu Chen and Lu Qiang from each other. The little kid, the good actor that he is, clung on her mother¡¯s hem and hid behind her toplete his acting.


    Lu Chen frowned but before he could point it out, Xiu Mei cut him off first.


    "LU CHEN!" She repeated. Her hand stretched out to twist his ear, dragged him towards the living room and continued scolding him.


    "Why did you beat up your own son ah?! Are you crazy? Dammit, are you really an a.d.u.l.t?! How could you bully a kid, much less your own son? Do you want me to report out to the authorithies for child abuse?!" Endless scolding came out of Xiu Mei¡¯s mouth.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen could only bow his head and let himself be scolded by his wife. He didn¡¯t refute her words and kept nodding.


    At the side, Lu Qiang was inwardlyughing at his Dad. Aiyo, it was worth getting beaten up by his Dad. Look, he doesn¡¯t even dare to lift his head and re at him right now ah. Mommy is the best!


    In the end, Xiu Mei made him kneel on the washboard for a night without mercy. She even banned him from stepping into the master¡¯s bedroom for a week.


    Xiu Mei walked over to her son and helped him in putting medicine on his wound.


    Poor Lu Chen who was being punished by his wife at the moment could only discreetly throw a sharp re at the smug little brat on the sofa hogging his wife for the rest of the night before they went to bed.

 Chapter 282 - Vet Visit

    <h4>Chapter 282 - Vet Visit</h4>


    The war between the father and son didn¡¯t cease even after the night passed. The wife was still ignoring her husband as punishment, the husband is busy chasing after his wife, and the son stuck like a gum to his mother while looking smug.


    Luckily it was a weekend, so Xiu Mei didn¡¯t need to wake up too early to start preparing breakfast. She only prepared a basic western breakfast for today, making do with what avable ingredients they have in the fridge.??


    No work during weekends doesn¡¯t exist in Lu Chen¡¯s calendar, so after eating his breakfast and trying to get touchy with his wife, he left to head to the headquarters again. Lu Qiang was also quite busy for the weekend.


    After getting assured by her son that he was fine and he could attend his training for the day, Lu Qiang left the vi and headed towards the training center leaving Xiu Mei all alone again.


    She sat on the sofa, lifted her eyes and ran it across the open space before ncing back at the wide t screen television.


    After contemting for a short while, she stood up to unpack the other stuff left in the boxes that Lu Chen and Lu Qiang left yesterday morning.


    She put them away carefully after wiping them with cloth, then pressed the boxes before storing them for future reuse. She was still putting away the unused boxes inside the storage room when she heard a whimper behind her.


    "Lucia?" Xiu Mei almost jumped in surprise seeing the tiger inside the mansion. Before she could even wonder how the tiger got inside the mansion, Lucia bit onto the hem of her shorts, trying to drag her to a specific direction while whimpering.


    She followed her outside, then they walked at the back of the garden and stopped before the sleeping King, Lu Qiang¡¯s pet lion.


    Lucia pulled her hem for the second time towards the said lion and immediately understood that there must be something wrong with King.


    She knelt and patted King¡¯s face lightly. He didn¡¯t open his eyes but he g.r.o.a.n.e.d softly. Xiu Mei still couldn¡¯t understand what was wrong when Lucia walked over and licked King¡¯s hind leg.


    She stretched her hand and carefully moved the leg the tiger licked. This time, the lion¡¯s entire body shuddered and King cried out a bit louder than normal.


    Xiu Mei suddenly had a dilemma. She needs to bring King to the vet... but I wonder if they do check-ups for lion there? And would they even let her inside the clinic if she brings this big lion in there? Wait, no. Rather than that, how would she even lift this big lion and bring him to the car?


    King hurt his feet, meaning he can¡¯t walk. It¡¯s not like Lucia can carry him, even more so her. It would be too impossible for a tigress and a pregnant woman to move the immobilized lion to her car.


    Xiu Mei thought for a moment.


    ....Does she call Tang Li? But he¡¯s a human doctor ah, not a veterinarian.


    .....then she would contact Lu Chen.


    She dialed his number quickly. Luckily, she was able to contact him quickly as the call connected immediately.


    "Hello, wife. Did you miss me?" He said brazenly as soon as he received the call.


    Xiu Mei almost choked at his remark, then remembered that she was still angry at him so she directly ignored hisment and went straight to the point.


    "King seems to be injured, but I can¡¯t carry him to the car. I don¡¯t even know if I should call Dr.Tang or a different person. What do I do?" It¡¯s not like she even knows their current address to call for a home call service for veterinarian.


    "I¡¯ll send someone. What happened to King?" Lu Chen wrote down a few words on a sticky pad and passed it to Lu Shao who was coincidentally within his office at the moment.


    Xiu Mei got even more worried seeing King being ufortable."I don¡¯t know. Lucia suddenly popped out of nowhere then dragged me here. I found King already like this."


    "How does he look like at the moment? Is his situation so bad?"


    "No, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s bleeding." Xiu Mei touched his painful hind leg. "Maybe he sprained his foot or something."


    "Okay, don¡¯t move him. Lu Shao will send someone there to take a look."


    "Okay."


    An hourter, Lu Shao came with a veterinarian. It was an older man that she didn¡¯t know at all before, but Xiu Mei felt strange when the man smiled while they shook hands.


    She guided them towards the garden, then the older man started his check up on King while she and Lu Shao stood on the sidelines, waiting for his diagnosis.


    Xiu Mei¡¯s focus was on the lion, while Luciaid beside her feet and was also watching closely at the human beside her lionpanion. After looking at then for a little longer, Xiu Mei still couldn¡¯t shrug off that weird feeling.


    She was very sure that she didn¡¯t know this man ah. But why does she seem familiar?


    Maybe she saw him in the so-called forest ¡¯zoo¡¯ they went to back then?


    Xiu Mei tried to recall that memory but she really couldn¡¯t remember seeing him there. She couldn¡¯t even ask Lu Shao right now since the older man could hear them. So she silently kept her thoughts for herself while seriously contemting and trying to understand why she was feeling strange around this man.


    Hmmm....


    Half an hourter, after making sure that King is properly bandaged up and after advising her on what they need to do afterward, the veterinian started packing up. She guided them back to the gate, and she thanked him once again for suddenly calling him out.


    The man smiled again, and this time, Xiu Mei saw that gold teeth almost hidden at the edge of his lips. Her eyes lowered her eyes and watched that older man walk back to the car, noticing his strange style of walking.


    Instantly, it clicked in her mind where she saw the man.

 Chapter 283 - Little Baby is a Big Brother

    <h4>Chapter 283 - Little Baby is a Big Brother</h4>


    This...


    Xiu Mei hesitated whether she remembered it correctly or if she was just thinking about it too much. ??


    She watched the two men climb inside the car and drove away disappearing from her sight after they turned to a corner.


    Walking back with uneasy strides back to the living room, Xiu Mei continued pondering whether she could really trust her hazy memory. She scratched her chin while thinking.


    That man.... somehow, he looked like one of the people she saw when she was kidnapped ten years ago.


    When she saw that gold teeth and his strange walking style, Xiu Mei briefly recalled that she saw someone with the same features as that from one of the people who blocked them before they got kidnapped.


    But because it happened a long time ago, and she also subconsciously tried to erase her memories from that day, she wasn¡¯t entirely sure whether she could trust her memories or not.


    Besides, the fact that the older man was probably one of Lu Chen¡¯s subordinates made her hesitate even more.


    ....A guy like that wouldn¡¯t be working as Lu Chen¡¯s subordinate, isn¡¯t he?


    She walked back to the living room and saw King sprawled on the floor beside Lucia. Their huge bodies almost blocking the door to the garden. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t mind that they stepped inside the mansion, since only her, Lu Chen, and little Qiang would be living in here. There will be no employees that will be nervous and get scared from their presence inside the mansion.


    Xiu Mei brushed King¡¯s fur and after making sure that he was doing better, she entered the kitchen and started preparing for her and Lu Qiang¡¯s lunch.


    She continued contemting on the previous issue while prepping for lunch.


    Hmm....


    On the file case, she read regarding that night, there wasn¡¯t any list of people who were caught at the scene. And she doesn¡¯t even remember all the faces whom she has seen that night as well. Even trying to remember it now, she does feel a bit better now when recalling her traumatic memory but she is still ufortable in remembering it nheless.


    Xiu Mei wondered if her uncle will let her see the list of people they caught that night ah....


    Lunch came and Lu Qiang returned home to take an hour of lunch and restbined. After telling him about King¡¯s condition, Lu Qiang ran over to the lion¡¯s side andforted him while worrying over his pet. The lion licked the kid¡¯s palm as if telling Lu Qiang that he¡¯s fine.


    Aside from the bickering father and son that morning and King getting injured, the rest of the day passed by quietly for Xiu Mei.


    At night, Lu Chen hasn¡¯te yet so Xiu Mei and Lu Qiang ate dinner first. She stared at her son who was serving her so happily by clipping some meat and vegetables into her bowl.


    Xiu Mei immediately remembered that she and Lu Chen hadn¡¯t properly exined to him about her pregnancy. Observing Lu Qiang¡¯s actions since yesterday, Xiu Mei was very sure that the little kid definitely heard their conversation yesterday morning.


    She grabbed her chopsticks and clipped a slice of meat then dropped it onto her son¡¯s bowl.


    "Bao Bei(Baby), do you want to have a little brother or sister?" She carefully asked. Her son¡¯s actions towards her since yesterday were all positive and it seems like he was weing the idea of having a little sibling quite well, but Xiu Mei still wanted to hear it from his mouth by asking him directly.


    She knew that in some households, the first child doesn¡¯t always wee their little siblings. And their current family setup was actually prettyplicated.


    Lu Chen and Xiu Mei are pretty much little Qiang¡¯s parents, but the reality is that Lu Qiang was Lu Chen¡¯s nephew and Xiu Mei adopted him as her son.


    She was worried that Lu Qiang may be thinking that once she gives birth to the baby inside her tummy, Lu Qiang might get nervous and think too much like them loving their biological child more than him.


    It was a normal thought of a child, like Lu Qiang, having siblings at his age. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t a s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e child, so Xiu Mei wasforted that there was a higher possibility that he wouldn¡¯t think that kind of thought.


    Still, only bymunicating with Lu Qiang directly would she really be assured that Lu Qiang wouldn¡¯t feel bothered about trivial things like them not loving or paying attention to him anymore because Lu Chen and her now have their own biological child.


    The moment she married Lu Chen, no, probably even way before that, she was already prepared to be Lu Qiang¡¯s mother even if they hadn¡¯t married. The empty look in his eyes was something she couldn¡¯t forget, and at that time, all she wanted was to erase that depression in him.


    She wanted him to be happy and grow up full of love and care by a mother and father. So Xiu Mei always spoiled and pampered him while also teaching him how to be a better person, a better man when he grows up. She didn¡¯t want him to cage himself on the thought that he has no biological parents anymore.


    Honestly, aside from considering their current situation, she didn¡¯t want to get pregnant this early yet because she wanted to devote her time to little Qiang for a couple of years more. She is still young, and Lu Chen¡¯s not that old either, so it would be fine if they decide to have a child together a few yearster but well, who would have thought a bud would suddenly grow inside her surprising the both of them.


    It was so sudden, that she even didn¡¯t get to prepare herself nor Lu Qiang about it. Xiu Mei quietly wondered about their son¡¯s true thoughts on the pregnancy and bing the elder brother of this little one inside her.


    Lu Qiang¡¯s chopsticks moving mid-air halted. It seems like he was still thinking about how to answer her because he was quiet and staring at the bowl for a few seconds before turning to her with a gentle smile stered on his little face.


    "En! I want to be a great older brother to my younger brother or sister in the future." His words sounded true and sincere so Xiu Mei continued.


    She stretched out her hand and ruffled her hair. She pulled her chair and scooted over closer to her side then continued, "Our little baby will surely be the best brother in the whole world!"


    Lu Qiang stopped for a second again before looking at her, "Then I¡¯m not a little baby anymore. Because I¡¯m an older brother."


    "...."


    Xiu Mei was speechless for a second. Well, he..... has a point about that.


    "So you don¡¯t want to be Mommy¡¯s little baby because you¡¯re a big brother now?" She pouted and pulled an act of being heartbroken and lonely because he doesn¡¯t want to be called her little baby anymore.


    Lu Qiang pulled his mother¡¯s sleeve and immediately replied in panic, "No! I mean, I¡¯m also fine with staying being mommy¡¯s baby even after she¡¯s born," He pointed at her tummy, "but what if she gets jealous because she is the baby but I¡¯m still mommy¡¯s little baby?"


    Xiu Mei almostughed. Lu Qiang was truly changing and bing more like children of his age, asking a.d.u.l.ts those kinds of innocent questions that may sound naive for a.d.u.l.ts.


    "I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t be. After all, she¡¯ll be too busy being spoiled by her big brother than get jealous with you, isn¡¯t it?"


    The little kid¡¯s face changed as if he only realized that now. "Ah!"


    She pulled him closer for a hug when Lu Qiang stopped her before she could properly embrace him.


    "Why? Don¡¯t you want to hug mommy anymore?"


    Lu Qiang immediately denied it. "No! But I¡¯m afraid my little sibling would be squished if we hug."


    "....Oh."


    This time, Xiu Mei didn¡¯t stop herself fromughing.


    My little Qiang is really cute ah!


    Afterughing for a minute, she calmed herself down and smoothed her son¡¯s hair, and exined to him, "Our little baby shouldn¡¯t worry ah. Your little brother or sister will not be squished if we hug even if my stomach is already round and big. Besides, I¡¯m pretty she¡¯ll want you to always hug her when she grows bigger in my stomach."


    Then she grabbed his left hand, "Do you want to touch mommy¡¯s tummy? It¡¯s still t though."


    Lu Qiang¡¯s eyes sparkled. "Can I?"


    "Of course!" She guided his hand to her stomach and carefully reminded him, "Just don¡¯t press too much."


    When Lu Qiangid his hand on his mother¡¯s t stomach while thinking that a baby was growing in there, he found it magical and mysterious how a living being could grow in his mother¡¯s small belly. Even if he already researched about itst night and how small his little sibling is at the moment, he felt excited, curious and happy to witness his mom¡¯s belly grow little by little until it expands like a ball.

 Chapter 284 - Night Attack

    <h4>Chapter 284 - Night Attack</h4>


    Xiu Mei returned to the bedroom after putting Lu Qiang to sleep. She dialed her mother¡¯s and brother¡¯s phones again just like what she did yesterday but she only hears that female voice repeatedly telling her that they are unavable at this moment.


    Disappointed, she put down her phone and let out a deep sigh before going to the bathroom to start prepping herself to bed. ??


    Lu Chen wouldn¡¯t being home again tonight, which was strangely happening quite oftentely but Xiu Mei knew that it was definitely rted to what he was investigating right now so she doesn¡¯t ask him about what he¡¯s doing anymore. After all, she was already moved when he kept his word that he will tell her his findings of Albert and Wan Wan.


    For other people, it might seem that she¡¯s relying too much on Lu Chen and leaving him to do everything regarding that topic. But in Xiu Mei¡¯s opinion, she thought it will be more helpful for her to stay on the sidelines at the moment rather than facing it head-on like Lu Chen.


    She¡¯s not a soldier, nor does she have any physical capability to defend herself if something happens. Who knows when she will suddenly get panic attacks because of her PTSD nor does she feel confident that she will do better in finding answers than her husband and brother.


    Rather, if she pushes herself to join them, she¡¯s worried that she¡¯ll just do worse than good. Xiu Mei isn¡¯t a coward, but her decision to stay put and not be a busybody is a result of her long consideration and the best decision she could make.


    Since fighting people like Albert and Wan Wan isn¡¯t her ground, then she¡¯ll help Lu Chen in a different way than she¡¯s good at. That is doing a better job as his secretary and making sure that everything in thepany is going well even without Lu Chen¡¯s direct presence.


    She was just about to lie down on the bed when her phone beeped. She saw it was a message from her husband telling her to sleep early and don¡¯t forget to drink warm milk before sleeping. He even reminded her to say goodnight to the little bean inside her tummy on his behalf since he wasn¡¯t here.


    Sheughed at his silly message and replied back to him. She went downstairs and warmed a cup of milk just like he said. While she was pouring the warm milk into a cup from the pan, she was surprised to see Lucia appear behind her almost giving her a heart attack.


    "My god!" She put a hand on her c.h.e.s.t to calm her racing heart. "What are you doing here?"


    She only turned on the small wall light in the kitchen hence the room wasn¡¯t bright. Lucia, the tigress¡¯ presencebined with the dimly lit room made her a bit scarier than usual, and her amber eyes glowed so brightly in the darkness. Her eyes looking at Xiu Mei were a bit intimidating giving off an illusion that Lucia will jump and take a bite off her if she moves as much as a muscle.


    The tiger stared at her for a couple of seconds before its eyes moved to look at the cup in her hand. Instantly, she understood.


    "Did you smell the milk?"


    Lucia roared softly to answer her. She knew that Lucia was trained and understood quite a lot of human words so she continued talking to her as if she was a person.


    She stretched out her hand in front of her mouth and asked, "Do you want to have some milk?"


    The tiger¡¯s tongue stretched out and licked her hand before she looked at the cup of milk again. Xiu Mei giggled and walked over to the fridge to grab the bottle of milk that they stored for their pets.


    She also warmed it in the pan for a bit so that it won¡¯t be too cold and transferred it to Lucia¡¯s food bowl.


    One human sat on the sofa and one tiger beside her foot bowed down its head to drink the milk from the bowl. Xiu Mei brushed Lucia¡¯s hair and talked to her while drinking her own cup of milk. King was quietly resting at the corner of the room unbothered by their small noise.


    After finishing her cup of milk, she turned her head and saw that Lucia was already done with hers. She stood up and bent her body to pick up her bowl to wash it when Lucia suddenly growled.


    "grrrrrrrr....."


    She thought that she was angry because she was trying to take away her bowl so she immediately apologized.


    "S-Sorr-"


    "grrrrrrr...."


    She subconsciously took a step back when Lucia continued to growl. When the tiger suddenly lifted her head, their eyes met, and instantly, a shiver ran down her back. She didn¡¯t even get to finish her words. But her fear immediately switched to confusion when Lucia turned her head to look all over the ce and her body surrounded Xiu Mei as if she was trying to protect her.


    .....?


    Is there something?


    She finally understood Lucia¡¯s bodynguage and knew that she turned like this because something¡¯s wrong around them. It was only when she raised her head that she noticed that King was also in the same stance as Lucia.


    The lion ignored the pain on its feet as he did a walk around every corner of the house while looking so fierce.


    Seconds passed and Xiu Mei grew even more anxious.


    She tried to grab her phone from her pocket but she instantly realized that she was wearing a nightdress. Her nightdress doesn¡¯t have any pockets.


    She even left her phone in her room thinking that she would drink the milk in her room before sleeping instead of staying down here with Lucia and waited for her to finish drinking.


    Now, how is she gonna call for help?


    Then she raised her head and immediately panicked,


    Lu Qiang was alone and he¡¯s still sleeping! What if something happens to him?!


    She cursed in her mind while worrying. She lowered her voice and spoke to Lucia, "Go to Lu Qiang¡¯s room."


    Lucia¡¯s head turned to her. She repeated her words, "Go to Lu Qiang¡¯s room first, and wake him up."


    Lucia turned her head away ignoring her words but Xiu Mei immediately patted her head and made the tiger look at her again.


    "Go." She mouthed. "King¡¯s going to be here with me. I¡¯ll be fine."


    The tiger¡¯s eyes stayed on her for a few more seconds before it moved forward and swiftly disappeared upstairs. She raised her head and saw the tiger ran towards her son¡¯s door then it stood in two feet while her front paws touched the doorknob and turned it with ease before entering the room.


    Xiu Mei was stunned momentarily by what she witnessed, "......"


    It seems like she discovered the answer to how Lucia slipped inside the mansion in the morning.


    King who was roaming around the room sniffing and roaring interchangeably suddenly stopped. In a split second, King ran back towards her and stood in front of her but his eyes stayed still on the door behind the mansion.


    He suddenly lowered his body while staring in the direction of the back door. Xiu Mei found his stance quite familiar because she¡¯d seen it in the animal doc.u.mentaries she watched before. It was an attacking stance a predator makes before attacking.


    Xiu Mei was on full alert. She was so nervous that her heart was pounding so loud she could almost hear it and her palms started sweating. She grabbed whatever she could reach that she could use as a weapon and like the lion, she closely glued her eyes on the door.


    BLAG!


    Everything happened so fast.


    The door swung open and King¡¯s body suddenly pounced forward with a speed she hadn¡¯t seen before. Everything was dim in front of her but her eyes could make out that it was a silhouette of a person outside the door.


    It stood still, unfazed with the big lion speeding towards him. Xiu Mei then watched that person dodge the lion¡¯s attack but King didn¡¯t stop there. It made sure to block the door entrance to stop the person from entering while it kept attacking forward to make the person step away and move backward.


    The man chuckled after realizing the lion¡¯s intention. The lion was about to sink its teeth on the person¡¯s skin when it pulled its arm swiftly while the other hand grabbed it by the neck. The lion took the bait and who knows what the person pressed on the lion¡¯s body when King suddenly fell on the ground and became immobilized.


    King roared louder as it continued to threaten the person despite its current appearance.


    The man nced at the lion and the woman inside the mansion.


    He chuckled and mumbled with a casual tone, "That brat really got married huh. He did not even tell me."

 Chapter 285 - Sir Wen

    <h4>Chapter 285 - Sir Wen</h4>


    Xiu Mei was on full alert ready to throw the vase on that person¡¯s head if he tries to enter and go past that door. But the man just kept looking at her instead of entering.


    "Uncle?" A child¡¯s voice broke the heavy atmosphere between the two people and a lion. ??


    Xiu Mei¡¯s head whipped behind her and saw Lu Qiang standing behind her. With his tired-looking eyes, he looked straight past her. She recalled his words.


    Uncle?


    She turned her head again and the man shed a grin in their direction. He raised his right hand and waved.


    "Hello, kiddo. I¡¯m back."


    ***


    Xiu Mei carefully served a tray of warm tea and put it on the center table in the living room. After pouring tea halfway on the empty cup, she lightly pushed it over towards the direction of the man in strange clothes.


    She watched the man, who looked amazingly rxed and casual in front of strangers, lift the teacup and drank it in one shot as if it was some kind of one-shot ss of alcohol.


    "...."


    She poured it with tea again and watched him pick it up and drank it straight again.


    Xiu Mei, "....."


    The man continued to drink it one straight gulp multiple times until Xiu Mei felt the ceramic teapot became lighter and lighter and only a drop was left in it.


    An awkward silence filled the room for a second before Xiu Mei stood up while holding the ceramic teapot.


    "I¡¯ll uh.... just steep some more." She thought over his actions and immediately offered an alternative, "Do you want some water or juice instead?"


    She was honestly stunned to see a person drink a tea as if it was some kind of alcohol and he even finished the whole teapot alone. She assumed he was thirsty so she offered him some other kind of alternative instead.


    "Just tea would be nice." The man said in a cool tone with a small smile on his face. Instead of feelingfortable, his rxed actions actually made Xiu Mei feel more awkward than ever.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll have it ready in a few." Then she returned to the kitchen in haste.


    The man watched the woman¡¯s awkward movements and raised his eyebrow. He was tantly showing that he was eyeing her, making Xiu Mei feel ufortable with his gaze more than she already was.


    "Uncle, are you seriously bullying my mother?" Lu Qiang interrupted. The man turned his head to look at the little head sitting on the single-seater sofa. The kid was yawning from time to time and rubbing his eyes clearly showing that he just woke up. His other hand was rubbing a lion¡¯s body, an action he tried to do to calm down the tensed lion beside him.


    The lion¡¯s eyes locking in on the man, as if the moment Lu Qiang walks out for a moment in here, he would immediately jump onto this man and bite him on his neck.


    The man ignored the lion¡¯s intimidating gaze and looked at the little guy.


    "But she¡¯s not your biological mother ah." The man bluntly refuted. His tone sounded very provoking but Lu Qiang didn¡¯t react strongly to his statement.


    "She¡¯s my father¡¯s wife, and she formally and legally adopted me. Hence, she¡¯s my mother. Is it really necessary for me to be biologically rted to my mother? What about the other children who were adopted? Does it also not count?" Lu Qiang rubbed his eyes and slumped his chinzily on his palm.


    "Point taken." The man nodded realizing that made sense. "But little one, you¡¯re bing more and more of your father ah. You sounded just like him when you said that." He grinned.


    "Oh." The little kid didn¡¯t sound surprised or provoked. "We¡¯re biologically rted, that¡¯s why."


    "Is that how it works?"


    "Genes ah. DNA doesn¡¯t lie. Look, aren¡¯t I also a genius like Dad?" He said proudly but little Qiang¡¯s tone stayed t all throughout.


    The manughed. "You really are bing like your father that it¡¯s bing scary."


    "Then go away so we can return to sleep." Little Qiang frowned, remembering how Lucia suddenly grabbed him by his foot to wake him up from his slumber. He scratched his head andined to the main culprit behind it, "It¡¯s sote. Don¡¯t you have a sense of time? Can¡¯t you visit in the morning instead? Why did it have to be at dawn?"


    The little kid continued ranting his frustrations at the said man. The man stared at the little kid and a knowing gaze appeared in his eyes.


    "What?" Lu Qiang saw the change in his gaze and was taken aback for a second. He looked suspiciously at him and narrowed his eyes.


    "Now that¡¯s something that doesn¡¯t look like your father at all."


    Lu Qiang was even more confused. "Pardon?"


    "You talk much more than him now." The man looked at the woman in the kitchen through his peripheral view and continued, "Is it because of your new mother?"


    "Does that even matter?"


    The man shook his head, "I was just saying that it¡¯s good to talk more. Don¡¯t be like your Dad who would only speak to present his argument."


    "Oh."


    Xiu Mei returned to the living room with the newly made tea. She filled the small teacup again with tea and the man did the same action of drinking it one gulp.


    Xiu Mei was still astounded by his actions, "..." Does she need to make it again for the third time? Should she just boil water on arger kettle to have more tea?


    She lifted up the small ceramic teapot again to pour the tea when the man stopped her actions.


    "No need. I¡¯ll take that." He extended his hand towards her.


    Xiu Mei stiffened for a second and nced at his outstretched hand and then on the ceramic teapot she was holding.


    A ridiculous thought popped into her mind.


    Uh.... was he going to drink directly from the teapot?


    She immediately erased the thought and handed over the teapot to him. But what she thought of didn¡¯t happen. He ced the teapot beside the teacup and slumped back to lean on the sofa.


    "....." Okay.


    She walked over to sit on the empty one-seater sofa without removing her gaze from the man whom Lu Qiang called his uncle.


    She was confused. As far as she knows of, Lu Chen¡¯s cousin, Lu Qiang¡¯s biological father was already dead. And he didn¡¯t seem to have any rtives besides his aunt and uncle who were currently living somewhere far away.


    And...


    She examined the man¡¯s appearance and actions.


    No matter how much she looked at him, there¡¯s no simrity to Lu Chen or Lu Qiang. Was he probably some kind of distant rtive?


    "Uhm, I¡¯m Xiu Mei. Lu Chen¡¯s wife." She awkwardly introduced herself as she stretched out her hand for a shaking hand. Her introduction was like a rookie intro but she didn¡¯t care about this mistake because she thought that this person didn¡¯t seem to worry over about manners and etiquette.


    ....Look how he feels so at home in front of them ah.


    Did Lu Chen perhaps forget to tell her that they have some kind of housemate or something in this mansion?


    The man only looked at her outstretched hand, raised his head to look straight at her, and smiled again.


    "It¡¯s very nice to meet you like this personally, Mrs.Lu. Your name has been quite the buzz ever since your dating news with Lu Chen came out. Imagine my surprise when I saw your marriage certificate though. The both of you hid it too well from the public ah." The man said. His tone sounded like a mix of teasing and surprising.


    Xiu Mei didn¡¯t expect this kind of response from him but she immediatelyposed herself and answered back, "We didn¡¯t originally intend to hide it but the marriage was kind of an impulse so..."


    There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll be dropping a bomb like that and be the headline for weeks for marrying so suddenly. She was pretty sure that the media will go crazy if that happens. From suspecting shotgun marriage to ridiculous stories that she couldn¡¯t possibly think of.


    Just revealing that she and Lu Chen are dating would be enough to fuel those media agencies.


    The man looked at her as if he already knew everything, "I know. Lu Chen hid it quite well but not for me." The man grabbed the teapot again and poured himself the tea.


    "Apologies, I forgot to introduce myself didn¡¯t I?" He put down his teacup and twisted his body in her direction.


    Xiu Mei agreed with what he said in her mind.


    ...Yeah, you totally forgot to.


    "Lu Qiang calls me Uncle. Lu Chen calls me the annoying man." He looked so happy when he said that as if he was teasing someone, "But others usually call me Sir Wen."


    He straightened his back and continued, "I¡¯m Lu Chen¡¯s main trainer, and I formerly worked under Lu Chen¡¯ste master, Old Yang."

 Chapter 286 - Sir Wen and Lu Chen

    <h4>Chapter 286 - Sir Wen and Lu Chen</h4>


    Sir Wen?


    Xiu Mei tried to think again whether she had heard Lu Chen talk about his rtive with the name Wen but nothing came to mind. ??


    Hm? Did Lu Chen perhaps miss one person?


    The man who preferred to be called Sir Wen picked up the teacup once again and drank it straight up.


    "Uncle, you¡¯re really weird." Lu Qiang mumbled as he grabbed the pillow that he was leaning on and hugged it. Sir Wen chuckled at the little kid¡¯s statement, even Xiu Mei turned in his son¡¯s direction.


    "am I?"


    Lu Qiang nodded. "You¡¯re the only person I know who drinks tea as if it was water." Then he pointed at the newly prepared teapot by his mother and added, "After you finish that one, Uncle can go away so we can sleep."


    The little kid yawned after finishing his sentence while Sir Wen seems to found his words entertaining.


    Xiu Mei reacted quite differently and looked at her son with widened eyes. She looked at him warningly. She was okay with Lu Qiang acting a bit rude to Lu Chen since she knew that the little kid was actually doing it to tease his father and as long as he knows where to draw the line. However, she wasn¡¯t keen on letting him act rude in front of their guests, moreover to the guests.


    Even though it seems that Lu Qiang knows this guy, she wasn¡¯t going to let him continue to act disrespectfully to his elders.


    She was about to speak up and start a conversation when the front door opened. Two heads moved in reflex to look in the direction of the front door.


    "What the hell are you doing inside my house? Thiste?!" Lu Chen suddenly appeared and fiercely red at the man sitting in the middle of the living room. He had even forgotten to take off his shoes and suit while he strode across the living room and grabbed Sir Wen by the cor.


    "Go away." Lu Chen expressed so strongly, picking up Sir Wen with ease and dragging him across the room.


    Lu Qiang stayed unfazed, but Xiu Mei, unfamiliar with the scene, was quite stunned by her husband¡¯s actions. A little while ago, she was still thinking about nagging her son about his manners but it seems that Lu Chen needs to be nagged about his manners as well.


    "Chenchen!" She shot up from her seat and immediately grabbed his arm to stop him from whatever he was nning to do. But her arms were too short to catch up to his movements. Xiu Mei could only watch Lu Chen drag the unbothered Sir Wen out in the garden and disappear in less than a few seconds.


    "....."


    "Mommy, it¡¯s fine. Dad knows what he¡¯s doing." Lu Qiang patted the lion¡¯s head and stood up from his seat.


    "..." Does he, really?


    "Uncle is already quite used to getting kicked out my Dad, ah. It¡¯s not the first time that this happened." The little kid stretched his limbs while saying so.


    "..." So this happens that frequently?


    It¡¯s amazing how she didn¡¯t witness this in the months that she started living with them.


    "I¡¯m going back to sleep." Lu Qiang said groggily and walked towards the direction of the stares.


    Xiu Mei followed his movements and asked, "Do you need me to read you a bedtime story?"


    He raised his hand in refusal and replied, "I¡¯ll go straight to sleep, mom."


    "Okay, if you say so. Goodnight, little darling."


    "Goodnight, mommy."


    Then she watched his small back disappear into his room. Her eyes stared at his shut door for a couple of seconds before withdrawing her gaze. She turned to look at her left and saw nothing but the darkness with only the moon serving as the light outside the quiet garden where the two men disappeared into.


    Wait, there¡¯s still something she was curious about. Who was this Sir Wen and why does Lu Chen act like that with him ah?


    It doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s angry at him or something. Hey, now that she thinks about it. Lu Chen acted morefortably with Sir Wen, ah.


    This was actually the first time she¡¯d seen him act like anyone other than his family. He normally acts coldly then if he opens his mouth, it was either because he was instructing someone or grilling some poor man with his deadly words.


    So who really is that Sir Wen?


    Lu Chen truly did what he said and heartlessly kicked out the midnight trespasser in the new home. Xiu Mei didn¡¯t know why her husband took so long outside and returned alone but since he just came back, she busied herself in swiftly preparing his food just in case he was hungry.


    Lu Chen finished bathing and changed into his pajamas. He sat down beside her on the dining table and started eating the ham and egg sandwich on the te.


    Lu Chen: "Qiang¡¯er?"


    Xiu Mei: "Asleep. He went back to his room on his own."


    A curl appeared on the edge of his lips. "That¡¯s good. He¡¯s a grown-up now." Then he took a big bite from the sandwich.


    Xiu Mei looked at him after his absurd words. What grown-up? An eight years old kid?


    "Oh, I almost forgot." Lu Chen quickly gulped down his food, sipped from the water ss, and twisted his neck to look at his wife sitting beside him. He naturally and smoothly pressed a kiss on her lips, catching her lower lips, and bit on it for a little longer before letting go.


    Xiu Mei remembered the punishment she bestowed on him and immediately moved his head away from hers with her hand.


    "Rogue. I¡¯ll sue you for harassment." Shemented.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t seem to mind her actions and continued eating his sandwich, "Oh. Then are you suing for r.a.p.e too?"


    She threw him a ridiculous look. "What?"


    Why did r.a.p.e suddenly get thrown into their topic?


    Lu Chen shed a teasing smile at his wife and boldly replied, "Because I¡¯m going to press you on the bedter for hours till the next morning."


    "......"


    Xiu Mei red at him whilst moving her chair a few inches away from him. "Rogue!"


    "Thank you for thepliment, Mrs.Lu. I will make sure to live up to your expectations." The hooligan looked at her deeply as if he was really nning on doing something unspeakable to her on the bedter.


    "I said you¡¯re banned froming in the master¡¯s bedroom."


    Implied message: So stop dreaming, I won¡¯t let you in.


    "Did I say that I will press you on the bed at the master¡¯s bedroom?"


    Implied message: Wife, be ready forter.


    "............"


    Her response was to kick his ankles under the table.


    Their conversation was going in a bold direction so she quickly shifted the topic.


    "By the way, that man before called Sir Wen, is he your rtive?" She directly asked the question that has been bugging her since the moment Lu Qiang called him uncle.


    Lu Chen chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth, "No way. I don¡¯t need an annoying man like him as a rtive."


    So he wasn¡¯t?


    "Then who is he? The two of you seem to have a close rtionship."


    You straight-up kicked him out the moment you arrive yet he didn¡¯t even get angry. He even looked like he was enjoying Lu Chen¡¯s reaction. Even Lu Qiang seemsfortable with him and unbothered with his disrespect simr to his father ah.


    Lu Chen stopped and looked at her with disbelief. His expression looked like she said something so offending.


    "Wife, I think we need to get your eyes checked." He said something out of the blue that she was suddenly puzzled.


    "What? Why?" She has reading sses but her vision is still within the normal range as per her previous check-up with her ophthalmologist.


    "It¡¯s because you must have seen it wrongly. In which eyes of yours did you see that I and that annoying man have a good rtionship?" He vehemently refused to ept that he and that trespasser have a good rtionship.


    Xiu Mei found his words more ridiculous that she went speechless for two seconds. "...I think I really need to get my eyes checked."


    Lu Chen thought his wife was agreeing with him, "See?"


    "Yes," Xiu Mei, with her hand on his chin nodded and slowly replied, "and also with the psychiatrist. I must have been confused when I chose to marry you ah."


    "...." The man stiffened instantly.


    "Wait, I need to change that. I wasn¡¯t confused." She narrowed his eyes at him and continued, "I was tricked, wasn¡¯t I? You took advantage of the height of my emotions that time and provoked me to renew the contract when in fact I was signing a marriage form instead of a contract."


    "........"


    The dear husband raises his white g.

 Chapter 287 - Sweet Gr.a.p.es

    <h4>Chapter 287 - Sweet Gr.a.p.es</h4>


    Knowing that Xiu Mei won¡¯t give up the question, he sighed in defeat and answered her in the end.


    "He¡¯s the man I was talking about before."??


    Her brows furrowed, "Which man?"


    "The man who talked me in epting my Master¡¯s offer."


    The man who talked to him...?


    Ah!


    "The one you had a chat with on the roof?" Xiu Mei¡¯s eyes widened. That man was the same man he was talking about?!


    But... but....


    "I thought he was dead?"


    This time, Lu Chen was baffled by what his wife said, "Why did you think he was dead?"


    He didn¡¯t remember saying anything like that before.


    Xiu Mei repeated his words on the part when he told hee that after Old Yang¡¯s death, his subordinates also followed after.


    Lu Chen almostughed at her words. "I must have misspoken."


    "A lot of my master¡¯s primary subordinates really did pass away, but majority of those who died was due to their old age. That trespasser was one of the few younger ones he had at that time.


    Besides, not all his trusted subordinates passed away. Two people are still alive to this day, including that annoying man." He picked up his sandwich again and resumed eating.


    "Oh." Xiu Mei mouthed. It was her bad ah. She had assumed that everyone was already dead based from his story.


    Wait. If there are still two people who are alive, and since he mentioned before that this ce is like an exclusive ce where the most trusted subordinates live, then does that mean Sir Wen and the other person also lives here?


    Wait, that sounded quite a bit wrong. Why does she sound as if she was interested in Sir Wen? Aiyo, luckily she didn¡¯t ask Lu Chen that.


    She reced the question she had in mind.


    "Do they also work for you?" Xiu Mei stretched out her hand and stole the other hardboiled egg left on her husband¡¯s te and ate it.


    Lu Chen smiled like a silly secretly at her small action that he even pushed his te towards her direction to make it easier for her to grab whatever she wanted to eat.


    "No, they decided to retire after Master passed away. They¡¯re very loyal to the old man so they weren¡¯t willing to work under me after I inherited the position." He exined.


    After finishing the food on his te, he stood up and picked up the te to wash.


    "Do you want some gr.a.p.es?" He offered to Xiu Mei who followed behind him when he went to the kitchen.


    Xiu Mei nodded. She watched her husband wash the gr.a.p.es and put it on a te. It was all seedless so when Lu Chen was about to remove the skin, she stopped him.


    "Don¡¯t remove it. I want it with skin." She picked up a small gr.a.p.e before popping it in her mouth. The vor of the slightly sweet and juicy gr.a.p.es exploded in her mouth as soon as she chewed it.


    Xiu Mei suddenly felt ufort when she ate the sweet gr.a.p.e and immediately spat it out after grabbing a piece of tissue.


    "Was it sour? Wait, I¡¯ll take a look at the fridge to see if we have¡ª" He immediately moved towards the direction of the refridgerator when Xiu Mei pulled on his sleeves.


    Xiu Mei just finished spitting out every bit of the gr.a.p.e inside her mouth, and she was pretty frustrated because there is still some aftertaste left.


    "Just get me some water. I only want gr.a.p.es." She expressed despite hating the taste of the sweet fruit.


    Lu Chen¡¯s frows furrowed while watching his wife take the entire bowl of gr.a.p.es.


    If she was eating it because he washed it for her....it was fine even if she doesn¡¯t eat it.


    He grabbed the other end of the owl and stopped her.


    "I¡¯ll find you a different one that you like." He stressed.


    "But I want this gr.a.p.es." Xiu Mei was strangely fixated at the fruit after her husband offered it to her. And even if she disliked the sweet gr.a.p.e, she sti didn¡¯t give it up and was strangely tempted to try more of the gr.a.p.es despite disliking the sweet taste.


    "Are you sure?" Lu Chen was still worried and thought she was doing it for him. But he really was just overthinking it.


    "I like it. It¡¯s not sour. It¡¯s sweet, but I didn¡¯t like it sweet. I¡¯ll just try to find a piece that looked sour." She bowed her head and started examining closely every piece of fruit and sniffing it trying to determine the taste.


    The husband was at a loss on how to respond to his wife who was trying to determine a fruit¡¯s taste by eyes and sniffing it. He.... wasn¡¯t aware of that kind of technique to check if the gr.a.p.es was sweet or not ah...


    And she didn¡¯t spit it out because it was sour but because it was sweet....


    Lu Chen is very familiar with her taste and he knew that she liked sweet foods, and her preference for gr.a.p.es is it should be seedless and sweet. Hence, thay what they had in the fridge.


    But now she was saying she didn¡¯t like the gr.a.p.e she had eaten because it was sweet.......was it perhaps because of her pregnancy reaction?


    Xiu Mei would try to sniff it and sink one of her teeth on the fruit to taste it. All that she found sweet was immediately brought to her husband¡¯s lips and the sour ones ended up in her stomach.


    She only stopped her close inspection aftrr realizing that she had finished the entire bowl of gr.a.p.es now.


    "Full?" Lu Chen took the empty bowl from her hands andid it on the counter. His other hand brushed his fingers on her hair, ying with it.


    Xiu Mei nodded.


    She touched the baby in her stomach and grinned at Lu Chen. She nodded again, "Yeah, I think the little one is already full."


    The next day, Xiu Mei almost fell off the stairs after seeing someone unexpected in their kitchen. Since she still doesn¡¯t have the symptoms of sleeping for long hours, she was able to wake up early that morning.


    She was nning to prepare Lu Qiang¡¯s lunch for school and their breakfast so she went straight to the kitchen after changing out of her pajamas.


    But imagine her surprise when she saw Sir Wen¡¯s broad back facing her, and noticed that he even wore Lu Chen¡¯s ck apron from the other side of the half wall ss where she could see a view of the kitchen from where she was standing.


    Her foot that was about to take another step down halted mid-air.


    "Uh.... goodmorning?"


    Why did he trespass their home again this early?


    She wasn¡¯t entirely sure on how she should treat this man because of his entric personality. She was still speechless when he downed two teapots of warm tea in such a short amount of time.


    Sir Wen just turned his head to nce at her direction before replying briefly, "Goodmorning."


    Xiu Mei hesitated for a short while before finally going to the kitchen. She could smell the scent of chicken stew, and the fish he was baking in the oven.


    She stopped a few meters away from Sir Wen and awkwardly watched him go here and there and rummaging their cab quitefortably as if it was his own home.


    ... Chenchen, sos (QAQ)


    She didn¡¯t know what to do but just awkwardly stand there and watch him do all the stuff she was supposed to do instead.


    "Ms. Xiu is an early bird, eh." Sir Wen spoke while he dumped a few leafy vegetables on the chicken stew.


    "....Yeah. Sir Wen also knows how to cook?"


    "Well, I used to travel a lot back then so I unintentionally learned how to cook various foods during my travels. When I¡¯m not cleaning up, I do enjoy doing food trips during my free time." He casually replied.


    "Clean up?"


    Did he join in some kind of environmental preservationmunity?


    "Kill people." He bluntly answered. Xiu Mei stiffened for a couple of seconds before replying ,"Oh."


    Well, how else could she possibly react to that statement?


    She didn¡¯t notice that even though Sir Wen looks so focused on what he was cooking, he was actually secretly examining her words and actions ever sincest night.


    He was genuinely curious why Lu Chen chose a woman from such a high-profile family, with a very impressive background. To think he would choose a person who is rted to the military.


    It wasn¡¯t something to worry about even though the two were natural enemies. But Sir Wen is also quite familiar with Lu Chen¡¯s personality.


    He even assumed he wasn¡¯t going to get married like that Old Man who lived the entirety of his life in singlehood.

 Chapter 288 - His true purpose

    <h4>Chapter 288 - His true purpose</h4>


    Four people sat in silence during breakfast. The silence was almost choking that Xiu Mei even had to carefully breath so she wouldn¡¯t make a squeak.


    She would silently pick up a couple of foods that was out of Lu Qiang¡¯s reach and drop him on his bowl before resuming eating her breakfast. ??


    After taking a spoonful of rice and a piece of fermented cabbage, she slightly raised her head to peek at the two men sitting across the table.


    Sir Wen, who cooked this chinese breakfast, was very rxed while he grabbed some meat and ate his breakfast fully satisfied.


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen was silent and looked calm andposed on the outside throughout their breakfast, but his aura and the atmosphere within the room felt very different.


    This atmosphere... she was very familiar with. But she usually only experience it inside the conference room while listening to a stupid report.


    ....Aiyo, I wanna go straight to the office right now.


    She looked at her husband whose sour mood isn¡¯t showing in his face and silently prayed. Not for him, but to the unlucky person who would be vented on by her husbandter.


    Xiu Mei was still able to do a separate lunch for her son after Sir Wen finished using the kitchen. After packing it carefully and handing it over to her son, she walked him to the car and kissed him goodbye before he left for school.


    Because this ce is a bit farther than their previous address, Lu Chen decided to use separate cars for when Lu Qiang goes to school, when Xiu Mei and him goes to work in Lu Corp and another one when he goes to his other work.


    After bidding goodbye to Lu Chen and Sir Wen, she aboarded the car and left for work with a heavy heart for the two men left inside.


    Well, she already had an idea why Sir Wen appearedtest night and early this morning. Heck, she would be stupid if she couldn¡¯t. Sir Wen was scrutinizing her.


    She didn¡¯t really mind it because it was a natural thing to be cautious especially that Lu Chen¡¯s identity is very different from hers. More so her background. If she was in Sir Wen¡¯s ce, she would be concerned as well of a woman¡¯s sudden appearance and Lu Chen¡¯s marriage to a woman with such a high-profile background.


    At the vi, Lu Chen sat face to face with the annoying man whose expression was aplete opposite from the dinner table. Sir Wen appeared to be all smiles but he was now facing Lu Chen with a stone face and his killer aura that he stayed suppressed this morning is now out in full-force.


    Lu Chen¡¯s aura didn¡¯t lose to his. That¡¯s why he was able to keep his cold expression without feeling the difficulty to breathe nor being suppressed by this trespasser.


    "I doubt you¡¯re only here to meet my wife." Lu Chen started, "You can even easily meet her even without my knowledge, but you boldly went straight in crashing at my home in the middle of the night. Then you did it again this morning."


    He crossed his arms and continued to interrogate him, "You¡¯ve been happily travelling and enjoying your retirement. Which foolish soul whispered in your ears that urged you toe back in China?"


    Sir Wen¡¯s stone face was on par with Lu Chen¡¯s.


    "I¡¯ve heard some interesting news when I was traveling in Florida." Sir Wen pulled out his mobile, pressed something on the screen beforeying it down on the table. He pushed it towards Lu Chen¡¯s direction so he could see the photo.


    "A western mafia group is coborating with the Sy n, i think you¡¯ve already heard it."


    Lu Chen nced at the photo of a foreigned shing on his phone.


    "I did. I already met with their head to to warn them for their bold movements with partnering up with a foreign mafia." Lu Chen replied in a t tone before continuing, "They¡¯ve been pretty quiet for the past week but I¡¯m not taking any chances. I made sure to put eyes on their movements and all the people they¡¯ve been interactingtely to know if they are sitll holding their end of the deal."


    "I¡¯m handling things well here. Is it just because of that?" He raised his eyebrow whie looking at him. "I doubt that alone made you drop by for a visit."


    Sir Wen¡¯s lips curled up into a smile at his sentence before replying, "You¡¯ve been investigating a man named Albert."


    Lu Chens face didn¡¯t change and he knew that he must have heard that from one of his sources ahain. He was wondering why he was asking about it.


    "I am, indeed. But that¡¯s confidential information." Lu Chen replied in a serious tone.


    "Confidential enough to work with the military, apparently." Sir Wen leaned forward and rested his chin on his palm.


    "I did. It was necessary. I¡¯m not willing to wage war with our country¡¯s military in exchange for information. It is indeed unbeliavable for someone from the underworld to work with the military which is our natural enemies, but their interests is also involved in Albert¡¯s affairs."


    "Hmm,... or is it because you¡¯re wife is also involved in his affairs?" Sir Wen¡¯s tone sounded very provoking when he said that.


    Lu Chen did not deny it.


    "Of course it was because of that. Isn¡¯t it more ridiculous if I, as a husband, do nothing to protect my wife when I have the authority of the entire underground city?"


    Sir Wenughed at his romantic statement. Who would have thought that this scrawny kid before who wasn¡¯t interested in rtionsh.i.p.s would suddenly get married in a drop of a hat. If that old man was alive, he would surelyugh to death at his apprentice¡¯s lovelife.


    "I understand your sentiments. I¡¯m just making sure that you still have the interests of our organization and the city. You married quite a unique woman. Her background alone is enough for you to spread your influence in the entire country." Sir Wen pointed out. He wasn¡¯t sure which influence he was talking about but neither sounded good in his ears.


    "You think I married Xiu Mei because of her background?" Lu Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply at the man opposite him.


    "No, I doubt you even need her influence at this point. I was simply telling you how much power that woman has as a daughtering from two major families in the country." Sir Wen exined himself and returned to their previous topic, "Anyways, I wasn¡¯t here just for your marriage."


    He shed a smirk and continued, "You¡¯ve been investigating Albert Chen¡¯s records in America, right? But all his records are about his education and thepanies he worked at before he flew back here. But I found a reliable source from the friend I have who is a member of a mafia group there."


    "All his records says he was adopted by a normal average family. That is indeed true. Albert lived a normal childhood for a year after his adoption, but durong that time, the orphanage he lived in was closed down due tock of funds."


    Lu Chen¡¯s brows furrowed while pointing out a concern, "Yeah, that¡¯s what we also found out when we were investigating his traces. But we still couldn¡¯t trace how he suddenly appeared in an American orphanage and how he flew out of the country. I suspect that he was caught by a human trafficking group then he was shipped out, along with the other kids to America. Still, it doesn¡¯t make sense why he would appear in an orphanage after that. Human traffickers doesn¡¯t take children just to get them adopted by families. That¡¯s ridiculous. They¡¯re not the charitable type of people."


    "So you also investigated the orphanage?"


    "Yeah, but all their records were burned in the fire that happened six months after Albert was adopted. And the location is also a bit isted so the people who lived around there also doesn¡¯t have much impression on the people from the orphanage. It seems like they have a very minimal interaction with their neighbors."


    "Yeah, but coincidentally, this friend of mine I was talking about also knew about the existence of this orphanage."


    Lu Chen¡¯s eyelids jumped. "That mafia friend? Why would they be interested in that small orphanage?"


    Sir Wen leaned back on the sofa and casually told him the answer, "That orphanage is one of theirs. They¡¯ve been running it for the purpose of recruiting potential members. Well, the connectiob between the two was actually almost nonexistent that¡¯s why it would be impossible for you to make the connection. But he happily divulged that they built that orphanage with the sole purpose of knowing every child in the orphanage. Then they will approach the child they are interested in and have them get adopted to a family after signing a deal with them."

 Chapter 289 - Down

    <h4>Chapter 289 - Down</h4>


    Sir Wen revealed all the information he received from that mafia friend of his. Lu Chen didn¡¯t know why this annoying man helped him out in getting this valuable information. But nheless, he was grateful and he was now at least considering in forgiving him for his rude actioms of trespassingst night thay scared the wits out of his wife.


    After Sir Wenid all out what he knows about Albert and the orphanage, Lu Chen half-jokingly replied, "Traveling may have probably had you gotten so bored, Sir Wen." He finally called him with his proper name. He leaned back on the sofa with crossed arms with a knowing smirk on his face. ??


    Sir Wen chuckles at his statement before refuting, "Aiyo, you¡¯re thinking too much. I already have a booked flight to Hawaii schedule for tomorrow afternoon."


    He stood up from his seat and walked over to the ss door where he could see a view of the garden.


    "I¡¯ve seen and experienced enough in this lifetime and I only swore loyalty to that old man. That¡¯s why I retired early and decided to travel around the world while waiting for this little life to return to earth." His voice sounded mncholic when he mentioned thete Old Yang.


    Putting his hands on his pocket, his face was basked in sunlight spilling through the ss as he continued, "I only dropped by to drop some news and of course, meet the woman you chose to marry so hastily. I¡¯m pretty sure the old man would want to hear more about that girl once we meet."


    After finishing his words, silence filled the room. Even Lu Chen paused for a moment. He even imagined what would his Master¡¯s reaction would be if he was still alive and he meets his wife and son? He could already imagine that Old Yang¡¯s smile would reach ear to ear and he will definitely pamper both mother and son to heavens.


    His personality after all was quite interesting, and somewhat simr with Lu Chen whose cold expression softens like a marshmallow in front of his loved ones.


    As silence fell momentarily between the two, the lion and tiger pair lying rxedly on the grass in the garden saw the man that trespassed their homest night standing behind the ss door.


    Lucia nced at Sir Wen for a couple of seconds before closing her eyes again to doze off. King on the other hand was still quite apprehensive after their exchangest night. After all, Sir Wen paralyzed that poor lion that¡¯s why King was baring a grudge against the human even after knowing that its masters recognize that man.


    Ignoring the shooting pain in his hind leg, he lifted his big and sturdy body and growled at Sir Wen¡¯s direction. The sound he made sessfully broke the silence of the two men in the living room.


    Sir Wen chuckled after receiving the threatening the re of the lion and turned to look at the direction of the man in the sofa, "I almost forgot to congratte you for sessfullypleting the Animal Training Project."


    He gestured at the two animals outside, "I was quite surprised when I saw arge lion jump on me, ah. Scared me to death." He said half-jokingly.


    Lu Chen merely nodded as a response.


    Then after the serious atmosphere disappeared, the annoying man started to talk about his travels and rambled on a lot of things. Lu Chen didn¡¯t listen to most of his stories before finally making up his mind to leave him alone and let him be for today. After all, this annoying man would be living tomorrow.


    His wife.... will probably be fine for now. He¡¯ll just probably message his son to keep a tight leash on his Uncle for tonight so that this annoying guy wouldn¡¯t annoy his wife too much.


    At the office, Xiu Mei was busy as usual. Lee In following her in the shadows as usual and she was back to reviewing and signing the necessary doc.u.ments, along with meeting their important clients over for lunch and back to working on her desk as per the usual.


    If it wasn¡¯t for the sudden bouts of nausea and dizziness, everything was the same as usual. She was being extremely careful with her actions though, since Albert was probably monitoring her again from somewhere and showing any signs of her current pregnancy would be extremely detrimental not only for her but for her family.


    When she got off work, she was still thinking about of ordering sone take away food from Kei¡¯s restaurant. It was the first time that they had a visitore over, aside from her family. And Sir Wen¡¯s identity is also quite special so she wanted to prepare at least a feast for him.


    She would have preferred to prepare the foods personally, but the time wasn¡¯t enough and her body couldn¡¯t stand doing too much physical work for long hours. Besides, she could always ask Kei to customise a couple of the recipes like putting less seasoning considering her situation.


    After making up her mind, she texted him about it and mentioned that she will pick up the food personally.


    She was extremely surprised however, to see Sir Wen inside the car that was supposed to pick her up.


    He lowered the ss window on the driver¡¯s seat and waved at her, "Hello, Ms.Xiu! I hope you had a good day at work." He vigorously greeted while being all smiles.


    She was stunned for a moment before hesitating where she should climb on.


    The co-pilot? Or at the back?


    She usually sits at the back, ah. And it was safer to sit there because of her current constitution.


    But wouldn¡¯t it be disrespectful for Sir Wen if she sits at the back? It¡¯ll be really like she¡¯s treating him like her driver when he¡¯s really not.


    Before she could take a step towards the opposite door, it seems that Sir Wen could read the expression on her face and eximed, "Don¡¯t think about it too much."


    He tilted head and continued, "Sit at the back."


    Xiu Mei was relieved and nodded. She satfortably at the back and quickly remembered that she still has to pick up the food from Kei¡¯s restaurant.


    And so, after telling Sir Wen the address to her friend¡¯s restaurant, they left thepany building and joined the rush hour traffic.


    Sir Wen started chatting with her throughout the ride. Even Lee In joined in their conversation about some stuff which lightened up the atmosphere within the car. After picking up the packed foods, they drove back to return home.


    They were still half an hour away and the traffic in the road they were taking were already light. The drive was quite smooth when Sir Wen¡¯s voice suddenly turned somber.


    "Lee In." His voice sounded serious when he called out Lee In¡¯s name.


    "I know." Lee In briefly replied, her gaze also changing simr to Sir Wen. Xiu Mei realized that there must be something wrong for them to suddenly turned serious so suddenly.


    "1 car, Five o¡¯ clock. 2 men in masks on your one." Sir Wen said consecutively while his other hand was fixing the rear view mirror.


    "Ms.Xiu, please put on your seatbelt." Lee In didn¡¯t wait for her to move because her hand quickly reached onto the other side to grab the seatbelt and swiftly locked it securely in less than a second.


    She mumbled something in hermunicator that she was wearing in her right ear but Xiu Mei couldn¡¯t understand her words at the moment. The atmosphere turned heavy and she was suddenly filled with anxiety.


    Her hand subconsciously reached out to cover her stomach, suddenly scared what if an ident happens. She was worried over the baby she was carrying that she was almost in tears. She didn¡¯t know if it was because of her pregnancy moodswings or it was because she was being too anxious at the moment.


    The car stoppee at the intersection because of the red light. The three people within the vehicle were holding their breaths and were all alert with everything happening in their surroundings.


    After the light turned green, Sir Wen waited for a couple of seconds before moving the vehicle forward. But as soon as they reached the middle of the intersection, they faintly heard the sound of a honking vehicle. They whipped their heads on their right and saw an iingrge van to their direction.


    It was honking frantically, warning them that the driver wasn¡¯t in control of therge vehicle.


    Then Sir Wen suddenly blurted out, "Watch the back!"


    Lee In looked behind her and saw a ck car blocking them from driving backward. Then she saw their windows roll down and saw a gun stick out pointed at their direction.


    "F.U.C.K! DOWN!" Sir Wen cursed as he screamed.


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